Building Your House On Correct Teaching From Bible Concerning Ministers
The Catholic church has a “pope” … they have something called “cardinal” …
Some churches have what they call “arch-bishops”.
Ministers often call themselves “Reverend.”
What does the Bible teach about such things as this?
It is very important to build your house on the examples in the Bible.
A few questions for you to answer:
Where in the Bible do you find the following:
? pope ?
? arch-bishop ?
? cardinal ?
In Bible is there any place a human is called “Reverend”?
Was Paul called “Reverend” in Bible?
Was Peter called “Reverend” in Bible?
What are ministers in the NT church called in Bible?
It is critical that we resolve for ourselves all things by what the Bible says … and that we conform ourselves to what the Bible says about the matter.
What are ministers called by God to the NT church called in the Bible?
Ephesians 4 … After Jesus arose … after the crucifixion and resurrection … we read of gifts Jesus gave to the NT church …
8 Wherefore HE saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE might fill all things.)
11 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
… apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers …
There are 5 ministry offices given to the NT church.
There is no such thing in Bible as: pope, arch-bishop, cardinal … no ministers of music in Bible … all these thing were added to the church by humans and do not have the power of God but a fleshly power in the minds of men which avail the church nothing but flesh.
It is a type of “form of godliness” … an image of what man views as godly … but had no real substance because it is of the flesh of man and not of God.
There is no place in Bible where any man was called “Reverend”. (I shudder in horror when I think of anyone calling Paul “Reverend Paul” … I’m glad that has never happened for it would have greatly troubled Paul.
Paul was an apostle, teacher … and preacher … Paul referred to himself this way in the first verses of most of the epistles he wrote to the NT churches … )
Years ago, when I was on radio, Vinita Copeland (Kenneth Copeland’s mother) came to me and said, “Joan … I think radio is really your ministry …”
“NO” … my ministry given by God is apostle/prophet. There is no such thing in Bible as a “radio” ministry. Radio/TV are not ministries.
Ministers are: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. Eph. 4
The apostles in NT church have an anointing from God to deal with church doctrine in regards to Bible.
The prophets in NT church often carry words of correction to the church to lead individuals and the church as a whole to repentance.
The apostles are similar to judges in secular courts of law, but ruling on scripture / Divorce-Remarriage, Homosexuals, The gathering of the church according to the NT and what is right based on Bible and what had been added by man to the gathering of the church and is therefore improper. …
Prophets are like policemen who see that driver speeding down the highway. Prophets try to stop people from sins and turn them to Bible and the ways of God. They have special anointings from God to do this work.
Bishops in NT church, according to Bible, are the same as elders. Both bishop and elder is used interchangeably and are the same thing in the church. These bishop/elders in NT are men, not women.
The requirements for elder explained by the apostle Paul …
Titus 1 … 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
I Timothy 3 ... This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without (without the church); lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
We see by following scripture that the word bishop and elder are same thing:
Titus 1 ... For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless,
An elder/bishop must be husband of one wife … married once … one wife … no divorces …
Having children(s) … multiple children … children under control of God …
Not a “novice” … mature in the Lord … not a recent believer.
Peter was an apostle and elder … Peter was married. We read in NT about Peter’s mother-in-law.
I Peter 5 ... The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Several years ago, my contractor who attended a Catholic church, was very upset over the pedophiles among the Catholic priests. Tom said he almost left the Catholic church because of these pedophile priests.
I mentioned that one great problem is the Catholic church will not allow their priests to marry.
Tom replied, “Well … I don’t know about that…”
I replied, “Peter was married.”
Tom was shocked and replied, ? Peter? …
I replied, “Yes … we read about Peter’s mother-in-law in the Bible.”
I left the room to get a Bible …
When I returned, I opened the Bible and let Tom read the following scripture …
Mt. 8 … And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, HE saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And HE (Jesus) touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
(Also to be an elder in NT church Peter had to have multiple children … Titus 1 & I Timothy 3)
As I spoke with my contractor, I noticed he kept getting lower and lower into the kitchen booth, as if he was so shocked with each statement I was making that he was going down and down …
I don’t know much about Catholic church doctrine so I had no understanding at the time as to what was happening to contractor.
Later I told this story to Pam Padgett, who was raised Catholic and even attended Catholic school as a young child … Pam burst out laughing … and became hysterical with laughter as I continued the story …
Then Pam revealed to me that this story of Peter having a mother-in-law would be particularly upsetting to a Catholic because they teach that Peter is the founder of the Catholic church.
I was shocked! I had no idea they teach this. Poor Peter.
Concerning NT … In Bible NT ministers are not called “priests”.
Priests are Old Testament, not New Testament.
Concerning elders/bishops …
I Tim. 5 ... Paul says ... Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
So the elders/bishops "rule in the church", seemingly taking care of the sheep of the local assembly and some are able to instruct and all set an example for the flock of God.
Paul was an apostle/teacher but Paul could never be an elder or bishop for Paul never married and had no children. It was requirement that elder/bishop be husband of one wife and that he have his children under control.
Paul was not the last apostle as some churches teach but rather Paul was the first of the New Testament apostles. Paul was not like the apostles who walked with Jesus in the flesh. Paul was called after Jesus arose, just like Eph. 4 teaches. Paul is the first example of New Testament apostle.
Eph. 4 … after Jesus arose HE gave gifts to the NT church … 11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The Church of Christ groups in the USA teach that ministers are not pastors as some churches call their ministers. I visited a Church of Christ Sunday school class. There were only about 8 or 9 people and it was very informal. We were free to talk in the group. From time to time I would speak to the man in charge and address him as “pastor”. He was the pastor.
Finally he said to me, “I’m not called pastor.”
I replied, “What are you called?”
He replied, “Minister” …
I have no reason why the Church of Christ removed “pastor” from the ministry offices … they also teach there are no apostles or prophets, though I think they believe there are evangelists and teachers in the church.
Nothing makes sense … It is just doctrines set up by fleshly men in their church through the years. They took no note of what Bible said about this matter. That is also the way other church denominations proceed… taking no note of what Bible says.
My cousin attends Church of Christ. In latter years of her life, she told me they knew some things were wrong in their doctrines.
For example: They use the following scripture in much of their printed material.
Acts 2:38 … 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
They deliberately omit the following part of Acts 2:38 …and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Jeanne said they can’t add this now because it would hurt the old people’s faith …
I think she was saying it would hurt the old people’s faith “in the Church of Christ” to know they were being taught something wrong … omitting Bible.
There are many other things from Bible omitted in their doctrine … and the other church groups do same … omitting scripture that conflicts with their long standing doctrine.
Jesus said they did this in synagogues … omitting the Word of God in order to hold onto their “traditions”.
Mk. 7 … Jesus said … 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
… 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
These books are available in Kindle version and paperback from Amazon.com
Type Joan Boney in the Amazon search box to purchase these books
(We
are allowed by Amazon under our publication agreement to post a portion
of each book as a sample. If you would like to have the book, you can
purchase it from Amazon.)
(Also available in paperback)