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Post by taylor510ce on Aug 3, 2011 18:36:59 GMT -5
Do you think that the overseer/deacon structure described in 1 Timothy is prescriptive or descriptive?
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Post by Mike Miller on Aug 8, 2011 15:34:19 GMT -5
I don't really see a structure in 1 Timothy. I only see qualifications for those who hold the offices. As to exactly how churches are to be structured, the Bible is mainly silent. We know there are supposed to be elders (the terms elder, pastor/shepherd, and overseer are used interchangeably: Acts 20:17-28; 1 Peter 5:1-4) in churches, but we know very little about the office and responsibilities of deacons. I think the lack of prescriptive information we have in the Bible for church structure/polity means that we have leeway in how we choose to do it. We must have elders (pastors/overseers), but it would appear that the number of elders and the presence and number of deacons is determined by need.
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