IN the early church bishops and deacons were appointed by the apostles for the work of the Lord in the assembly. In considering this subject the reader must dismiss from his mind the style of bishops that obtain in Romish and Anglican circles. By paying attention to the way in which the subject is presented in Scripture the right idea of the Spirit of God as to the office of a bishop will be gained. The word, bishop, means an overseer, and. is sometimes used in exchange for the word, elder. Several bishops, might be appointed to one assembly. It is clear there were more than one in the assembly at Philippi (Phil. 1:11Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: (Philippians 1:1))
The character and qualifications of a bishop or overseer are given to us in 1 Tim. 3:1-71This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1‑7), and Titus 1:5-95For 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: 6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:5‑9), whilst the Apostle Peter gives us a very illuminating description of a bishop or elder. " The 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: feed 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; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5: 1-4.) Out of this happy, simple idea ecclesiasticism has alas! reared its head. Bishops in Bible days were elder brethren with spiritual and moral qualities that fitted them to take oversight of the assembly, and to shepherd the flock of God. They were elder brethren among their brethren.
We find the bishops of to-day drawing handsome emoluments, living in palaces, controlling hundreds- of clergy. They stand in such marked contrast to the bishops of the Bible that Dean Alford, an Anglican divine, was constrained to make the remark that the bishops of the Bible were one thing, and the bishops of to-day quite another.
The bishops of the Bible were not to be lords over God's heritage. The bishops of to-day are addressed as, My Lord. It is curious that the Greek word for heritage is Kleros, from which is derived the word clergy. The word, clergy, denotes a priestly caste of which the Bible knows nothing. God's Kleros embraced all believers.
One can understand why the apostles had the power to appoint bishops or elders. Christianity was in its infancy. The apostles were specially chosen by the Lord to superintend the practical working of the infant church. They were competent to choose men of spiritual weight and character, able to feed the flock of God, and to guide the assembly by their wise counsel.
It is to be noted carefully that there are no instructions as to the appointing of bishops or elders after apostolic days. Was it that the Divine mind saw that declension would develop in the church of God, that things would develop into mere officialdom with spiritual discernment and spiritual power at a very low ebb, as we see all around us to-day? Moreover, if the church should break up into fragments, which fragment-would have the exclusive right to appoint bishops? Would not terrible confusion set in? Alas! Rome wrongfully lays claim to succession. There is no authority for apostolic succession in the Scriptures. The apostle and prophets, the foundation of the church, pass away, once that foundation was laid.
Whilst there is no provision made for the appointment of bishops or elders after apostolic days, the fact that the moral and spiritual qualifications of such are carefully given to us, indicates that whilst no official appointment can be made to-day, yet men with these qualifications may be discovered. In an assembly where there are found grave and godly elder brethren, with such qualities as those enumerated in 1 Timothy and Titus, they should be gladly recognized, and their words and advice have weight and helpfulness.
It is to be noted that whilst gift is for the whole church, that is, a teacher is a teacher wherever he goes among the assemblies, the office of a bishop was local, that is, a bishop at Philippi was a bishop there, and nowhere else.
As to the deacons, this is a word that has acquired an ecclesiastical meaning foreign to the word of God. The Greek word for deacon, diakonos, simply means a servant, a waiting man, a messenger. It was the ordinary word for any one serving whether in an exalted or in a menial capacity. Out of this ordinary word has been coined the word, deacon, indicating in church circles to-day, a person with a religious status, giving the word an ecclesiastical meaning with no warrant from Scripture.
We have instructions as to the character of these deacons or servants of the assembly in 1 Tim. 3:8-138Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8‑13). This is to be noted, as they evidently had to do with the secular or business side of the assembly, serving tables (Acts 6:22Then 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. (Acts 6:2)), as the apostles described it, in contrast to their own more spiritual work of ministering the word of God. The work of the deacons would cover such duties as caring for the poor, attending to the comfort of the assembly in their comings together, etc. The wives of the deacons are specially mentioned, as they might usefully assist their husbands in such work. The wives had to be grave, not slanderers, faithful in all things.
There is a great need for sober men to be raised up, who will care for the welfare of the assembly. Good it is when God puts the care of His own upon the hearts of such.