the organization of the church

The Organization of the Church

New Testament

Not Found In The New Testament

• Hierarchy

• Organization chart

• Titles

Found In The New Testament

• One Head – Jesus Christ – Eph 1:22-23 – Eph 5:22-24

• Organizational plan or pattern for the local church – a simple one in Phil 1:1

• Roles or functions with various names as identifiers– Some names, like elder and deacon, are also used in

non-church-organization ways – Translations will use different words for the same function– This leaves many confused

Deacon

Elder

Number

Pope

Bishop

Cardinal

Prophet

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Monsignor

Priest

Saint

Faithful

High Priest

Teacher

Evangelist

Minister

Reverend

Assembly

ChurchCongregation

Rector

Flock OverseerPastor

Chief PriestWe will start with a view of

the confusion

(This list is not exhaustive, and some terms may not be found in all

translations of the Bible.)

1st pass at clarification or improved understanding is

to remove the terms that are not in the Bible.

(Not in the Bible as these terms are used in today's terminology. Some

words are versions of common words used in the bible.)

Deacon

Elder

Number

Pope

Bishop

Cardinal

Prophet

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Monsignor

Priest

Saint

Faithful

High Priest

Teacher

Evangelist

Minister

Reverend

Assembly

ChurchCongregation

Rector

Flock

ruler, leader

OverseerPastorFrench: mon seigneur, meaning

"my lord"

Chief Priest

2nd pass at clarification or improved understanding is to remove the terms that are not used in reference to the New Testament Church, even if

found in the New Testament.

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

Prophet

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Priest

Saint

Faithful

High Priest

Teacher

Evangelist

Minister

Assembly

ChurchCongregation

Flock OverseerPastor

Chief Priest

John 11:49Hebrews 5:5-6

John 11:47

• Of these that are left on our list, all are valid terms associated with the organization of the New Testament Church.

• However, not all are used in “religious circles” in a scriptural way.

• Some, like the following, are used for the wrong role– Priest

– Pastor

– Elder

• Others are used in a seemingly correct manner, but actually used incorrectly to establish a hierarchy (Bishop).

Phil 1:1

• NKJV & KJV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

• ASV: to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

• NIV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

• YLT: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;

• NASU: Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:

Three Roles Mentioned

• Saints – all members of the church

• Overseer or bishop – leadership or protector

• Deacon – specific servants for a local church

We will look at each of these in order.

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery Preacher

Priest SaintFaithful

Teacher

Evangelist

Minister

Assembly

Church

Congregation

Flock

Priest Saint

Prophet

Overseer

Pastor

• Some of these are translated from the same Greek word but have been translated differently.

• Let’s look at examples from one translation - NASB.

• All are describing a group of people with a common bond – Acts 2:47

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery Preacher

Faithful

Teacher

Evangelist

Minister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Col 1:2

Eph 3:10

Acts 4:32

1Cor 12:12-13

Heb 12:23Acts 5:14

1Pet 5:2-3Lead by Elders

Eph 4:11-12

1 Peter 2:5Rev 1:5-6

Overseer

Pastor

Prophet

• This is all that is required to have an acceptable, functioning, scriptural church,

• But with the other two roles mentioned in Phil 1:1, God’s final plan for the church is complete and in order – Titus 1:5.

• Now for the second function mentioned in Phil 1:1, the leadership

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

ApostleServant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery Preacher

Faithful

Teacher

EvangelistMinister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Overseer

Pastor Prophet

• There are 3 different words used for the leadership, each with two typical translations

• The scriptures . . .

Prophet

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

ApostleServant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Faithful

Teacher

EvangelistMinister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Overseer

Acts 20:28Eph 4:11

Phil 1:1

Pastor

Acts 20:17

• Acts 20:28 relates overseer or bishop to shepherd or pastor

• Acts 20:17 refers to these same people as elders

• Acts 14:21-23 – each congregation to have their own elders

• 1Pet 5:1-3 - Elders have oversight over one congregation, the one of which they are among – Acts 20:28

• Elders have qualification

– I Tim 3:1-7

– Titus 1:6-9

– Role models & examples

• Primary function is to guard the flock from false teachers and maintain a sound church

– Acts 20:28

– Titus 1:9-11

Deacon

Number

Bishop

Apostle Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Faithful

Teacher EvangelistMinister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Overseer

Prophet

Elder

Pastor

Same word as Deacon

Phil 1:11Tim 3:8,10

Same word as Deacon

• The words used for Deacon and Minister are the same.

• Can be applied to the function of a Deacon.

• Can also be applied to the Christian. Heb 6:10

• Duties of the Deacon are not listed, but examples are in Acts 6:1-5 of men called upon to serve the congregation

• Qualifications listed in 1 Tim 3:8-13

Deacon

Number

Bishop

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Faithful

Teacher Evangelist

Minister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Overseer

Prophet

Elder

Pastor

Eph 4:11-13• Identifies another group of people,

although not necessarily a part of the organization of the church.

• Terms are consistent across translations

• These are the means to build up the church – 2 Tim 3:16

• Prophets & Apostles ceased near the end of the 1st century with the passing of the Apostles and the end of miracles

• Edification passed from the inspired individual to the inspired scriptures

• 1 Cor 13:8-10

• Acts 8:4-6, 14-17

Deacon

Number

Bishop

Apostle

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Faithful

Teacher

Minister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

Flock

Evangelist

Priest Saint

Overseer

Prophet

Elder

PastorActs 15:35Rom 10:14To herald, proclaim

Acts 21:8Preacher of the

gospel

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Preacher

Faithful

Teacher

Minister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

Flock

Evangelist

Priest Saint

Overseer Pastor

• With this we have the structure of the New Testament church.

• But we are not finished.• Any sound structure needs a good

foundation – Apostles & Prophets – Eph 2:20

• The corner stone of the church is Jesus Christ.

• Eph 2:21 – a resulting building that is the Lord’s temple

Deacon

Elder

Number

Bishop

Servant

Member

Shepherd

Presbytery

Faithful

Minister

AssemblyChurch

Congregation

FlockPriest Saint

Overseer

Apostles & Prophets

PreacherTeacher Evangelist

Pastor

Jesus Christ

• Now our structure is complete, and is built with the plans God gave us in his inspired word.

• There is another plan or pattern equally important that He also gave us.

The pattern we see for an individual’s salvation includes the following:

– Hear the word of God – Rom 10:17

– Believe the word of God and confess Jesus to be the Son of God – Romans 10:9-10

– Repent of your sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins – Acts 2:38

– Live a godly life – Titus 2:11

If the church you are a member of . . .

• Has 21 year old elders• Has a hierarchy of leaders outside your

congregation• Has elders or bishops with oversight of

several congregations• Claims to have those performing miracles• Or any number of things not aligned with the

simple organization of Phil 1:1

. . .it is time to reconsider the congregation you are associated with.