Answers to Questions for July

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31. Because ordination was only for those who received their official place in the local assembly from the hands of man, as deacons and elders. (See Acts 6:5,75And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Acts 6:5)
7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7); Titus 1:55For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (Titus 1:5)). On the other hand the pastor, evangelist, and teacher received their gift directly from the hand of. God without any human intervention at all; so they were never ordained. (See Gal. 1:1,15-171Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (Galatians 1:1)
15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:15‑17); 1 Cor. 12:18,2818But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)
28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)).
32. By voluntary contributions, either from individual Christians or from assemblies. (See Gal. 6:66Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (Galatians 6:6); 1 Cor. 9:11, 1411If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (1 Corinthians 9:11)
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14); Phil. 4:15-1615Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. (Philippians 4:15‑16))
33. The work of the elders (or bishops, see question 36) is to oversee and feed the flock of God. They are responsible for the welfare of the flock. (See 1 Peter 5:1-31The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1‑3); Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28).) The deacons were more concerned with serving the flock in temporal things, as finances, looking after the poor, etc. (See Acts 6:1-71And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1‑7).)
34. The apostles or certain individuals to whom the apostles directly delegated the authority for this work. (See Acts 6:66Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:6); Titus 1:55For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (Titus 1:5); Acts 14:2323And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:23).)
35. Because we have neither apostles nor those to whom apostles gave authority to ordain elders. There will always be those in the assembly whom faith can recognize as elders, and who do the work of elders well and faithfully, but there is no authority now to confer on them the official office or title.