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 Dear
Sir:
Can
you prove the scripturalness of a formal "confession"
(beginning "I believe") as a prerequisite to the
baptism of an alien? (digest, rt) CCC
Reply:
I
see no reason to do so, since I do not practice such. In keeping
with MAR.16:16; ACT.19:4; ROM. 10:10, etc., I ascertain the
candidate's faith in Jesus as the Christ — usually by asking
an informal direct question, and expecting an equally informal
answer.
———————–
Bro.
Turner:
Are
there "elders" in a scriptural church, who are not
"bishops?". We are being taught that all mature and
experienced male Christians are "elders" whether
appointed or not. DAH
Reply:
You
may be victimized by semantics. Presbuteros, the word from which
"elder" is translated, does refer to age, and
by metonomy to experience. Also, extended application of the
term to "rulers" is well established, both in secular
usage and in the scriptures. It may apply to the Jewish ruling
council (Sanhedrin), or to the older, experienced men appointed
as overseers of saints in a local church (Matt. 27:3; Acts
20:17, 28)
All
"mature and experienced" men are "elders" in
the basic sense of the word; but those who play this tune to the
disturbance of brethren are either woefully lacking in
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knowledge concerning the use of words,
or sinfully lacking in concern for peace. Beware the fool who
has gleaned a "little" knowledge — of anything.
Marshall's
literal English translation of Acts 14:23 is revealing.
"And having appointed for them (dative case) in
every church, elders — "(accusative case, rt).
"Appoint" or "ordain" (KJ) is from a word
meaning "to vote by stretching out the hand." Paul and
Barnabas did something for the various churches. Some object
was accomplished by a process of selection. Now, what was
it??
For
25 years I have heard the limping explanation that "older
men" were there, and Paul selected "older men"
— then the sentence hangs like the second shoe in the room
above. If "elders" are the whom appointed, we
must supply "to be" — and wait in vain for the what.
Appointed older men to be what?? To be "older
men??" They were already that.
Brethren,
cease this childish play with words. The "elders" here
are not only older men, but older men appointed to
oversee, in keeping with instructions from the Holy Spirit.
Following the appointment they were then "elders" in
the extended use of the term — something that could not
be said of them prior to the appointment. Compare Titus 1:5, 7,
where again the original word arrangement is "appoint in
each city elders."
Not
all literal "shepherds" in a local church are
"pastors" as in Eph. 4:11; nor are all literal
"inspectors" appointed "overseers" (1 Tim.
3:14); and not all "older men" (Titus 2:1-6) are
"elders" as in Acts 11:30. Perhaps we use
"elder" to the neglect of other terms, but let us not
become more "correct" than the Holy Spirit.
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