Corinthian Elders by Jack Fortenberry - HTML preview

Corinthian Elders

 

knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies

 

Jack Fortenberry

 

Credits

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible ®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation used by permission.

When Greek words in this essay are defined, definitions come either from New Analytical Greek Lexicon by Wesley J. Pershbacker copyright © 1990 from Hendrickson Publishers or New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance copyright © 1981 from Holman Publishing.

Greek texts were taken either from Interlinear NIV Parallel New Testament by Alfred Marshall copyright © 1976 from Zondervan Publishing House or Greek to English Interlinear New King James Version New Testament by George Ricker Berry copyright © 1981 Baker Books from World Bible Publishers, Inc. There were no variances of Greek texts in the above mentioned references pertaining to any of the Greek words discussed in the following pages.

Underscores added to Scripture for emphasis were not part of the original Scripture text.

Bridgepointe Publishing Company 1929 Spillway Road, Suite B Brandon, MS 39047

Published 2008 Revised 2011

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009901013 ISBN 978-0-615-26282-6
ISBN 0-615-26282-1

Dedicated to:

 

Edi

 

Thanks to:

 

Brent, Clark, Jeff, Richard, Sarah & Tedo

 

Index

 

Prologue ............................................................. page 5

 

A Painted Picture .............................................. page 8

 

Leading or Misleading ..................................... page 11

 

To Preach or Not to Preach .............................. page 18

 

Teaching One Another ..................................... page 25

 

Ecclesiastical Office ........................................... page 32

 

Consensus Governance .................................... page 39

 

Adding to God’s Word..................................... page 46

 

The Money.......................................................... page 53

 

A Warning.......................................................... page 59

 

Complete in Christ ............................................ page 65

 

Should We Follow Paul’s Model..................... page 71

 

Appendixes ........................................................ page 76

 

Recommended Sites.......................................... page 86

 

Author Bio.......................................................... page 87

 

Prologue

The inhabits of earth said, let us make for ourselves a name, Genesis 11:4, as they purposed and built the Babylonian tower. But Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit.

The purpose of this essay is to encourage a biblical examination of the role of Christian preacher and teacher in order that we may enjoy the one-on-one relationship with our Savior that He designed.

The absence of a New Testament model for the present role of preachers or leaders has not slowed the prevalence of the current model of one or two elders leading a congregation of followers since the time of Constantine. But Scripture warns us of being defrauded of our prize by following leaders in the church. Not just bad leaders but leaders.

By eliminating our use of a favorite teacher and turning to New Testament commands in order to grow in the knowledge of our Father, we will have an unobstructed view of Christ. By our progress in understanding and trusting the person and character of Jesus Christ, God will grow us into conformity with His joy, holiness and loving kindness.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. II Corinthians 3:18

Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. II Peter 1:3

Sometimes in zeal for sanctification and to find favor with God my attention has been on teachings and regimens of prayer or bible readings and even church duties. But II Corinthians 3:18 and II Peter 1:3 tell us that our transformation is being accomplished through the revelation of the character of Christ. The character of our Lord is revealed by the truths of Scripture and also in the application of our knowing and trusting Him. This is where I hope to stay.

I believe the result of this one-on-one relationship of trusting and loving Jesus will then be evident in our joy and fellowship with God’s children. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. I John 2:10.

A Painted Picture

It had been days since the missionaries left the makeshift airstrip and climbed through the jungle following the river upstream. Spirits on the team were controlled and resolute. Who could have foreseen the unfolding of history during the last twenty years? From closed communist communities in China and Cuba had come such a witness from God working within the hearts of believers that the entire world had taken notice.

First it was only a blip on the screen as Christian charity from these developing countries began to overshadow humanitarian aid from huge industrial economies as the United States. While denominations analyzed the phenomenon for clues, the surge continued from the change in the lives of those communist believers. The character of churches began to change all over the world.

Church goers, hungry for the Spirit and with hearts set on the Kingdom, had left their favorite pew in order to ‘be the church’ and not ‘go to church.’ Less and less were heard the words, ‘good sermon’, and more and more was the love of the brethren observed in local assemblies. Evangelism was occurring across backyard fences instead of from pulpits. Dots of small assemblies permeated neighborhoods, countries and continents in numbers amazing even to the believers themselves.
Where once denominational differences had absorbed time and expense, many differences simply did not arise as brothers in Christ focused on who Christ was, what He had done and what He was doing. Other differences were discussed circumspectly with open Bibles on kitchen and patio tables.

As pastors had reconsidered Scriptural teaching on the role of elders many moved to church planting missions. This caused evangelism with unreached people groups to explode. Some pastors had sought to serve politically or as teachers and the social landscape of every country had been affected.

Funds previously spent on maintenance of church buildings and church staffs were flooding into mission agencies and hospitals. When in past ages greed and selfish motives had been ascribed to the church, now giving and serving was seen so purely selfless not even detractors of the gospel could whisper against her.

Not that sin in the world had ceased; just the opposite. But the contrast caused the light of the gospel to shine even brighter. The influx of faithful men and resources had charged like an army into the darkness of all societies but especially unreached people groups who had never before, except from shadowy tribal legends, heard the special revelation that God had come to earth as a man, fellowshipped with us, suffered and died for our sins. From conversions of tribesmen had arisen tribal elders, deacons and evangelists who in turn knew of souls dispersed throughout the mountain jungles and previously unknown tribes were found for advancement of the Kingdom.

Was it possible we were closing in on all unreached people groups with the gospel?

Our mission team had departed from civilization knowing the martyrs that previously attempted to reach these souls. There was absolutely no evidence the outcome would be any different this time, but the team continued knowing in their heart the joy and peace of serving a loving Father.

The encounter with the tribe was sudden and completely unexpected. Hearts pounded as the interpreter explained the reason for the intrusion. Throughout the night discussions were held around outdoor fires; while around the globe prayers were offered. Then an all powerful God took pleasure in the salvation of His children.

Missionaries and tribesmen alike thought dawn was breaking on the mountain when they turned as one gasping at the beauty. Then they joined the rest of mankind in bowing every knee.

Leading is Misleading

My optimism in the painted picture comes from a belief that God is continuing to work in His church by moving us toward a more biblical role for elders. As the body of Christ trusts Him by following New Testament examples, the bright beam of the Gospel will intensify.

Jesus told us in John 15:3-5:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

These verses tell us that only by abiding in Christ may we glorify and enjoy Him. We admire and thank those from whom we have heard God’s Word both for salvation and edification, but is it possible our attention may actually be diverted from Christ when we look to gifted Christian preachers and teachers? Was this not the situation in I Corinthians 1-4? Consider Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians that their …faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. I Corinthians 2:5.

Corinth

For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ… I Corinthians 4:15.
As wise men debated their interpretations of apostolic teaching they drew followings of Corinthian believers who zealously desired solid food. At least some were drawn believing they were correctly following Pauline or Petrine theology. These members of the body compared words of Paul, Peter and Apollos.

Divisions appeared among the believers who were attracted to various teachings of men. These were doctrinally solid men being followed! An almost imperceptible diversion from their relationship with Christ to men caused jealousy and strife instead of encouragement to love one another in that assembly.

…Since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men? I Corinthians 3:3-4.

Paul responded by reminding those believers they possessed the very Spirit of God. In I Corinthians 3:16 Paul says, Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? In 3:21-23 he explains, So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Notice Paul was not rebuking their lack of loving each other, although that is implicit. The rebuke was the assembly’s focus on teachers, So then let no one boast in men. Paul reminded the Corinthians of their personal relationship with God through his Word. When the Corinthians turned their eyes from Christ to men the branches were girded and the connection to the vine impaired. Jealousy and strife ensued.

To discourage the Corinthians from focusing on men, Paul instructed them to teach themselves, ...when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation…for edification... I Corinthians 14:26.

For the church to present one or a few preachers to a passive audience who attend services because they enjoy the sermons or preaching style is a violation of Paul’s commandment to the Corinthians when he redirected them from men to Christ. Why do we persist in disregarding this commandment? Do we know better than Paul?

Colossae

Another example of Paul’s concern for believers turning from their Head to leaders of the church is in the Book of Colossians. In the context of ecclesiastical ‘authorities’ in Colossians 1:18; 2:8, 10, 15, 19 and 20, Paul expresses his apprehension for the two house churches at Colossae and Laodicea, For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea. Colossians 2:1.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition (teaching) of men, according to the elementary principles (rules) of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8. Whether the Colossians were holding to teachers or men in authority, Paul was disturbed that they were disconnected from their Head, Colossians 2:19.

In Colossians 2:18 he said, Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize and he pointed the Colossians back to Christ in 3:1, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

To redirect the believers from looking to men and facilitate them in seeking the things above in 3:16 Paul again commanded, Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another.

The point once again was if the Colossians had the Spirit of God dwelling in them why were they looking to men’s teachings or authorities? They had God’s law written in their hearts.

Two churches, same problem, same solution. God’s revelation through His Word

…after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD’, for all will know me, from the least to the greatest… Hebrews 8:10-11.

Believers in Corinth and Colossae shared a desire to pursue Christ but they lost their connection to the vine by not trusting His love and indwelling. They looked from Christ for their solid food to spiritual leaders.

In John 16:13-14 Christ gave us this promise, …when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …..He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. Try reading this passage with emphasis on the word ‘will’ to understand the certainty of that truth.

This promise of God to personally teach his children is yet more proof of his amazing grace. How glorious is this thought that each of us, if regenerate, can know the joy of His personal teaching from His Word. How worldly we are if after experiencing the revelation of His character and the veracity of His Word we rely on men to lead us into spiritual truth.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God…not in words taught by human wisdom. I Corinthians 2:12-13.

But doesn’t the Spirit work through gifted men, eloquent and mighty, like Apollos, Acts 18:24? Certainly! But back to the danger of which Paul warned us. Our duty is, yes, to learn from them, while testing their teaching with a Berean spirit, but ‘job one’ is to keep our eyes on our Savior and His personal teaching through His Word. Perhaps a barometer of how well we are doing is to examine ourselves. Would our relationship with other believers be described as in unity? If not, perhaps disunity, or even apathy, is evidence our eyes are not on Christ alone for salvation and edification. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light (Christ) and there is no cause for stumbling in him. I John 2:10.

Does a noticeable shift in membership when a gifted preacher moves to another church reflect relationships that are more man-centered than Christ-centered? Where was the love among those members previously assembled who had shared the Lord’s Table? Was this division like the historical events in Corinth? Using I John 2:10 as a barometer to ascertain the congregation’s relationship with Christ those church members did not have a close relationship to Him even though they felt very close to their departed leader. Even an imperceptible reliance on the strength or knowledge of leaders as occurred in Corinth may harm our relationship with Jesus.
Paul would have pointed that congregation back to Christ: So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. I Corinthians 3:21-23.

To Preach or Not to Preach

So what is the point of this essay? Well, the point is simply that we are guilty of not loving each other as were those brothers in Corinth which indicates we are not looking to Christ. Because our joy will only be fulfilled in Him, John 15:11, it would be helpful for us to look less to eloquent and mighty teachers, as Apollos is described in Acts 18:24, for our understanding and knowledge of Jesus and more to God’s Word. In this manner, our relationship with God would be enhanced by His Spirit and demonstrated by a new found love for one another.

Think of yourself as being in an ocean but not quite able to swim. Jesus is there within your reach but also Peter, Paul and Apollos. As Peter, Paul and Apollos describe to you how and why you should reach out to Jesus, you look to one of them and reach to him. In doing so, by necessity, you turn away from Jesus. You know what happens when you do that.

The Apostle John warned that jealousy and strife, as in I Corinthians 1-4, are symptomatic of not walking with Christ. …If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another. I John 1:7.

If we, as believers, did have the same need as those brethren in Corinth or Colossae, then we might reevaluate our use of the pulpit. We would learn everything we could of Christ’s person and endeavor to interact with Him. While prayerfully studying our Bibles and remembering He is with us always, we would renew our efforts to love one another starting with our family and those with whom we assemble each week.

As elders we might place less emphasis on our own teaching or gift and put more emphasis on the nurture and development of the flock. Recognizing the Holy Spirit within each believer, we should point them again and again toward Christ until they are filled with confidence of God’s presence within them.

Since looking less to pastors or elders might be considered a sin by many, let’s read what the Bible says about the elder’s function. Applying the elder’s role that is prescribed in the Bible will enable us to please God and better serve the kingdom. We need to read what the Bible says because in today’s organized church the elder’s role is not always the same as outlined in the New Testament nor the traditional role before Constantine.

For instance, should we have one or two elders who we charge with preaching because of their call or gift? How else should we do this? Did not God ordain by ‘called’ men preaching the word that His Kingdom would be advanced? How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14. And with such a ‘calling’ should not gifted and trained men in our assemblies teach our lesser trained or ‘un-called’ men?
Well, certainly God did call believers to proclaim the gospel and teach, but let us not fulfill our duty by hiring out this obligation to professional preachers. Acts 8:4 indicates all of us should be ‘preaching’ not just a few gifted teachers, Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Giftedness, as some consider oratory skills in professional preachers, may in fact be detrimental to a demonstration of the Spirit’s working as indicated by Paul in I Corinthians 2:4, my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom. This is not to say God does not expect us to be industrious in our study and use of Scripture. Certainly that is not the case as in II Timothy 2:15.

The church meeting prescribed by Paul was very different from what many believers experience in churches across the United States. Whereas contemporary church services are usually led by one or two professionally trained pastors or elders with a scripted program of hymns, prayers and a sermon, I Corinthians 14:26-31 describes interactive meetings of believers with no professional speaker, no script and many sermons by both new and old believers. Everyone was encouraged to participate without emphasizing any gifts over others.

Perhaps this interactive participation by everyone was especially commanded in Corinth because of their intellectual interest in teaching. But Corinth was not an isolated case because the Ephesians were given the same instructions for everyone to participate, Ephesians 5:19, as well as the Colossians, Colossians 3:16.

In I Timothy 5:17, elders who worked hard at preaching and teaching were honored but in context of the church assembly, no individual’s teaching was emphasized more than others nor was the teaching gift more important than other gifts. In I Corinthians 14:26 Paul commanded, ….when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

This does not violate James’ command in James 3:1 when he says, Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. Scripture does not contradict itself. James 3:1 simply elaborates on I Corinthians 14:26. Teaching is integral, but participating by bringing a psalm, a hymn, a praise, a revelation of what our Father has taught us is wonderful and commanded.

When we assemble, some may need to be encouraged by Paul to participate, whereas, others may need encouragement from James to be more disciplined and refrain from teaching as often or too long. It may not be edifying for the entire body to spend time on protracted lessons during our assembly together. Whatever the reason, this is the commandment from Scripture if for no other purpose than to not focus on teachers as at Corinth.

But didn’t Paul preach until midnight in Acts 20:7? Some versions did use the English word ‘preach’ but the Greek word #1256, dialegomai, indicates this was a two-way dialogue. Paul interacted and talked with those at Troas.

That interactive meeting at Troas could serve as an example for us today. If a meeting of believers becomes too large for orderly interaction and shepherding, then a church split should be considered and not a larger temple. These church splits should be encouraging and not the result of jealousy or strife.

Why did we change how the church met? One possibility is that assemblies chose gifted speakers to eliminate divisions that occurred in interactive meetings. This could have been similar to the adoption of confessions by churches in order to avoid disputes. Maybe other groups preferred ‘good preaching’ to interaction between believers and thus succumbed to ‘tickling of ears’ in spite of the warning by Paul in II Timothy 4:3. But from all evidence the biblical pattern was dropped when Constantine moved assemblies of believers into huge temples of pagan deities and the pure size of these mega churches precluded interactive meetings.

An objection might be that many church members are not trained. Don’t we need seminary trained men in order to teach accurately?

Certainly seminary training is a blessing. The original Hebrew and Greek which believers learn is great and the theology may be helpful, but nothing satisfies the child of God like God’s Word. By God’s Word I mean Scripture. Ecclesiology, church history, homiletics, and contrived applications may tickle our ears but they will not satisfy the thirsty child of God. Jesus says: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me in John 10:27. My experience with interactive meetings is that more Scripture is covered than with expository sermons. We simply have to trust Paul in this regard. He told the Colossians in 3:16 all should participate in these meetings.

By training or giftedness some brothers may bless us, as Apollos blessed Corinth, with their handling of Scripture, illustrations or theology. But if we ask other brethren to be quiet so we might listen to Apollos all morning, what an imbalance that is. To correct this imbalance at Corinth, Paul reminded them, Love never fails; But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. I Corinthians 13:8.

The assembling of saints in the New Testament was not about sermons as much as it was enjoying the Lord’s Supper together (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:20) seeing God in their midst and encouraging one another in the faith. We see God in the lives of other believers. We see God when believers express their love for us and others. Listening to a sermon or lecture may be helpful, interesting and even entertaining, but Paul did not want the assembly of saints focused on a sermon or a teacher.

Should not the church be a growing, evolving entity as we grow wiser and are faced with new situations? For instance, is not the church more efficient with one or two preachers and a set order of service? No. Paul was very specific when he commanded, ...stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. II Thessalonians 2:15.

In I Corinthians 11:16 he was emphatic when some wanted to change the pattern of the church, If one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. Paul gave the church clear instructions and examples of how to function and he chastised the believers when they did not follow his teaching. Paul did this because he wanted them to hold to Christ.

Teaching One Another

 

‘Let not the vain speeches of any trouble you and draw you aside from the truth…’

From verse 4, of the purported Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Laodiceans, Quaker Translation based on Sixtus Senensis MSS in Sorbonne Library, Paris and the Library of Joannes a Viridario, Padua and also the British Museum under Harleian MSS. Cod. 1212 as described on page 94 of The Lost Books of the Bible, published 1979, Testament Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

Well if the preacher doesn’t preach, who will?

Some texts limit the number of teachers in an assembly or church meeting. James 3:1 commands that not many of us become teachers. Also, I Corinthians 12:29 asks, All are not teachers are they? But in order to understand God’s instruction we should look at all Scripture dealing with teaching; and, Scripture also commands that we teach one another.

Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another… Colossians 3:16.

…by this time you ought to be teachers... Hebrews 5:12.

…if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all… I Corinthians 14:24. …when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation…for edification... I Corinthians 14:26.

…you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted… I Corinthians 14:31.

 

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