The Organization of the Church
New Testament
Not Found In The New Testament
• Hierarchy
• Organization chart
• Titles
Found In The New Testament
• One Head – Jesus Christ – Eph 1:22-23 – Eph 5:22-24
• Organizational plan or pattern for the local church – a simple one in Phil 1:1
• Roles or functions with various names as identifiers– Some names, like elder and deacon, are also used in
non-church-organization ways – Translations will use different words for the same function– This leaves many confused
Deacon
Elder
Number
Pope
Bishop
Cardinal
Prophet
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Monsignor
Priest
Saint
Faithful
High Priest
Teacher
Evangelist
Minister
Reverend
Assembly
ChurchCongregation
Rector
Flock OverseerPastor
Chief PriestWe will start with a view of
the confusion
(This list is not exhaustive, and some terms may not be found in all
translations of the Bible.)
1st pass at clarification or improved understanding is
to remove the terms that are not in the Bible.
(Not in the Bible as these terms are used in today's terminology. Some
words are versions of common words used in the bible.)
Deacon
Elder
Number
Pope
Bishop
Cardinal
Prophet
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Monsignor
Priest
Saint
Faithful
High Priest
Teacher
Evangelist
Minister
Reverend
Assembly
ChurchCongregation
Rector
Flock
ruler, leader
OverseerPastorFrench: mon seigneur, meaning
"my lord"
Chief Priest
2nd pass at clarification or improved understanding is to remove the terms that are not used in reference to the New Testament Church, even if
found in the New Testament.
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
Prophet
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Priest
Saint
Faithful
High Priest
Teacher
Evangelist
Minister
Assembly
ChurchCongregation
Flock OverseerPastor
Chief Priest
John 11:49Hebrews 5:5-6
John 11:47
• Of these that are left on our list, all are valid terms associated with the organization of the New Testament Church.
• However, not all are used in “religious circles” in a scriptural way.
• Some, like the following, are used for the wrong role– Priest
– Pastor
– Elder
• Others are used in a seemingly correct manner, but actually used incorrectly to establish a hierarchy (Bishop).
Phil 1:1
• NKJV & KJV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
• ASV: to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
• NIV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
• YLT: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;
• NASU: Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
Three Roles Mentioned
• Saints – all members of the church
• Overseer or bishop – leadership or protector
• Deacon – specific servants for a local church
We will look at each of these in order.
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery Preacher
Priest SaintFaithful
Teacher
Evangelist
Minister
Assembly
Church
Congregation
Flock
Priest Saint
Prophet
Overseer
Pastor
• Some of these are translated from the same Greek word but have been translated differently.
• Let’s look at examples from one translation - NASB.
• All are describing a group of people with a common bond – Acts 2:47
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery Preacher
Faithful
Teacher
Evangelist
Minister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Col 1:2
Eph 3:10
Acts 4:32
1Cor 12:12-13
Heb 12:23Acts 5:14
1Pet 5:2-3Lead by Elders
Eph 4:11-12
1 Peter 2:5Rev 1:5-6
Overseer
Pastor
Prophet
• This is all that is required to have an acceptable, functioning, scriptural church,
• But with the other two roles mentioned in Phil 1:1, God’s final plan for the church is complete and in order – Titus 1:5.
• Now for the second function mentioned in Phil 1:1, the leadership
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
ApostleServant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery Preacher
Faithful
Teacher
EvangelistMinister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Overseer
Pastor Prophet
• There are 3 different words used for the leadership, each with two typical translations
• The scriptures . . .
Prophet
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
ApostleServant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Faithful
Teacher
EvangelistMinister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Overseer
Acts 20:28Eph 4:11
Phil 1:1
Pastor
Acts 20:17
• Acts 20:28 relates overseer or bishop to shepherd or pastor
• Acts 20:17 refers to these same people as elders
• Acts 14:21-23 – each congregation to have their own elders
• 1Pet 5:1-3 - Elders have oversight over one congregation, the one of which they are among – Acts 20:28
• Elders have qualification
– I Tim 3:1-7
– Titus 1:6-9
– Role models & examples
• Primary function is to guard the flock from false teachers and maintain a sound church
– Acts 20:28
– Titus 1:9-11
Deacon
Number
Bishop
Apostle Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Faithful
Teacher EvangelistMinister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Overseer
Prophet
Elder
Pastor
Same word as Deacon
Phil 1:11Tim 3:8,10
Same word as Deacon
• The words used for Deacon and Minister are the same.
• Can be applied to the function of a Deacon.
• Can also be applied to the Christian. Heb 6:10
• Duties of the Deacon are not listed, but examples are in Acts 6:1-5 of men called upon to serve the congregation
• Qualifications listed in 1 Tim 3:8-13
Deacon
Number
Bishop
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Faithful
Teacher Evangelist
Minister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Overseer
Prophet
Elder
Pastor
Eph 4:11-13• Identifies another group of people,
although not necessarily a part of the organization of the church.
• Terms are consistent across translations
• These are the means to build up the church – 2 Tim 3:16
• Prophets & Apostles ceased near the end of the 1st century with the passing of the Apostles and the end of miracles
• Edification passed from the inspired individual to the inspired scriptures
• 1 Cor 13:8-10
• Acts 8:4-6, 14-17
Deacon
Number
Bishop
Apostle
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Faithful
Teacher
Minister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
Flock
Evangelist
Priest Saint
Overseer
Prophet
Elder
PastorActs 15:35Rom 10:14To herald, proclaim
Acts 21:8Preacher of the
gospel
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Preacher
Faithful
Teacher
Minister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
Flock
Evangelist
Priest Saint
Overseer Pastor
• With this we have the structure of the New Testament church.
• But we are not finished.• Any sound structure needs a good
foundation – Apostles & Prophets – Eph 2:20
• The corner stone of the church is Jesus Christ.
• Eph 2:21 – a resulting building that is the Lord’s temple
Deacon
Elder
Number
Bishop
Servant
Member
Shepherd
Presbytery
Faithful
Minister
AssemblyChurch
Congregation
FlockPriest Saint
Overseer
Apostles & Prophets
PreacherTeacher Evangelist
Pastor
Jesus Christ
• Now our structure is complete, and is built with the plans God gave us in his inspired word.
• There is another plan or pattern equally important that He also gave us.
The pattern we see for an individual’s salvation includes the following:
– Hear the word of God – Rom 10:17
– Believe the word of God and confess Jesus to be the Son of God – Romans 10:9-10
– Repent of your sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins – Acts 2:38
– Live a godly life – Titus 2:11
If the church you are a member of . . .
• Has 21 year old elders• Has a hierarchy of leaders outside your
congregation• Has elders or bishops with oversight of
several congregations• Claims to have those performing miracles• Or any number of things not aligned with the
simple organization of Phil 1:1
. . .it is time to reconsider the congregation you are associated with.