---

The New Testament Church Structure

---

The New Testament Church Structure, Which one is Biblical, the right one for tofday? Does God firstly really lead the Church even today by  an  one man or an eldership form of structure - an one directional pyramidal structure, or even the totally reverse also, a Congregationalist one? or the bi directional pyramidal structure or  what? Do you even really know what the New Testament says now on this?

Firstly Christ is the sole head of the Church, even today.

(Eph 5:23 KJV)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

(Eph 5:24 KJV)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

(Eph 5:25 KJV)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

(Eph 5:26 KJV)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

(Eph 5:27 KJV)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

(Eph 5:28 KJV)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

(Eph 5:29 KJV)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

(Eph 5:30 KJV)  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

(Heb 3:1 KJV)  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Let's next notice in the New Testament, in the book of Acts as to really how God leads the true Church of God by His Spirit.  It is always still not the church of men or of a man. Christ alone is the living head of the church still.

Let me first also say that  it is also  absurd, a false extreme to say that the New Testament Church, the rightful Church of today  has no visible structure or set gifted offices in the church, today or in the New Testament now as well.

Let us all stop here and remember that anyone following the right Church structure and themselves not being Baptized and led now by the Holy Spirit is still a real waste of time. And without the real application of love any Church forrm, approach will still fail too.

Now after Jesus was resurrected and after he was seen by many in the space of about forty days, He next instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem and, "...wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4-5). Before the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the disciples were all together in one place, number about one hundred and twenty all together ((Acts 1:15 KJV)  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)). Peter then discusses with the entire group the need for a replacement for Judas. (Acts 1:23 KJV)  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.   "And they appointed two ..." (v. 23), it is apparent that the entire 120 members participated in making this appointment.  Third, we notice that the saints did not seek their own will in this decision. Neither did they look to any man for direction. They wanted God to make the final decision. They had cast lots so that God's will would be made know.

New Testament scripture clearly still does not support a pyramidal one directional hierarchical structure of government in God's Church.

Also do note that in Acts 2, where we read about the birth of the New Testament Church through the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. The Holy spirit was given directly by God to every single member present initially but next it was done by the laying on by the  hands of the elders on every single person?  evidenced by the person also speaking in tongues initially by every single person baptized with the Holy Spirit. I know it happened to me.

Some persons have detailed that ...

If God's form of Church government was only one directional pyramidal, He would have given then the  Holy Spirit to Peter alone, who in turn would have given it to the other Apostles, who in turn would have laid hands on the rest of the one hundred and twenty to give them the Holy spirit as well. But it didn't happen that way originally. God used the plurality of persons, to even distribute his Holy Sprit. to do his work  as well. 

God here also revealed that he planned to speak through all of the saints, not just to a special few for everyone  there Baptized with the Holy Spirit now got the gift of toungues.

God still  chose himself all of  the Elders, but next the people chose the deacons.. but elders and deacons are all also still servants of God and of each others, of the congregation too.

In Acts chapter 6, seven men were chosen to serve as Deacons in the Church. The Apostles chose not to  choose the deacons  themselves. Instead, they said, "Wherefore, 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" (v. 3).

The New Testament  Elders and deacons selection partially mirrored that which took place in (Exo 18:25 KJV)  "And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens." Where god chosed the Elders. and (Deu 1:13 KJV)  "Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you." where the people made the rest of the choices.

We often hear of Church cell groups that have been organized now based on the Moses eldership model but next how Biblically New Testament is that anyway? One Church that I had been too involved into Cells was involved in sexual lusts and adultery still.

Secondly, we notice that the men who were chosen were charged with the moral responsibility. in their oversight of the resources, food being distributed daily to the poor persons, the  widows in need. Nowhere in this chapter firstly  were they referred to as Elders. They were all servant ministers in every sense of the word, and some next were actually chosen as elders in the Church, as elders they were still servants of God and men.

"And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles .... Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word" (Acts 8:1,4). From these verses we clearly see that everyone was preaching the Gospel. The evangelistic work of God was also not at all a one man show.

As the history of the early Church continues in Acts 8:5, we are given the account of how one disciple who was scattered by the persecution preached the word. We see Philip, who was one of the seven going into Samaria preaching the gospel, healing sickness and casting out demons. As a result of Philip's preaching, almost everyone in the city got baptized. Philip didn't have to seek authorization from "headquarters" before baptizing, he simply did whatever the Spirit led him to do. Had he been a part of the body of Christ, he would have been disfellowshipped for acting without authorization.

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:[this proves that Philip acted without seeking approval from men, for they heard about it after the fact] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:14-17).

 Simon the sorcerer "saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given ... " (Acts 8:18).

 (Acts 2:38). Peter said, "we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32).

Once Philip had completed what God wanted him to do in Samaria the Spirit led Philip toward the South unto Gaza where he met a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot" (Acts 8:29). Notice how the Spirit was leading the Church.

Those who teach the pyramid  hierarchical structure seem to  love to quote the next few verses which read, "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? " (v. 30-31).

From this they say would say that we need a man to guide us. However, they tend to forget that this detailed conversation took place while the eunuch was yet unbaptized and without the Holy Spirit. As we continue reading though, we see that Philip preaches Jesus. As they passed by water the eunuch asked to be baptized. "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." Once baptized, the eunuch didn't need a man to guide him anymore. The Spirit took the man away. From henceforth the eunuch would be led by the Spirit. Jesus Is The Living Head of His Church. Apostle Paul his self was taught by the Holy Sprit and not man.

In Acts 9 we read about the calling of the Apostle Paul. If the Church was structured like a one directional pyramid, then Christ should have revealed to Peter that He was going to call Paul. In fact, Peter should have been the one sent to Paul instead of Ananias. But God didn't reveal Paul's calling to Peter at all. God called Paul and Paul began preaching immediately without any mention of Peter. In Galatians, Paul elaborates on this fact to show that his Apostleship was not from man. It's also interesting to note in Acts 9:20 that as soon as Paul was converted, he began preaching Christ.

Also apostle Paul clearly WAS NOT one OF THE original 12 OR the 13th apostle..

For we know that in the Church of Christ there were more than just the 12 original apostles.. An Apostle is a calling,  who job description is being the senior father of the church, he is generally the, an original church starter, he is the equivalent today of a Missionary, and he or she  tends to have all, note all of the gifts of the Holy spirit. Apostle are generally characterized by the much persecutions and sufferings they bear too.. One generally tends to work one way up in the church and the last administrative position is the Apostle.. the job below the apostle are the prophets who are often found in the company of apostles, and generally below the prophets are the pastors -teachers who take the advice from the Prophets.. many pastor teachers deny the existence of apostles, prophets cause they are in sin and falsely refuse to submit to their authorities.. Some pastors today actually function in the role of an Apostle, but do not use the title.. and the elders are made up of the local pastors teachers, prophets, apostles.. there are women apostles.. such as Junia (Rom 16:7 KJV)  Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me... and women prophetess (by the way Apostle and prophets can be divorcees.. while pastor teachers cannot..) Evangelists is a separate gifted persons to the church, also one of the elders, generally has a healing or miracles gifts,   tend to travel from church to church, city while missionaries tend to be fixed.. Generally in the local Church the apostle is referred to as an elder.. as are the prophets, pastor teachers, evangelists.. Now as to a ruling elder, the church administrator,  the Bishop...an apostle, he tends to be responsible for a specific flock of churches in the geographical area.. he is the the most senior original apostle or his gifted appointee. God selects and equips the church  leaders, the church confirms it.. The New Testament office of an Apostle supposedly also had no parallel for sure in the Old Testament and I would agree that a more  valid Biblical definition of an "Apostle is a matured Holy Spirit anointed Christian person who has experienced all the gifts of the Holy Spirit... in other words he the Apostle has also personally had functioned in the role of prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist, miracle worker, healer, giver, helper.. etc., and that was why they have been given such  importance in their roles now too. Mind you that is a general definition, the original 12 Apostles and Apostle Paul do not fully meet this criteria.

 

(Eph 4:11 KJV)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Because many they have also wrongfully neglected the continual Greek verse tense here  in the passage, stating thus God keeps on giving these anointed persons, offices, some persons would wrongfully state that there is clear implications there being only one historic  "foundation" and that once a foundation is laid, it does not need to go on being laid thus pointing to a SUPPOSEDLY temporary nature and cessation of the office of Apostle.or Prophet now as well.

 

The Christian Church foundational, original organization plan,  while truly first set in Pentecost is actually repeated  daily today as well when we now do build any new church work. In any new local church work the apostles, and  the NT prophets are continually raised up by still by God for them to serve in the founding, foundations  of the new church work. Once this task was, is complete, these offices of apostles and prophet's were  still needed even next in the administration and expanding the new church work and even by next also building another one, Now how come some people do not want to see this too? "In Eph. 2:20, apostles and prophets are closely linked. They are both important components of the one foundation.  Ephesians would actually indicate that we are dealing with two groups of specifically gifted people. In Eph. 4:11 we are told that Christ "gave some to be apostles, some prophets..." Here both nouns have their own definite article. They are clearly two separate groups.  Let’s also STILL note the important position accorded to New Testament prophets. In Eph. 4:11 they are mentioned second only to apostles. Their importance is also seen in Rom. 12:6-8, where the first gift mentioned is prophecy. Similarly, 1 Cor. 12:28 lists "first apostles, second prophets, third..."

Sadly in the too often now man led, man organized, rather false hierarchical pyramidal church structure of many major denominations now too, such as the Christian Missionary Alliance and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, the North American Baptist Church, and many others denominations too  this preaching would never be allowed. If a person came into In a hierarchical church structure and he began preaching locally, even if he said God told him to do it, he  would not be allowed, and the person would be opposed disfellowshipped if he persisted. I even do know this firsthand too .

In 1963 the Christian and Missionary Alliance issued an official statement regarding the gift of tongues in response to the existing Charismatic and Pentecostal movements.  It was an appeal to Alliance clergy and laity to reject the initial evidence doctrine and to maintain an attitude toward tongue speaking of “seek not, forbid not.”  But the statement “seek not, forbid not,” was not to be found anywhere in the founders A.B. Simpson’s writings. 

In fact, we are warned not to follow men in Jeremiah 17:5. Here the Eternal says, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." God does not require his children to have to trust men and what they tell us. That's why he has given each one of us access to His Word. We have direct access to God.

The New Testament Church is a spirit-led church. It is not a human organization. It is a spiritual organism where the living head is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). God uses the vine to typify organization of the Church. In God's model, every member is a branch. Every member in the true church is connected directly to Christ with no intermediaries. By using the vine, Jesus showed us that God's government does not take the form of a pyramid. He did not give us the idea that members are connected to him through a descending chain of command. The structure of the church is not a tree structure. It is a vine structure.

The Apostle Paul outlines the only chain of command that exists in 1Corinthians 11:3. He says, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." The chain is from the Father, to Christ to each family.

Each family reports directly to Christ, but it is also led through a chain of human leaders where the leaders job is to lead us to Christ and His way for us... but these leaders do not dictate, they cannot enforce directly their views upon us.. we are still directly to follow only after Christ. We always still submit to all of the church leaders voluntarily

The scripture also says no man can serve two masters. Paul said, there is One Lord (Eph 4:5). Yet, in hierarchical systems, those on lower levels have more than one Lord, for they must answer to those who are above them in rank. Each rank exercises lordship over those under them. To operate successfully in such structures, each person learns to please the man above him in rank. But Paul said, "do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). You can't be a servant of Christ and at the same time be required to follow the dictates of men. There is only one true head that we need to submit to and that head is Christ.

God "hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). The Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son: ... And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man" (John 5:22-27). We don't have to answer to men. We are not accountable to the dictates of men. For this reason Paul says, "... why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10).

Their one directional hierarchical structure of government hinders the leadership of Christ in the Church. As if through a funnel, the works of Jesus are thought to be channeled through one man, and from him they are thought to trickle down to the rest of the congregation as delegated by the one man. In this model of government, Jesus is thought to only communicate to members through the one man, who for the church stands in the place of Christ. An example of this would be seen if God were to give an unordained member the gift of healing or gift of prophecy. In Churches using the hierarchical structure, such a member would not be allowed to use the gift in the church without first seeking approval from the ministry. In most cases, if a member claimed to have the gift of prophecy, he might be told that the spirit speaking to him may not be of God, but could be a demon. Such Church structures do stop Jesus from directly leading the Church. In effect, an organization that incorporates an one directional hierarchical form of government the Pastor is telling God that you cannot lead these members except through me. 

The Alliance as well tends to be the rich who neglect, persecute the poor persons in their own churches as Jesus himself directly told me right in the First Alliance Church service in Calgary.

Mutual, reversible accountability and submission is an integral part of the New Testament church structure rather still and of all true churches today as well

In Acts 10, God uses Peter to bring the first Gentiles into the Church. In chapter 11:2 we find the members contending with Peter for letting them come in. This proves that Peter, like the elders of ancient Israel, was accountable not only as well to those he served with and to those he served as well.  He Peter was not above the other saints in submission too. He now also couldn't threaten to disfellowship anyone who dared question him. Nor did he at any point attempt to prove he was right by virtue of his "position" in the Church, for there are no ranks in the body of Christ. Rather, Peter explains that God revealed this to him in a vision, and based on what God was doing, and the vision that Peter received "they held their peace" (Acts 11:18). 

Even next Apostle Paul rebuked Peter directly as recorded in the New testament. (Rom 12:9 KJV)  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Gal 2:13 KJV)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.(Gal 2:14 KJV)  But when I( Apostle Paul)  saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

In Acts 13 God speaks directly to a small group of prophets and teachers. None of the original 12 Apostles were even present. No enforced instruction came to this group through a chain of human leaders. The Holy Spirit simply said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2).

Again, by this example, God clearly illustrates that His church is not organized in a dictatorial one direction pyramid hierarchical manner. Once they were instructed by the Spirit, they did what God directed them to do. If God tells you to do something, what more approval do you need?  You still can ask for confirmation even from God.

Even Apostle Paul does not always pull rank. Acts 15: 4 we see, "they were received of the church and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them." Afterwards, the certain Pharisees rose up and raised the dispute. Then they all got together to resolve the issue with all the Apostles and elders. We know that the entire Church was involved in the final discussion because the multitude is referred to in verse 12, and when James summarized the conclusion, we read, "Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church ... " (v. 22).

We often quote Acts 17:11, but we don't often focus on the anti-hierarchical nature of the verse. Starting in verse 10 we read, "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (vv. 10-11).

If the Apostle Peter or the Apostle Paul were at the top of a pyramid,their word would carry some weight. But Paul didn't expect anyone to accept his word alone . Apostle Paul himself confirmed that the final authority rests in the Word of God, God.

Some persons still do  teach a false and an extreme doctrine here. They say the word of God alone is the only, sole authority for all. Each member of the Church must prove everything from the Word of God himself, then each member now needs only to follow the Word of God and nothing, no one else.  The Word of God, the Bible  becomes the Head of the Church. We thus now don't  follow any men. Well Jesus is the head of the church, but he also speaks now by his Holy Spirit. the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even by Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, Bishops- Elders..  and not just by the Bible now to.

Men can guide us to the words of Christ. Men may have gifts that enable them to see things others may not of themselves clearly see. Nonetheless, such men must not strive to be the main authority themselves. Their role is simply to help people see the expressed will of God. Every member of the Church must be following God finally, initially. God can and does still use men, dreams and  angels too  to confirm his word from the Bible to us.

In Acts 18, we read about a certain Jew named Apollos. Apollos was teaching in the synagogue knowing only the baptism of John. He didn't have to wait for an "ordained" minister to authorize him to teach. He wasn't even asked to take a back seat, in spite of his incomplete understanding of the gospel. Instead, Aquila and Priscilla, simply pulled him aside and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And immediately they encouraged him to keep right on preaching, even sending him forth with a letter of recommendation. A women teacher here now used to do this as well,

Clearly, from all that we've examined, New testament scripture does not support a totally pyramidal one directional  hierarchical structure of government in God's Church. The scriptures consistently also shows that God works directly with each member through the written Word, and through the Living Word  His Spirit as well  as through others too.

Order is still God will, direction.

(Luke 1:1 KJV)  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

(1 Cor 11:34 KJV)  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

(1 Cor 14:40 KJV)  Let all things be done decently and in order.

(1 Cor 16:1 KJV)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

(Col 2:5 KJV)  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

(Titus 1:5 KJV)  For 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:

(Heb 5:6 KJV)  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.