02.03. Part Two: An Examination of the Epistles

PART TWO, AN EXAMINATION OF THE EPISTLES

Having found no evidence of a supra-congregational hierarchy in Acts, we now turn our attention to the epistles. We will survey the epistles to look for any examples of hierarchical structure or authority.

Romans The origin of the Church at Rome is uncertain. We can be certain, however, that Paul had no direct involvement in its planting. There is no hint in the Epistle of Paul’s being in an overseer or governmental role in his relationship with the Roman Church. Their relationship was fraternal and horizontal, as exemplified by his statements in Romans 1:8-12 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. The Epistles to the Corinthians In both of the letters to Corinth, Paul does assert his authority in the Corinthian Church.

One of the situations that Paul dealt with in his Corinthian letters, was the presence in Corinth of some individuals who declared themselves to be superior to Paul. They argued that Paul was not an apostle because he was not a good orator, because he was timid, because he did not allow the church to support him financially, etc. These “super apostles” (this is the term Paul applies to them in 2 Corinthians 11:5) obviously were very charismatic, good orators, and insisted that the 10 church support them financially. Paul probably would have tolerated this, as he did at Philippi, 18 had it not been for the fact that these super apostles were preaching a different Gospel.

Another situation that Paul attacked strongly was the church’s toleration of incest. The Corinthian Church seems to have been rather boastful of its tolerant attitude. Paul’s response to these situations is instructive.

Paul is careful to declare that the church belongs to Christ, not to him or to any other minister of the Gospel.

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. (1 Corinthians 3:5) and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 3:23) Even though he declares that Christ’s ownership is supreme, Paul asserts his place of authority in the Corinthian Church. This is seen in how he responds to the situation in Corinth.

Instead of focusing on the sinners themselves, be they false apostles or the incestuous man, Paul scolds the church for tolerating such things. In each instance, he asserts his authority and chastises them for not respecting that authority. The Authority of A Father in the Corinthian Epistles Paul wrote to the church as a loving father, but also with the authority of a father, who has both the right and the responsibility to chastise misbehaving children.

I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me. (1 Corinthians 4:14-16) What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness? (1 Corinthians 4:21) Ecclesiastical Authority in the Corinthian Epistles Paul also wrote to Corinth as one who had ecclesiastical authority over the Corinthian Church. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5) Note that Paul says, I have decided. He was not present in Corinth, but he decided what was to be done and he expected them to carry out his decision.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. (1 Corinthians 16:1) The word translated, directed, is the Greek word, diata>ssw, which is used in the New Testament to refer to an “order” or a “command.” It clearly implies authority.

1911 In the Second Letter to the Corinthians we find a continuation of Paul’s discussion of his authority in the Corinthian Church. Early on, he assures them that he does not want to lord it over their faith. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. (2 Corinthians 1:24) Even in the matter of the collection that he ordered in 1 Corinthians 16:1, noted above, in 2 Corinthians, he softens the terminology.

I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. (2 Corinthians 8:8) The word translated, command, in this verse is a compound of the word used in 1 Corinthians 16:1, ejpita>ssw. Paul had the authority to give orders, but he did his best to avoid the appearance of heavy handed authority. Throughout the epistle he uses language that pictures Paul as having authority in the Corinthian Church. Note these examples, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:6) For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive, and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. (2 Corinthians 10:8-11) I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, (2 Corinthians 13:2) For this reason I am writing these things while absent, in order that when present I may not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down. (2 Corinthians 13:10) Given the language that Paul uses in both of the letters to Corinth, we can only conclude that Paul did have authority in the Corinthian Church.

ß He is the founder, the father, of the Corinthian Church ß He is one of the revelatory apostles Galatians In the Galatian Letter, Paul spends the first two chapters defending his message of grace and his credentials as a Revelatory Apostle. He defends his role as a revelator only to credential the message that he preached to them. There is no assertion of eccleastical authority, as is found in the Corinthian Letters. Instead, Paul reasons with the Galatians and appeals to the tender heart 12 that he has for them, as the motive for their positive response to his letter. My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-- (Galatians 4:19) is the tone of the letter.

Ephesians The Ephesian Epistle is a beautiful paternal letter. In Ephesians 3:1-13, he defends his credentials as a revelator, but there is no assertion of authority.

Philippians The Philippian Letter displays both a fraternal and a paternal relationship. There is one note of authority in Php 2:12. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Php 2:12) Given the mood of the letter, the sense of this verse is that they obeyed Paul as an obedient child would comply with the instructions of a father.

Colossians In the Colossian letter there is no hint of Paul’s exercising authority over the Colossian Church. It is a letter of encouragement and exhortation. The Epistles to the Thessalonians The First Epistle to the Thessalonians contains very tender language, but does state that Paul had the right to assert his authority nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children… just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children…(1 Thessalonians 2:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 2:11) and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; (1 Thessalonians 4:11) II Thessalonians has the same mood about it, but does contain clear evidence of Paul’s authority to give commands to the church.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6) The term translated, command, in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6 are identical, paragge>llw, meaning, to command, to order, to charge.

Letters to Timothy and Titus13 These are letters to Paul’s apostolic delegates. They are not written to churches and do not contain material that is relevant to our pursuit.

Hebrews, James, Jude, & Philemon The nature of these letters is not relevant to our study. There is no evidence of extra-local authority in these letters.

Peter’s Epistles Both of Peter’s epistles are exhortations and reminders. He does not assert eccleastical authority over the churches in his letters. However, the tone of the letter is that of the authority that resided in him as a revelator.

John’s Epistles The only hint of extra-local or apostolic authority in John’s letters is in III John.

3 John 1:9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. The phrase, does not accept what we say, literally translated states, does not accept us.

John had written instructions to the church; Demetrius did not respect John’s apostolic authority.