The Practice Of The Early Church
ELDER-LED
CONGREGATIONAL CONSENSUS
www.NTRF.org
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EPISCOPAL
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PRESBYTERIAN
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CONGREGATIONAL
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Luke 22:24-27
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“People’s Republic of China”
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Test: Which person represents the church leader?
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Ekklesia
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Ekklesia
“an assembly of the people convened at the public
place of council for the purpose of deliberating.”
—Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
Joseph Thayer,
Professor of New Testament criticism, Harvard Divinity School
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Ekklesia
“assembly of a regularly summoned political body.”
— A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker
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Ekklesia
“clearly characterized as a political phenomenon, repeated
according to certain rules and within a certain framework.
It was the assembly of full citizens, functionally rooted in
the constitution of the democracy, an assembly in which
fundamental political and judicial decisions were taken . . .
the word ekklesia, throughout the Greek and Hellenistic
areas, always retained its reference to the assembly of the
polis . . . every citizen has the right to speak and to
propose matters for discussion . . .”
— New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology
Colin Brown
Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary
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ESV Acts 19:23-25a
About that time there arose no little
disturbance concerning the Way. For a man
named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made
silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little
business to the craftsmen. These he gathered
together, with the workmen in similar trades,
and said, "Men, you know that from this
business we have our wealth . . .
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ESV Acts 19:26-27
this Paul has persuaded and turned away a
great many people, saying that gods made
with hands are not gods. And there is danger
. . . that this trade of ours may come into
disrepute . . .”
ESV Acts 19:28
When they heard this they were enraged and
were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the
Ephesians!"
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ESV Acts 19: 29
. . . they rushed together into the theater . . .
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ESV Acts 19: 29
. . . they rushed together into the theater . . .
ESV Acts 19:32
Now some cried out one thing, some another,
for the assembly (ekklesia) was in confusion,
and most of them did not know why they had
come together.
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ESV Acts 19:35-41
And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he
said , “Men of Ephesus . . . you ought to be quiet
and do nothing rash. For you have brought these
men here who are neither sacrilegious nor
blasphemers of our goddess . . . if you seek
anything further, it shall be settled in the regular*
assembly (ekklesia) . . . And when he had said
these things, he dismissed the assembly
(ekklesia).
* (“lawful” or “legal” in NAS & NIV )
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“. . . on this rock I will build my ekklesia,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. I will give you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, and whatever you
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven.”
— Matthew 16:18-19, ESV
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the keys of the kingdom of heaven
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If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between
you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother.
— Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
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If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between
you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or
three witnesses.
Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
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If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between
you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or
three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.
— Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
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If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between
you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or
three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.
And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as
a Gentile and a tax collector.
— Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
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Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
— ESV Matthew 18:18
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In those days Peter stood up among the
brothers (the company of persons was in
all about 120) and said . . .
And they put forward two, Joseph called
Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and
Matthias.
— Acts 1:15, 23 (ESV)
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In those days Peter stood up among the
brothers (the company of persons was in
all about 120) and said . . .
And they put forward two, Joseph called
Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and
Matthias.
— Acts 1:15, 23 (ESV)
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“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among
you seven men of good repute, full of the
Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint
to this duty . . . .”
And what they said pleased the whole
gathering (plethos), and they chose . . .
— Acts 6:3, 5 (ESV)
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15:2 ~ Paul and Barnabas . . . were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question . . .
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15:2 ~ Paul and Barnabas . . . were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question . . .
15:4 ~ When they came to Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the church (ekklesia) and the
apostles and the elders . . .
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15:2 ~ Paul and Barnabas . . . were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question . . .
15:4 ~ When they came to Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the church (ekklesia) and the
apostles and the elders . . .
15:6 ~ The apostles and the elders were gathered
together to consider this matter.
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15:2 ~ Paul and Barnabas . . . were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question . . .
15:4 ~ When they came to Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the church (ekklesia) and the
apostles and the elders . . .
15:6 ~ The apostles and the elders were gathered
together to consider this matter.
15:7 ~ . . . much debate . . .
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15:12 ~ And all the assembly (plethos) fell silent,
and they listened to Barnabas and Paul . . .
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15:12 ~ And all the assembly (plethos) fell silent,
and they listened to Barnabas and Paul . . .
15:22-23 ~ Then it seemed good to the apostles
and the elders, with the whole church (ekklesia) ,
to choose men from among them and send them
to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent
Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men
among the brothers, with the following letter:
"The brothers, both the apostles and the elders,
to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. (ESV)
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15:23 ~ The brothers, both the apostles and the
elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings . . . (ESV)
15:23 ~ The apostles and elders and brethren
send greeting . . . (KJV)
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Speaking of the Apostles:
“The fact that in the council’s decision-making
they* are accorded no special pre-eminence does
not compel the conclusion that they did not exist.
It is consistent with the non-authoritarian,
collegiate character of church leadership which
Acts consistently depicts (1:13-26; 6:2ff; 8:14ff;
11:1ff; 13:1-4).”
*the apostles
— Colin Brown
Dictionary of New Testament Theology, “Apostle”
Vol. 1, p. 135
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When you are assembled in the name
of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is
present, with the power of our Lord
Jesus, you are to deliver this man to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
so that his spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord.
— 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 (ESV)
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When one of you has a grievance against
another, does he dare go to law before the
unrighteous instead of the saints?
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When one of you has a grievance against
another, does he dare go to law before the
unrighteous instead of the saints?
Or do you not know that the saints will
judge the world?
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When one of you has a grievance against
another, does he dare go to law before the
unrighteous instead of the saints?
Or do you not know that the saints will
judge the world?
And if the world is to be judged by you, are
you incompetent to try trivial cases?
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Do you not know that we are to judge
angels?
How much more, then, matters pertaining
to this life!
— 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 (ESV)
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Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
Elihu’s advice to Job
— Job 34:4 (NIV)
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But the wisdom from above is
first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, open to reason, full of
mercy and good fruits, impartial
and sincere.
— James 3:17 (ESV)
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Consensus
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Consensus
General agreement or accord
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Consensus
General agreement or accord
An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole
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Consensus
General agreement or accord
An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole
consent
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Consensus
General agreement or accord
An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole
consent
consensual
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How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
— Psalm 133:1
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How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
— Psalm 133:1
I appeal to you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions
among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and
thought.
— 1 Corinthians 1:10
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How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
— Psalm 133:1
I appeal to you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions
among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and
thought.
— 1 Corinthians 1:10
Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
— 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)
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Make every effort to keep the
unity of peace.
— Ephesians 4:3
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. . . make my joy complete by
being like-minded, having the
same love, being one in spirit
and purpose.
— Philippians 2:2
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Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have
given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . .
— John 17:11, 20-23 (ESV)
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Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have
given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . .
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will
believe in me through their word, that they may all be
one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they
also may be in us . . .
— John 17:11, 20-23 (ESV)
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Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have
given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . .
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will
believe in me through their word, that they may all be
one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they
also may be in us . . .
The glory that you have given me I have given to them,
that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and
you in me, that they may become perfectly one . . .
— John 17:11, 20-23 (ESV)
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Because there is one loaf, we, who
are many, are one body, for we all
partake of the one loaf.
— 1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)
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And he gave the apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work
of ministry, for building up the body of
Christ, until we all attain to the unity of
the faith . . .
— Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)
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Remember your leaders, those
who spoke to you the word of
God. Consider the outcome of
their way of life, and imitate their
faith.
— Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)
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We ask you, brothers, to respect
those who labor among you and are
over you in the Lord and admonish
you, and to esteem them very highly
in love because of their work.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV)
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. . . not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock.
— 1 Peter 5:3 (NIV)
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“We believe good men more fully and
more readily than others. This is true
generally whatever the question is, and
absolutely true where exact certainty is
impossible and opinions are divided . . .
his character may almost be called the
most effective means of persuasion he
possesses.”
— Aristotle in Rhetoric
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“Leadership is the art of getting
someone else to do something you want
done because he wants to do it”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Obey your leaders and submit to
them, for they are keeping watch
over your souls, as those who will
have to give an account. Let them do
this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to
you.
— Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
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hupakouo = “obey”
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hupakouo = “obey”
Ephesians 6:1 (ESV) ~ Children, obey your
parents in the Lord, for this is right.
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hupakouo = “obey”
Ephesians 6:1 (ESV) ~ Children, obey your
parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:5 (ESV) ~ Slaves, obey your
earthly masters with fear and trembling,
with a sincere heart, as you would Christ . . .
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hupakouo = “obey”
Ephesians 6:1 (ESV) ~ Children, obey your
parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:5 (ESV) ~ Slaves, obey your
earthly masters with fear and trembling,
with a sincere heart, as you would Christ . . .
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peitho
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peitho
“to persuade, to convince”
(Hebrews 13:17)
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peitho
“to persuade, to convince”
(Hebrews 13:17)
So they took his advice . . .
— Acts 5:40 (ESV)
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peitho
“to persuade, to convince”
(Hebrews 13:17)
So they took his advice . . .
— Acts 5:40 (ESV)
Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This
persuasion is not from him who calls you.
— Galatians 5:7-8 (ESV)
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peitho
“to persuade, to convince”
(Hebrews 13:17)
Middle/Passive Voice:
“allow yourselves to be persuaded”
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Obey your leaders and submit to
them, for they are keeping watch
over your souls, as those who will
have to give an account. Let them do
this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to
you.
— Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
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hupotasso = “submit”
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hupotasso = “submit”
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
— Romans 13:1 (ESV)
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hupotasso = “submit”
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
— Romans 13:1 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
— Colossians 3:18 (ESV)
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hupotasso = “submit”
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
— Romans 13:1 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
— Colossians 3:18 (ESV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
— Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
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hupotasso = “submit”
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
— Romans 13:1 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
— Colossians 3:18 (ESV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
— Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,
whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors . . .
— I Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)
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hupotasso = “submit”
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
— Romans 13:1 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
— Colossians 3:18 (ESV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
— Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,
whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors . . .
— I Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)
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hupeiko
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hupeiko
• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.
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hupeiko
• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.
• Refers not to a structure (like the government) to which
one submits, but to a process or battle after which one
yields (surrenders).
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hupeiko
• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.
• Refers not to a structure (like the government) to which
one submits, but to a process or battle after which one
yields (surrenders).
• Used outside the New Testament of combatants.
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hupeiko
• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.
• Refers not to a structure (like the government) to which
one submits, but to a process or battle after which one
yields (surrenders).
• Used outside the New Testament of combatants.
• Thus, “surrender” or “yield.”
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hupeiko
• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.
• Refers not to a structure (like the government) to which
one submits, but to a process or battle after which one
yields (surrenders).
• Used outside the New Testament of combatants.
• Thus, “surrender” or “yield.”
• Submission still occurs, but the picture is one of serious
discussion and dialog prior to one party giving way.
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“After four years of arduous service,
marked by unsurpassed courage and
fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia
has been compelled to yield to
overwhelming numbers and resources.”
Robert E. Lee
General Order Number 9
April 9, 1865
Appomattox Court House
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You younger men, likewise,
be subject (hupotasso) to your elders . . .
— 1 Peter 5:5 (NASV)
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority
rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not
just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority
rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not
just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).
4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children
and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority
rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not
just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).
4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children
and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).
5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style,
influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority
rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not
just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).
4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children
and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).
5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style,
influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).
6.Elders are to be given special consideration in the consensus
process (Heb 13:17).
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— SUMMARY —
1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).
2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.
3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority
rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not
just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).
4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children
and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).
5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style,
influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).
6.Elders are to be given special consideration in the consensus
process (Heb 13:17).
7.Churches are to be more elder led than elder ruled (1Pe 5:1-3).
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