symbolics.dev

Orthodox Creed · Chapter 31

Of Officers in the Church of Christ

API: GET /api/v1/documents/orthodox1679/paragraphs/31.1

Page 42 of the printing · the scan

1. The Visible Church of Christ, being compleatly Gathered and Organized, according to the Mind of Christ, consists of Officers and Members; and the Officers (appointed by Christ) to be chosen by his Church, for the peculiar Administration of Ordinances, and Execution of the Power and Duty Christ hath injoyned them to the end of the World; Are these three, (viz.) Bishops,a* (or Messengers), and Elders,b (or Pastours), and Deacons,c (or Overseers of the Poor): and the Way appointed by Christ, for the calling of any Person fitted and gifted by the Holy Ghost, unto the Office of Bishop, or Messenger, in the Churches is, (viz.) That he be chosen thereunto by the common Suffrage of the Church,d† and solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer, with Imposition of Hands, by the Bishops of the same Function, ordinarily; and those Bishops so Ordained, have the Government of those Churches that had Suffrage in their Election,e and no other ordinarily; as also to preach the Word, or Gospel, to the World, (or Unbelievers).f And the particular Pastour, or Elder, in like manner is to be chosen by the common Suffrage of the particular Congregation, and ordained by the Bishop, or Messengerg God hath placed in the Church he hath charge of; and the Elder so ordained, is to watch over that particular Church; and he may not ministerially act in any other Church before he be sent,h neither ought his Power, or Office, any way to infringe the Liberty, or due Power, or Office of his Bishop,i‡ God being a God of Order,j having ordained things most harmoniously, tending every way to Unity.k The Deacons are in like manner to be chosen by Election and Ordination, and are in their particular Congregations, to receive the Charity and free Benevolence of the People:l and the Bishops and Elders so Chosen, and Ordained, to the Work of God,m ought to be enabled and capacitated thereunto, by a sufficient and honourable Maintenancen of the People that chose them, answerable to the Dignity of their Placeso and Charge committed to them, without which they cannot discharge their Duty (as they ought to do) in studying to divide the Word of God aright, as St. Paul adviseth Timothy, and also to give themselves wholly to it;p and this Maintenance is to be given out of the Labours, Profits, and Estates of the People, by Equality, and proportionable to their Ability,q in Liberality, God having reserved a Portion for all his Labourers, out of all the Members worldly Goods, and Possessions.

Notes

  1. *See the ΕΙΚΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ, from pag. 149. to pag. 160.
  2. †Χειροτονήσαντες δ’ αὐτοῖς πρεσβυτέρους κατ’ ἐκκλησίαν, προσευξάμενοι, &c. Quumq; ipsis per Suffragia, &c.
  3. ‡Or Overseer, or Shepherd.

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aActs 1:20, 25–26; 13:2–3
  2. bActs 14:23; 20:17, 28
  3. cActs 6:3–6
  4. dActs 1:23–26; 14:23
  5. e1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:5; Revelation 2:1–2, 8, 12
  6. fMatthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 1:22; 2 Timothy 4:2
  7. gActs 14:23
  8. hRomans 10:15; Acts 13:2–4
  9. i1 Corinthians 16:16
  10. j1 Timothy 1:3; Acts 20:23; 1 Corinthians 11:34; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17
  11. k1 Corinthians 14:33
  12. lActs 6:1–3, 5–6; 1 Timothy 3:8, 12–13; 1 Corinthians 3:9
  13. m1 Timothy 3:5; 4:6, 16; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 1:7
  14. n1 Corinthians 9:1–14; Philippians 4:15–17
  15. o1 Timothy 5:17–18; Galatians 6:6, 10; Deuteronomy 25:4; 2 Corinthians 11:7–8
  16. p1 Timothy 3:5–6, 8; 4:13–15; 2 Timothy 1:2–4, 14; 3:14–17; 4:1–2, 5; Colossians 4:11, 17
  17. q2 Corinthians 8:12–15; 9:5–11

Cite this

Orthodox Creed (1679) 31.1, symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/31.1

Permalink: https://symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/31.1

See a mistake? Report it, with what the printing has.