Some CoC congregations and ICC congregations seem to have 'evangelists' working in the roles of traditional pastors. What is the biblical justification of this.

Paul told Timothy to 'do the work of an evangelist.' He didn't even come out and say Timothy was an evangelist. He told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist?

What is the work of an evangelist. Some say it is whatever work Timothy did. Since TImothy probably appointed elders, then they say that appointing elders was an evangelist's job. They think of an 'evangelist' as a traditional pastor or bishop- leading church meetings and preaching in church meetings.

But the Bible doesn't teach that an evangelists job is to appoint elders and do all the teaching on Sunday morning. What is the 'work of an evangelist' if not evangelizing.

Timothy was an apostle of Christ (I Thes. 1:1, 2:6-7.) We know from Acts that an apostles work could include appointing elders (Acts 14.) Timothy, either as an apostle himself, or acting as an extension of Paul's ministry, probably appointed elders in the churches. He was given a list of requriements for elders at least. But it isn't logical from this to conclude that an evangelist is to appoint elders and take care of the local needs of the church as an administrator?

Isn't 'the work of an evangelist' preaching the Gospel to the unsaved. Take Philip as an example. the apostles laid hands on him for his daconate work- with no mention of commissioning him as an evangelist. But God set him forth in the church as an evangelist. The gift of God in him went to work and he went down and preached the Gospel to the Samaritans. Then he shared the Gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch. In each case, he did not stick around and do all the 'follow-up' and discipleship work. In Samaria, he didn't even impart spiritual gifts to the saints there like the apostle did. He preached and left, leaving the discipleship work up to people from another church.

That is not to say that an evangelist couldn't be an asset in 'follow-up' or discipleship, but where do we get the idea that this is the 'work of an evangelist.' Timothy was doing his apostolic work- teaching, working with elders, spotting potential elders. Paul reminded him that he was also to 'do the work of an evangelist.'

Where do many CoC's get the idea that the 'pattern' for church government is for elders to lay hands on evangelists, who in turn lay hands on other elders, who lay hands on evangelists? In the Bible, I see apostles

Where dlaying hands on elders. Jesus sent out 12 apostles. Then he had a couple of apostles sent out when the Spirit spoke to some prophets and teachers in Antioch. Timothy, an apostle, had a gift in him through the laying on of Paul's hands. he also had a gift in him that came through the laying on of hands of the elders. The gift given with the laying on of the elders hands was given by prophecy.

I realize not all CoC's have an evangelist in this position. Some may have a 'pulpit minister' who may or may not be considered a part of the elders.

Where does the idea of a 'pulpit minister' come from? Isn't it from Roman and Protestant tradition. The New Testament doesn't teach ther eis to be a pulpit in church. Hebrews 10:25, the verse which is used to tell us to 'go to church' says not to forsake the aassembling of yourselves together but to EXHORT ONE ANOTHER. Notice that. Exhort one another, not just sit and be exhorted.

I Cor. 14 tells us how to have chruch meetings. In verse 26, it says that the way they had church was that 'every one of you' had a Psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, and interpretation, a revelation. Paul also wrote concerning church meetings that 'ye may all prophesy one by one.'

I Peter 4 tels us to minister our gifts one to another, including speaking gifts. We can see the mutual ministry of gifts, in the New Testament, took place in church meetings.

Where did 'preaching' or evangelism take place? Did it take place in the four walls of the church? What I see in the Bible is Philip, Paul ,and men like that, going out among the unbelievers and preaching the Gospel to them. An evangelist can help build up the church with his gifts, but he must fulfill his ministry to go out and evangelise those who don't beleive, not just be a 'pulpit minister.'

If we all go to church, disobey the Bible, and just receive exhortation, instead of exhorting one another, we can grow spiritually weak, not exercising the gifts God has given us. We need to use our gifts so that all may be strengthened and encouraged.

Where is the justification in scripture for the way CoC churches hold their meetings, or for the CoC concept of 'evangelist.'

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2001

Answers

The Druids??? from....Druidia??

Those were the guys from the movie "Spaceballs"....right??

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Link,

Sorta on the same subject, many use priest, preachers, pastors, etc, what is Biblcal principle and where is located to support this type of system? Such where there is "one" man leading/sheparding the congrgation? Where is (ie: New Testament) that requires a preacher and what does his qualifications have to be?

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2001

That's exactly my point. Where is it? It comes from tradition. The NT does talk about elders in the church. But the one man pastoral model comes from the tradition of having one parish priest/elder in church that seems to be popular among hte Roman Catholics.

As for what 'the preacher' does in church, we inherit that from the Reformation. They say church liturgy goes back to the synagogue, but inteh synagoguge, the regular men of the congregation, from waht I understand, could read the Torah to the congregation and give commentary. There was also a forum for discussion. We often see reference ot the discussion Paul held in synagogues.

I Corinthians 14:26 describes who did the talking and singing in their meetings.

The early church did have elders, but the Bible doesn't say they did all of the talking.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2001

Btw, the books of Titus I Timothy and I Timothy list some qualifications for elders. Acts 20 is another good plance to look. So is I Peter 5.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2001

If it based on a Catholic "tradition” why do people spend so much time and effort supporting the concept without researching it’s background? (Unless of course they agree with this tradition.) Wouldn’t it be better to follow the guideline of the Bible – with reference to “elders”/overseers (ie bishops in the RCC) and deacons/ministerial servant’s in your reference?

If read that the system of the RCC (and others) is very similar to the ancient Druids. Even the term “bishop” in an old English term based in that system. Have any heard of this?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I don't have an etymological dictionary. I doubt the word for Bishop comes from the Druid religion. 'Bishop' sounds like it could be cognate with 'episcopos' with the 'p' turning into a 'b' and 'scop' turning into 'schop.'

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Websters=

bishop(ME bisshop, from OE bisceop, from LL, from Gk as you say)

according to the lexicon I have the Greek word should be "overseer" (which is what bishop came to be , but with a connotation of religiuos authority - and even "power" in older times ca 1200's)

I think overseer is a more proper term.

??

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001