A Shame?

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On Sun, 13 Sep 1998 17:57:56 -0300 Frank Vandenburg <acts238@nbnet.nb.ca>
writes:

>> Actually, as Brother Frank mentioned, a Pastor is not specifically
>> mentioned in the Bible; there are Elders, Bishops and Deacons.  I 
>would equate a Pastor with a Bishop.
>>
>Bro Welch:
>
>Careful how you quote me. I am well aware that pastor is mentioned in 
>Ephesians as one of the 5-fold ministry. 

I misspoke.  I meant to say that the office of Pastor AS WE NOW HAVE IT
didn't exist in the Bible.

>he elders in Ephesus were called on to shepherd 
>(pastor) the flock of God. I believe chueches have elder who function 
>in ministry roles, so that, like Ephesus, a church will have elders 
>fulfilling the role of Pastor. If you look at Titus carefully, you will
see thatin 
>verse 5 of chapter one Titus is there to ordain elders (plural) in every
city. 
>The qualifications for these elders continue to verse 9. However in
verse 
>7 Paul uses the word bishop as a synonym for elder (explaining why an
elder 
>must be  bameless). Elder is a term taken from the Jewish tradition,
while 
>bishop (or overseer, the literal meaning of episkopos) is one that Paul
would 
>have used with Gentiles. Deacons are a whole 'nuther kettle of fish.
>
>Thank for the compliment in quoting me, however.
>
>Frank Vandenburg

I learn things here as well!  

So in the original NT Churches, there probably wasn't just ONE man
heading a Church but a council of Elders, right?

Jerry Welch
ICQ: 18489712
www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2810/

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