Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | I guess I'm asking because... | Bible general Archive 1 | Searcher56 | 12127 | ||
Hebrews 13:17 1 Peter 2:13-3:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 are the passages I cited. It does not say specify the Bible study. But, it does talk about submitting to the leaders. There does need to be order. As wee need to follow the law of the land, we need to follow that of the church we attend. If you think it violates the Law of God, in the latter - move on, if they will not listen. My belief is based on God's Word and the "man's religious structure" is in compliance ... or am I wrong? Steve |
||||||
2 | I guess I'm asking because... | Bible general Archive 1 | There | 12212 | ||
Hi Steve, I'm an amateur historian, and I do mean "amateur" and became interested in church history many years ago. The Christian churches today are very unlike those established by the Apostles. Even the governmental structure is different than it was originally. From what I've read the church first had elders (or overseers), which included Peter, Paul and the like. Elders were "older" or "seniors" in the faith, not young men (or young women) trained in religion schools. They were not graded on a credit system, but were approved by their long-standing faith and the fruits of that faith. Something that I find interesting is that many today recognize that women are not to teach men, but it also states in the Bible that the young are to learn from their elders, not the other way around. Bishops in the early church were elder men that visited and inspected the churches (which were in individual homes) to make sure they remained "on track" doctrinally, and in behavior. Another name for this position was "overseer". (This gives new meaning to 1Peter 5:1-4) Deacons were servants or ministers, doing much menial work, such as waiting tables, running errands, having some mental duties also, and as teacher. This person could be either male or female (deacon/deaconess). This position was also called a pastor. These explanations thus far simply cite the meaning of the Greek words used in the Bible. But they give a little different picture of the simple structure within the early church. And at the individual gatherings of the early Christians, the person, who's home held the fellowship, was called the president. He or other elders would read from the memoirs of the Apostles and from the OT for as long as time permitted. The president would then give an admonition and exhortation to imitate those things. Then they would pray together. After the prayer was finished, bread and wine and thanks would be given. Then those two things were distributed to everyone there to eat/drink, and also carried by a deacon to the houses of those who hadn't been able to come to the meeting. Then contributions were taken from those who could afford it and were willing, according to their own freewill (no general tithe amount was set, nor was everyone expected to give). This was given to the president who supplied orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers and all the needy. This was the average way a meeting went. There wasn't a lot of hype, or an image of Christ hanging behind the president of the meeting, nor plush surroundings, nor collections for a building fund, nor people being encouraged to join commitees or to teach the children the next week. It was quite simple really. Probably something like a home Bible study these days without communion and a collection. As to doctrine (instruction (function or information)(the act or the matter), that remained very much unchanged for the first couple hundred years. Then small changes occurred, and later some major doctrinal changes, which caused divisions in the church, and more divisions, until we have the many different denominations that occur today. |
||||||