The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-20
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Questions on Bible Doctrine.
OUTWARD ADMINISTRATION OF THE COVE

ALN IL, III. MdII- AANlh. ~, teUV"-
ina Heb. xiii: II, government; q
Cor. viii 4, distribution, or care of tenn
poralities.
2. Would this naturally give rise to
three classes of officers ? And will these
embrace all the permanent gifts and Of
fees mentioned in Cor. xii: lilo, 2S,
and Eph. iv: IL, or elsewhere!
FUNCTION OF TEACHING AND TEACHERS.
8. Is it evident that the function of
teaching was not to be left to the volun-
tary efforts of the members, but to be
permanently provided for by class OF
men to be set apart for that purpose
Eph. iv: II. 2 Tim. ii: 2.
4. Is the proper discharge of this func-
ton necessary to every other, by its be-
ing essential to spiritual growth? Eph.
iv: u, &c. And is it therefore 10 be
provided for and secured at every cost ?
Does 2 Tim. ii: 2, and the whole tenor
of the other passages referred to, and the
end to be secured, require the Church to
see to it as one of her first duties, that
a sufficient number of her members are
qualified for this work?
5. Is special prominence given to the
duties and qualifcationsof such teachers,
by the fact that three epistles, those to
Timothy and Titus, are mainly devoted
to this subject? 1 Tim. i: 3, 4; iii: IA,
Is. 2 Tim. i: 6; iv: l, 2. Tit. i: 5;
ii: l, Is; iii: 9, 10.
6. Does the appointment of an author
lied class of teachers, release any mem
Der of the Church from the obligation to
teach the knowledge of God and his
truth to all under his influence as far as
he is able and can have opportunity? Is
not this indeed one of the very ends OF
an authorized ministry of the Word
Eph. iv: 4-16. Col. iii 16. Thess.
v: IL, IA. Phil. ii: Is. Heb. iii: II,
13; x: %. 1 Pet. iv: 10.
Z. Is it important and required that
this class of officers give themselves Who'll,
ly to their work? / Tim. iv; iii: 16. 2
Tim. ii: 8, 4; iv: Us.
s. In their doing this, is the Church
required to provide for all their temporal
wants? l Cor. TX: 3-14. Gal. vi: 6.
/ Tim. V II, IL.
9. What is to be the sole subject of al
their teaching? l Cor. ii: LIS; 2 Cor
iv: 5. l Thess. ii: 4, 1S. Tim. i: 3
4. 2 Tim. iv: /, 2.
10. What name is given in Eph. iv
II, to particular class of these teachers
Meaning of evangelist ?" Ansaeer
One who brings the Gospel or glad It'd
ings. To whom is it applied? Acts
xxi: s. 2 Tim. iv: 5. Is this then any
thing more than one of these oficia
teachers sent to the ignorant and unevan
gelized, to announce the Gospel and to
set in order the churches And will il
not be always necessary wherever and as
long as there is any of this work to be
done?
FUNCTION OF RULING ELDERS OR
BISHOPS.
II. In spiritual body governed by
truth and spiritual sanctions, does the
function of authorized teaching involve
that of ruling? And must these teach,
ers be among the most influential of its
rulers, and therefore necessarily en-
braced in the terms which designate all
rulers?
u. Is there evidence that the gift Of
ruling or government" was often a
special gift bestowed on others beside
the official teachers, and that there were
accordingly rulers who faithfully per-
formed all their duties, and yet did not
exercise the function of authorized teach
ers? l Cor. xii: %. Rom. XIII: 7, s.
l Tim. v: II.
Is. Was the term "elder" the fixed
designation for ages of all who admins
tered government in the Church, except
the priests and the king? Is the word
"pres6yter but the English form of the
Greek word for elder
IA. Meaning of "bishopi" Acts
Xxx: %, "overseers in the Greek the
same word elsewhere translated "bishOp,"
which itself is an English corruption of
the Greek word for Overseer. Are these
words elder or presbyter and bishop used
INTERCHANGEABLE, and so as to include all
who had official power in the Church, ex-
cept deacons? Acts Xxx: II, %. Tit
i: ST.. Phil. i: l.
10. Does there appear to have been a
plurality of these elders or rulers in
every Church,. Acts xiv: %. James
v: IA.
16. Does the existence of rulers in
the Church under this title from the first
organization of the Church, account for
the fact that we have no notice of the In
stitution of this Office under she new
economy, but find it already existing as
soon as the New Testament Church as
sumes distinct form? Acts XII: 80.
II. Does the title "pastor, or "sAep-
herd" applied in the New Testament as
an official designation only in Eph. iv:
II, though implied elsewhere as in Acts
Xxx; %, and l Pet. v: IA; also strictly
express the function of ruling? Com
pare Matt. Ii: 81 xii: 5, where the verb
is translated rule, and John xxi 16,
Acts Xxx: %, 1 Pet. v: 2, where the
translated feed is the same word, literally,
"tO shepherd" to rule as shepherd his
flock.
Is. What does it teach in regard to the
authority, tenderness, and watchful care
required in this spiritualrule? Compare
Heb, xiii F: II, l Pet. v: 8, 2 Cor. i: "a,
Acts Xxx: 81.