The administration of the congregation by the “angels”
The angel of the congregation:
The Elders, The Overseers and The Stewards
As suggested by the glorified Jesus Christ, the Christian congregation must be administered by at least one « angel », a « messenger » or a « priest » who transmits to the congregation the sacred declarations of God, through the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Acts 17:11). The Apostle Paul designated them as « elders », « overseers » or « stewards »:
« This statement is trustworthy: If a man is reaching out to be an overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but reasonable, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner, having his children in subjection with all seriousness (for if any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he care for the congregation of God?), not a newly converted man, for fear that he might get puffed up with pride and fall into the judgment passed on the Devil. Moreover, he should also have a fine testimony from outsiders so that he does not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil » (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
« For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders; if there is any man free from accusation, a husband of one wife, having believing children that were not under a charge of debauchery nor unruly. For an overseer must be free from accusation as God’s steward, not self-willed, not prone to wrath, not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, not greedy of dishonest gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sound in mind, righteous, loyal, self-controlled, holding firmly to the faithful word as respects his art of teaching, that he may be able both to exhort by the teaching that is healthful and to reprove those who contradict » (Titus 1:5-9).
The word of the Greek text, translated as « overseer » is « ἐπίσκοπος » (epískopos) (Strong’s Concordance (G1985)): « an overseer a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church ». In the text of Titus 1:5-9, the word « presbyteros » is used for « elders », with other synonymic expressions, such as that of « overseers » (epískopos) and « steward » (oikonomos (G3623)). If we merge all the spiritual functions of the elders, the overseers and the stewards, we understand that they are teachers of the Word of God, but also, they can be judges in the congregation (Matthew 18:15-17). The only function the Apostle Paul does not directly write, is the prayer within the congregation, although it is obvious that they were praying on behalf of the congregation. The disciple James describes them primarily, as people who pray for Christians spiritually sick: « Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, applying oil to him in the name of Jehovah » (James 5:14). Thus, the elders, the overseers or the stewards, of the congregation have three major roles in the congregation: The Prayer, The Teaching, and The Judgment of the congregation. Who in the temple sanctuary fulfilled these three functions? burning spiritual incense offerings, praying (Psalms 141: 2), teaching (Malachi 2:7) and judging (Deuteronomy 19:15-17)? The priests.
If the elders or supervisors are priests, why then did not the Apostle Paul and the other apostles directly use the word « priest » to designate the elders of the Christian congregation (« hiereus » (G2409); « chief priest » « archiereus » (G749)), which is well differentiated from the word of « elders », in Matthew (16:21; 21:23; 26: 3)? The expression of priest or high priest, is applied exclusively to Jesus Christ, in the letter to the Hebrews (2:17; 3:1; 4:14,15; chapters 5 to 8; 9:11). Obviously, that in the context of the explanations of the Apostle Paul, this expression can only be applied to Christ (and not to the elders of the congregations).
In addition, Jesus Christ insisted on the « pastoral » office, as spiritual shepherd, of the elders, particularly in one of the last conversations with the apostle Peter: « Shepherd my little sheep » (John 21:15-17). This pastoral function is repeated in the letter to the Hebrews: « Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you » (Hebrews 13:17). The apostle Peter also insisted on the pastoral office of the elders: « Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers, not under compulsion, but willingly before God; not for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly » (1Peter 5:2).
The first meaning definition of « hiereus » is that of « sacrificer » (and not of people who pray, teach or judge in the name of a congregation), whether in Israel, but also in the cities of Rome, Corinth and many others with Greco-Roman customs (1 Corinthians 10: 18-22). At the time, the fact of appointing the elders as priests, even in a spiritual sense, would have created, perhaps, a confusion: The image of the priest sacrificer of the temple of Herod, the Christians no longer under the Mosaic Law, and the Greco-Roman priest in the pagan temples. The word « elder » is closely associated, in their role, with the chief priests, as judges, in the narrative of the Gospels. The high priest finds his correspondence in Jesus Christ, himself (Hebrews 4:14).
However, does it mean that the function of the elder does not correspond to that of the priest? As we have seen, it is not the same as the priesthood of Christ. However, their function is quite similar to those of priests in Israel, this time making spiritual sacrifices: « Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name » (Hebrews 13:15). The elders, in the right hand of Jesus Christ, are the priests of the spiritual temple sanctuary (Revelation 1:20).
Should the Elders of the congregation be called by a title linked to their function, such as « Father », « Rabbi », « Teacher » or « Pastor »? The answer of Christ is, not at all: « But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted » (Matthew 23:8-12). The reason given by Christ, is that if the Elders have an authority in the congregation, it must be exercised with humility, without any condescension: « Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing » (2 Corinthians 1:24).
Is there a minimum age required for a brother to be named Elder in the Christian Congregation? Yes, of course, for example, under one of the required conditions, it is written: « Not a newly converted man, for fear that he might get puffed up with pride and fall into the judgment passed on the Devil » (1 Timothy 3:1-7). The function of Elder is like of the priests in the former Israel. Now, a man could only become a priest or be in office in the Temple Sanctuary, only from the age of thirty (numbers 4:1-3,22,23,30). Jesus Christ began his ministry, his priesthood, at the age of thirty: « Furthermore, Jesus himself, when he commenced his work, was about thirty years old » (Luke 3:23).
May an overseer ask to be paid by the congregation? No. Payment implies a financial obligation on the part of the whole congregation to support the overseer’s lifestyle—based, for example, on the tithing system under the Mosaic Law.
First, Jesus Christ stated this general principle: « Cure the sick, raise up the dead, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free » (Matthew 10:8). No disciple of Christ, including congregation overseers, should demand financial compensation for spiritual services. Furthermore, demanding a tithe is inconsistent with the functioning of the Christian congregation, because Christians are no longer under the authority of the Mosaic Law: « For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness » (Romans 10:4).
It is worth remember that the Christian congregation is the prophetic fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, according to Colossians 2:17: “Those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ”. This reality also belongs to the Christian congregation, which belongs to Christ…
***
The Administration of the Christian Congregation, According to the Bible (Colossians 2:17)
Christ and the apostles give specific instructions for administering the Christian Congregation…
Jesus Christ first commends this congregation for its endurance and vigilance, but then warns it against its lack of love…
Jesus Christ does not reproach this courageous congregation, but encourages them by showing them the extraordinary reward that awaits them…
Jesus Christ commends this congregation for its courage in the face of trials, but he reproaches it for its spiritual deviation regarding teaching and sexual morality…
Jesus Christ commends this congregation for its good deeds, but reproaches it for tolerating the presence of a woman who behaves like Jezebel…
Regarding the congregation of Sardis, Jesus Christ says something terrible: it is spiritually dead…
Jesus Christ expresses his « brotherly affection » toward the members of this congregation…
The message addressed to the congregation of Laodicea is particularly harsh: « you are miserable and pitiful and poor and blind and naked »…
The messages of Jesus Christ to the seven congregations are indications on the administration of the Christian Congregation…
***
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
***