The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-09-26

Peter and Paul and Barnabas. all
three of them apostles, all three spoke
on the subject, and then James, who
was bishop of Jerusalem,a and was pre-
siding in the meeting, summed up
the matter, and gave the official de-
cision, sanctioning the admission of
the Gentiles converts without COM
polling them to be circumcised. The
point l make here is, that though the
other ministers and the people were
present, it was the apostles who took
the prominent place, showing clearly
that they were superior officials in the
church.
Again in Acts, twentieth chapter and
seventeenth verse and following verses, we
read that ST. Paul sent to Meletus and called
the elders of the Ephesian church to him,
gave them his apostolic charge. Take heed
he says in verse %, take heed to yourselves
and to all the flock, over which the Holy
Ghost has made you overseers. And in the
| 32d verse he says, Il commend you to God"
Is not all this just such language as one in
authority over the others would use towards
them: Had he been only the equal of the
elders what right would he have had to COM
mand them to come to him at MiletuS
| would not he have gone to them. rather.
suspect that if he had been only equal to the
elders in authority, they would have said to
! him something like the following If you
| want to see US. you can come over here to
Ephesus to see US: better for the one to come
| to the many, than for the many to go to the
one. But there is no such talk as this, they
| all come obedient to the command of their
| bishop.
| Again inTActs the eighth chapter and fifth
| verse we read, that Philip, the deacon.
| preached to the Samaritans. In verse
twelve we read that he also baptized But
| in verses IA, Is and 16, we learn that he had
| to send for Peter and John to come and con-
| firm these persons by the laying on Of hands.
This rite of confirmation could only be con-
ferred by the bishops. For the sake OF
brevity will say no more about this highest
order of apostles in the bible church. These
few cases, out of very many that might re-
fer to, show clearly that the apostles exer-
cised authority over the other ministers in
the church of Christ.
Let me now show that there was second
order of ministers called elders. These have
already been referred to in some of the
| texts have quoted. In Acts fifteenth chap
| ter fourth and sixth verses, we see the
elders are mentioned with the apostles and
| the invarible order in which their names oc-
| cur, shows the subordinate rank of the elders
The name elder always follows, never pre-
| cedes that of the apostles. l refer you for
example to verses o. % and to chapter six
and 4th verse and many other places. We
| learn from Acts twentieth chapter and 2Sth
verse that the elder was an overseer of a
single flock or congregation, just as elders
| or priests are now. In Acts fOuthteenth
chapter and Odd verse, we learn that the
apostles ordained elders in every church
| that is they left a teacher in charge of every
congregation. Observe that in every case it
is the apostles who ordain, just as bishops
do now. In the epistle of ST. James fifth
chapter and fourteenth verse, We see an
other duty which devolved upon elders.
| They were to visit and pray with the sick
members of their flock, just as elders do
| now. In ST. Peters first epistle, fifth chap
ter and first few verses, ST. Peter lays down
the duties of an elder more particularly.
think these few passages from the bible
are sufficient to prove that there was sec
ond grade of ministers in the church. called
elders. These men were ordained by the
apostles and placed in charge of single con-
gregations, and their duties were much the
same as those performed by the ordinary
minister of the present day. The epistle to
st. Timothy and st. Titus give much addi-
al info &c
of the ministry, but lack of space forbids
fuller reference to the matter.
have still to show that there was third
order of the ministry called deacons. These
again were subordinate to the elders, as the
elders were to the bishops or apostles In
the sixth chapter of Acts and first six verses.
we read that the congregation at Jerusalem
picked out and placed before the apostles
seven men. These men the apostles ordained
by the laying on of hands and prayer. Oh
serve it is the apostles again who do the or
daining. There is no instance of elders or
daining. In the first epistle of St. Timothy
and third chapter and eighth verse we learn
that these ministers were called deacons
and we see what kind of character they
mnst bear. A careful reading of the sixth
chapter of Acts shows that their office was
to assist the apostles in the distribution OF
aims and in visiting the sick, but in the
seventh chapter of Acts we find that Stephen
one of the seven deacons preached. In the
eighth chapter of Acts also we read that an
other of these deacOns preached, for
Philip the deacon preached in Samaria and
he also baptized. There is no reason for
supposing that the other deacons did
not preach and baptize, although the fact OF
their doing so is not mentioned. In the first
epistle to St. Timothy third chapter and 18th
verse, we are told that if deacons proved
worthy, they purchased themselves good
degree, that is they were promoted to the
next grade of ministers and became elders
I have now in the very briefest manner
pointed out few passages in the bible
showing that there were three orders IN the
ministry. in bible times. I feel that l have
not done justice to the subject by any means
l have written of-hand, without any book OF
reference. EThe fact is that it is utterly i'm
possible to- present the subject in anything
like an adequate manner, in the small space
that can expect you. Mr. Editor, to place al
my disposal. l am indeed greatly obliged t.
you for the opportunity you have AFFORDED