luttrell03
06-13-2009, 03:24 AM
Hi. In our group we decided to look a bit to see what NT leadership looked/looks like. Just giving a try and out of curiousity. I know it can be sometimes a pretty dry subject. I also understand that it can be an unhealthy trigger at our different points of healing.
I was a little shocked at some of what I found...
For example, I was shocked to find that in the NT you find no where the idea of an 'office' in an assembly. Usually when we think of an office we think of officials and officers, ones with authority and rank.
Most people believe that one is officially placed in the position of a pastor, elder, overseer (all the same person/s).
What I found is that there is no such thing as an 'office' in the NT.
There are 'functions', character qualities (Rom. 12:8) but no 'official' postition. Much of the notion of an official position seems to me to come from human tradition, not the NT.
The KJ version uses the word 'office' in Rom. 11:13, 12:4, and 1Tim. 3:1.
-In Rom. 11:3 the word is 'diakonia' which means "service".
-In Rom. 12:4 the word is 'praxis' which denotes action/function.
-In 1Tim. 3:1 the word 'office' doesn't exist at all in the Greek. It was intentionally inserted in the KJV. Why? Maybe a bias for ecclesiastical rule?? Don't know exactly.
How were Elders chosen in the NT? It says that the Holy Spirit chose them (Acts 20:28). It appears in the NT that the churches would then recognize (rather than appoint) the Elders by recognizing their maturity, gifts and character.
The word 'Elder' refers to one's spiritual maturity. The words overseer/pastor referred to their functions.
What I'm just trying to convery is that there are no places in the NT for the idea of ecclesiastical heirachy (which goes well with Jesus' idea of leadership), rank, etc. where Elders are seen 'above' the rest of believers.
I think the NT idea is purely one of 'leading by example' and a godly influence. The idea of leading/godly influence is a lot different than the idea of officiating, ruling, words which give the idea of rank or being 'over people' etc..
That's why the requirements for Elders/Overseers in 1Tim. 3:1, Titus 1 are CHARACTER qualities.
An Elder is someone who has a positive, mature influence and is an example
'among' the other believers, not 'above' them. Quite contrary to leaderships that force their authority on people and then defend their offices by means outside of the requirements of the NT.
I also found no example of NT 'ruling' elders, nor chief elders. That might seem a bit radical for some but after a word study of Heb. 13:17, 7, 24; Rom. 12:8, I'm convinced that the word placed there, 'Rule' which is again found in the KJV is not the best word to use from the Greek. I could try to explain more what I mean in case anyone had any curiosity.
But, I would like to stay objective, unbiased and get feed back, in case I missed something or haven't yet bored everyone to tears.:)
I was a little shocked at some of what I found...
For example, I was shocked to find that in the NT you find no where the idea of an 'office' in an assembly. Usually when we think of an office we think of officials and officers, ones with authority and rank.
Most people believe that one is officially placed in the position of a pastor, elder, overseer (all the same person/s).
What I found is that there is no such thing as an 'office' in the NT.
There are 'functions', character qualities (Rom. 12:8) but no 'official' postition. Much of the notion of an official position seems to me to come from human tradition, not the NT.
The KJ version uses the word 'office' in Rom. 11:13, 12:4, and 1Tim. 3:1.
-In Rom. 11:3 the word is 'diakonia' which means "service".
-In Rom. 12:4 the word is 'praxis' which denotes action/function.
-In 1Tim. 3:1 the word 'office' doesn't exist at all in the Greek. It was intentionally inserted in the KJV. Why? Maybe a bias for ecclesiastical rule?? Don't know exactly.
How were Elders chosen in the NT? It says that the Holy Spirit chose them (Acts 20:28). It appears in the NT that the churches would then recognize (rather than appoint) the Elders by recognizing their maturity, gifts and character.
The word 'Elder' refers to one's spiritual maturity. The words overseer/pastor referred to their functions.
What I'm just trying to convery is that there are no places in the NT for the idea of ecclesiastical heirachy (which goes well with Jesus' idea of leadership), rank, etc. where Elders are seen 'above' the rest of believers.
I think the NT idea is purely one of 'leading by example' and a godly influence. The idea of leading/godly influence is a lot different than the idea of officiating, ruling, words which give the idea of rank or being 'over people' etc..
That's why the requirements for Elders/Overseers in 1Tim. 3:1, Titus 1 are CHARACTER qualities.
An Elder is someone who has a positive, mature influence and is an example
'among' the other believers, not 'above' them. Quite contrary to leaderships that force their authority on people and then defend their offices by means outside of the requirements of the NT.
I also found no example of NT 'ruling' elders, nor chief elders. That might seem a bit radical for some but after a word study of Heb. 13:17, 7, 24; Rom. 12:8, I'm convinced that the word placed there, 'Rule' which is again found in the KJV is not the best word to use from the Greek. I could try to explain more what I mean in case anyone had any curiosity.
But, I would like to stay objective, unbiased and get feed back, in case I missed something or haven't yet bored everyone to tears.:)