The Organization of the Lord

Part 11
An argument against the authenticity of the letters of Timothy and Titus is the alleged presence of the so-called monarchial episcopate, or the church run by a single bishop. Those who advance this position concede that the monarchial episcopate (one-man elder ruled) does appear for the first time in the Second Century. Such a structure first occurs in the writings of Ignatius. But such a later church structure does not necessarily occur in these epistles. What is missed by almost everyone is that the name “bishop” simply means overseer. That there is NO CLEAR difference between an elder (presbuteros, Titus 1:5 and bishop, Titus 1:7. The terms are freely applied to the same persons. Earlier letters by Paul reflect a similar kind of church structure to that found here in Timothy and Titus. In Philippians 1:1, there is mentioned bishops (episkikopois) as well as deacons (diakonois) and suggest Paul’s interest in church matters (1 Corinthians 12 and Acts 14:23) Every time the word “elder” or “elders” is used in the New Testament, it does not always mean those who have meet the qualifications given in Timothy and Titus. “Elders” or “elder” could also mean “older” brethren, both men and women. IF there can be differing offices, functions, and even sexes that are described by the same name is it unreasonable to see that the use of “bishop” could speak to both sides of the structural make-up of the body of Christ? If the word is defined as “overseer” and there are two parts to the structural/governing part of the Lord’s Church, the word itself would describe the action of “overseeing” wherever it is found!! Both the evangelistic side and the episcopalian side of the church would then have “overseers,” both function as designed, and both serve the Lord’s desired purposes. This would explain Timothy and Titus, Demas and Luke, Mark and James, the Lord’s ½ brother.
Toward the end of the first century, the apostles were appointing personal representatives. We have discussed this before. This established, using the term “prophet” and knowing this was one on whom an apostle had laid hands, this passed away as did the apostles. This would have passed into the pages of history were it not for the ½ brother of Christ, James. James assumed the position in the Early Church (Galatians 2:12) that would fit the use of the term “bishop”, yet as far as I can find, James was NEVER married, which would naturally prevent him from even becoming an elder, but not a preacher of the gospel!! It is argued that 1 Corinthians 9:5 would prevent us from believing that James and the Lord’s brothers WERE NOT married, that seems to be implied, but in no place have I found this to be verified and or even mentioned.
Clement of Alexandra, Hegesippus, and Eusebius mention James as the “bishop of the Jerusalem Church” in their later histories. James ossuary (the place dead men’s bones were stored) was found and observed in 2002 in Canada. with 200 brethren/scholars of the Churches of Christ attending. On the lid of the ossuary was the inscription in Aramaic; ya’akor bar Yosef akhur di Yeshua. Translated this reads; James, son of Joseph, brother to Jesus. The word patriarch is the same as bishop.
It was believed by the early church that the death of James brought on the destruction of Jerusalem. It seems that the Pharisees (thinking James would speak to the people on their behalf) placed James on the pinnacle of the Temple. As recorded, his opening remarks were: “Jesus Christ is seated at the right of God and will return on the clouds as He comes in His glory.” The Jews immediately had him pushed off the pinnacle, his fall to the ground did not kill him, and on his knees he was praying; “Father, lay not this sin to their charge.” He was then killed with a fullers brush (used to ring out dye in clothing)

 

Part 12
It is certainly clear that the position of James in the Church of Christ is Jerusalem was approved by all the members of the college of apostles. His function WAS distinctly a part of the Jerusalem church of the first century. That all those who visited Jerusalem were subject to his position has already been related and verified by references in God’s Holy Word. Often, the question of whether this could have been an office in every place where the Church was very large and was composed of several congregations where evangelist, elders, and deacons served the Lord is answered biblically in prophecy and practice.
Jerusalem had a special place in the development of the Church of Christ of the first century. Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-2 both teach “the law would go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” It is soundly accepted by all who have studied the New Testament that every doctrine or practice had to first begin in Jerusalem!! The reason for Paul, Barnabas, and Peter returning to Jerusalem was to settle a question about which there was disagreement among the apostles of the Lord. It was Christ Himself that predicted, determined beforehand, and implemented HOW this situation would be resolved. “Verily I say unto you, ‘whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:18-20
In the first century Paul and Peter had a dispute over fellowshipping with Gentile Christians who had not been physically circumcised (see Galatians 2, the whole chapter). Paul writes: “I went up by revelation”. The word ‘revelation’ used here is the Greek word apokalupsis which is defined as revelation, uncovering, unveiling, disclosure. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus went back to Jerusalem by divine command!
Saul’s persecution and Stephen’s stoning caused some Greek-speaking Jews, who had come from the Dispersion to Palestine, to flee. They scattered to the island of Cyprus and along the eastern coastline up to Antioch, the cosmopolitan capital of the Roman province of Syria. Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, surpassed in population only by Rome and Alexandria, Egypt. These heard the gospel, were baptized into Christ and preached the gospel to the Gentiles in the synagogues of Antioch. So profound was the success of their preaching to these Gentiles, the church in Jerusalem, hearing about their obedience to the gospel, sent Barnabas, who was born in Cyprus, to preach to them. Barnabas then went to Tarsus and persuaded Saul (Paul) to join him. Acts 4:36,-37; 9:27; 11:19-26.
About A.D. 44, Agabus came to Antioch and foretold of a great famine in various parts of the Roman Empire. The Antioch church resolved to gather an offering for the poor saints in Palestine. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus were sent to Jerusalem with the offering. While in Jerusalem, Paul met with Peter, John, and James who Paul writes were “pillars” (leaders) of the Jerusalem church. No one demanded Titus to be physically circumcised! While these six brethren discussed the work of the Church, Paul tells us that some, who were Christians, sneaked into the meeting and tried to embarrass Paul for not having Titus circumcised. Their efforts failed and Peter, John, and James gave Paul and Barnabas the “right hand of fellowship” recognizing Christ had sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles as He had Peter to the Jews, called “the circumcism”.

 

Part 13
What is interesting about the only dispute on record among the apostles in the days of inspiration is the whole church coming to Jerusalem. We know this to be because of prophecy: “For the law shall go forth from Zion; and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-2 Nothing could be taught and it be apart of the “doctrine of Christ” and not first be preached in Jerusalem!! This is why denominational doctrines are never practiced in the Churches of Christ like the observance of Christmas, Easter, baptizing babies, baptizing saved people as a “outward sign of an inward grace”, having women preachers, song leaders, or women passing the Lord’s Supper—we could go on and on. This ONE principle stops ALL the doctrines of Mormonism, Adventism, Catholicism, Methodism, Pentecostalism, and Presbyterianism—again; we could go on and on. Why did the apostles Peter, Paul, and Barnabas come to James?? Second century writers who were leaders of the Lord’s church all agree, those who have studied this subject must agree, and the Bible supports “by example, and necessary inference” that James was the HEAD of the church at Jerusalem and when you came to Jerusalem, you were under his authority!! Ignatius, Cyprian, Polycarp, Eusebius, Chrysostom, and all who wrote in the second and third centuries record this position in every large city where there were large numbers of the Churches of Christ in one metropolis. They wore the title of bishop!! In fact ALL of these brethren just mentioned, were known as “bishops” of the city in which they lived. The New Testament called them presidents-governors-judges. The Greek word is hegomai; this word was a synonym for the word poimano (shepherd, overseer, and patriarch). In the New Testament this word is often translated “governor.” The noun form hegemon means a “prince.” We are told that technically in Roman affairs the hegomon-procurator-govenor was entrusted with administrative and magisterial powers with sole power over life and death!! Pilate would be the best know that held this office. In classical Greek a hegemon showed one the way or “one who did a thing first.” In the Septuagint hegemon translates, alluph, “chief” or “leader.”
These brethren ruled, managed, governed by “standing before or over” as in an army in order to lead or govern. These brethren, of which Timothy and Titus were the same, are mentioned in Acts 15:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 and Hebrews 13:7, 17. In all these references their command was to “watch” Their positions were different than that of the “prophet” we have previously discussed in that the “prophets” were appointed by an apostle. James was not appointed by any college of apostles, he was appointed by THE APOSTLE!! Hebrews 3:1 James, Timothy, and Titus could not qualify as elders (as we understand the office)—THEY APPOINTED elders!! This no longer exist in the body of Christ, today, we have replaced it with the “Bible College professor” with
The evangelist, then, is a faithful man of God, invested with the authority which rightly and scripturally belongs to the evangelistic office, who can render a valuable service which no other can perform, in promoting the unity, the stability, and the efficiency of the Churches of Christ. He can go among the congregations, not clad in priestly robes or a clerical-cut coat, not with an air of superiority, parading his official rank and authority as “elder”, but as a brother in the Lord, with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Whether an eldership exit or does not exist in the church, the gospel MUST “make increase of the body by the edifying of the body in love”. Ephesians 4:16