“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4:11

AS the Lord had very particular specifications when building the tabernacle, or tent of meeting, so He has specific precepts about how His body, how His church should function (Ex. 25:40; 26:30; 2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5). Of course, the most important specification is that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone (Matt. 21:42).

“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. ” (Eph. 2: 17-22).

No One Can Ever Replace Jesus In Person

To love like Jesus adequately is not possible for us as human beings. We just do not meet His standard at all, but collectively as His body, it is possible to demonstrate His love to the world. Therefore, when He ascended, Jesus gave five different parts of Himself as gifts to bring the church to maturity in Christ. “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:10-12). 

Jesus Embodies All The Five Gifts Given To The Church

What is the so-called five-fold ministry? For the church to be perfect in Christ, it must be equipped and receive the grace contained in each of these five gifts. Each gift is unique in its function, focus, passion, personality and approach. Just as a house consists of different elements such as a foundation, walls, windows and doors, roof, interior decoration, electricity and plumbing, so God’s body also consists of different parts and functions.

Different Churches:

• The Soul-Winning church. The church is led by an evangelist. Almost every Sunday there is a focus on getting people to make a surrender, and therefore many people repent. The congregation grows with many new people, but they do not like the people.
• The Encounter Church. The congregation is led by a prophetic leader. The focus is on prophecy, experiences, dreams, visions and spiritual experiences. Prayer, worship, and emotional experiences are important.
• The Family-Reunion Church. The congregation is led by a pastoral leader. The focus is on healthy people relationships, and on keeping everyone happy. The pastor is usually everyone’s friend, and very approachable. Peace, kindness and family are important.
• The Classroom Church. The congregation is led by a pastor. Good Bible study and Scripture exegesis are important. There is a clear focus on the right information and the Truth. People are encouraged to take various courses.
• The Social Conscience Church. The congregation is led by an apostolic leader. The congregation is practically busy in their community, and wants to make a social difference. Truth, Dogma, and accuracy are important. Every member must work, and be involved.
• The Truth is Clear: Every congregation must be exposed to all five of these ministries. All five of these focus areas are important for our spiritual growth.
• Interestingly, the Purpose Driven model (Rick Warren) actually includes all of these ministries, just with different names:
  • Magnify – we celebrate God’s presence in worship (Prophetic).
  • Mission – we communicate God’s word through evangelism (Evangelistic).
  • Membership – we incorporate God’s family into our fellowship (Pastoral).
  • Maturity – we educate God’s people through discipleship (Teacher).
  • Ministry – we demonstrate God’s love through service (Apostolic).

It is clear that for the church to be a healthy and balanced place of spiritual growth, members must be exposed to all five of these gifts, ministries, and focus. Members who are part of such churches will experience accelerated personal spiritual growth in an atmosphere of corporate change. Usually when one of these aspects is overemphasized at the expense of another, the result is the church becomes a misrepresentation of Christ.

Therefore, it is important that the church will recognize these five gifts first in Christ’s ministry, and then in one another in His body. Nowadays, the health revolution markets weekly for our new diets, exercise programs, and miracle cures for a healthier life. However, Jesus has already determined what the instruments and catalysts are for optimal spiritual growth.

What is An Apostle?

The Apostle and High Priest of our confession is Christ Jesus (Heb. 3:1).

The word apostle is not foreign to the church. The Orthodox and Catholic Church have been using the term and title for centuries. It was with the Reformation, that there was a move away from titles, and the abuse of power. The term has fallen into oblivion among Protestants, and was used only by certain sect groups.

The Greek word apostle appears 81 times in the NT. The word does not appear in the OT because the word did not yet exist. The word was coined by the Greeks to explain the concept of sending their leaders to the kingdoms they conquered to enrich the culture. Jesus could have called his disciples, priests or rabbis, but He prefers the Greek concept to be the pillars of the church. The word is used once each in Matthew and Mark, six times in Luke and 30 times in the book of Acts. The other 38 times the word is used by Paul in his letters.

Meaning Of The Word

A modern translation of the word would be missionary. For in essence this is what the word Apostle means. Send ‘apo’ from ‘stello’: One dispatch (apo, from stello- to dispatch), ambassador, agent, envoy, messenger sent, on a mission, service, business, assignment or judicial, bearer of a commission. Navy, expedition, maritime and military expeditions.

The First Mention of An Apostle in the New Testament is in the Life of Jesus Himself

In his last prayer, Jesus declared that the Father had sent Him (John 17: 3,4). “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” (John 17:6); “glorified Him on earth” (John 17: 4)

“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?.” (John 14: 9). Jesus was sent as an ambassador and the Father’s delegate. He was truly the first apostle, not only in time but in priority. In fact, Hebrews makes this clear when it describes him as, “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” (Heb. 3:1). Jesus did not ask His apostles to do something He had not yet done (Matt. 10:2). Therefore, when we consider the NT for testimony to apostolos, we begin with the pattern for all others – Jesus Christ.

COMMISSION: “God is a God of motion, of movement, of mission. Or, as it is popular nowadays to say, “two-thirds of the word God is go.” Everyone is here on assignment. Everyone is on a mission. Everyone is a missionary. Every Christian has an apostolate to fulfill.” – André Pelser.

The first word of the “Great Commission” is “Go” (KJV). A little less than two hundred times does the Bible instruct us to “go.” Never once does the Bible instruct us to “hide.” Only about thirteen times does it tell us to “stay.” But the “staying” instructions keep us next to Jesus. And the only times we are told to “stay” are to wait for instructions from Jesus so that we can best “go.”

“The only true voyage of discovery, the only fountain of Eternal Youth, would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes.” —Marcel Proust.

This is one reason why the Gospels are filled with travel metaphors. Len Hjalmarson brilliantly elaborates the difference between a temple spirituality and a tabernacle spirituality; the former being priest-centric, the latter being road-centric.

PRACTICAL: Something happens in you when you go on a mission. That is why many churches offer mission outreach, and anyone who has been on such a journey will recognize that the circumstances, the ministry to a foreign cultural group, loosen something within you. You feel important, you feel empowered, you feel you are making a difference! The traveling aspect of the gospel, is central to demolishing Jesus’ temple and rebuilding narrative in three days. The former church has grown exponentially dramatically, and the whole of Asia Minor, in less than thirty years, has been Christianized.

“But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”. (Acts 19:9-10).

Jesus was sent by the Father – Luke 7:3:

Being one sent implies that: You speak and act on behalf of someone. You are no longer part of ‘us’. As Jesus was sent, He also sends us (John 20:21).

Like sheep among the wolves (Matt. 10: 3).

We must also pray that the Lord will send laborers (Matt. 10: 2).

Sent, delegate, profession, representative.

Being a missionary gives you a certain mandate and authority to act on behalf of the one who sent you (John 13:20).

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.” (Matt. 4:12). Jesus also teaches His disciples to declare when they come to a place: “The kingdom of God is very near to you” (Matt. 10: 9); and even if the people do not receive the messenger. “But know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand” (Luke 10:11). We sometimes pray too long that the kingdom is yet to come, while if Jesus is in place, the kingdom has already come.

We want to dress Jesus all the time, sit like Him, be like Him, try to be spiritual, try to be Christian. When you were converted, Jesus came to dwell in you through His Holy Spirit, making you a new creature. So He is already in you!

So be like Him – He has sent you:

“Give them something to eat…” (Mark 6:37)

“…heal the people” (Matt. 10: 9)

“…heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers”

“…cast out evil spirits”

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10: 8).

The Kingdom is in us (Luke 17:21).

The Lord dwells among the praise of His children, and with Him as our Father, one faith, baptism and hope, speaks of His Kingdom in our midst (Col. 1:27).

Hence the instruction not to provide or to take with you anything extra (Luke 10: 9). God will provide, He will take care, He will secure us. It is a wonderful privilege to be in the service of God, His ambassador. All this is the work of God. He reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18).

The message is not going to be easily received. Persecution awaits (Matt. 10: 16-18). For if they can do this with the Son of God, then we will not be set free (Matt. 10: 24-25). We can not adapt the message and water it down to escape prosecution. But we do not represent ourselves. He is a living God, who will soon judge everyone according to their deeds.

“The devil’s greatest commission is to prevent you from finishing your commission.”

Everything covered will be made public:

One of the enemy’s most important techniques of persecution is to bring us into disrepute (Matt. 10:26-27). But God will eventually fix the records, we do not have to defend ourselves.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28). “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matt. 10:30).

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:38-39).

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” (Matt. 10: 40-41).

“Want to follow Jesus? Leave the church. Get out of the church. Leave. I mean it. Right now. Get out of here. Scram. Now. Out of here. Did you hear me? … Leave this church. Now! Jesus says, ‘Go Do Me.’ Go be Jesus. ”

Prophet

“This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matt. 21:11).

Jesus repeatedly referred to Himself that a prophet is not recognized among his own people. (Matt. 13:57; Luke 4: 24-27; John 4:44). He himself utters a prophetic judgment, and warning, issued in 70 n.C. word for word is fulfilled (Luke 21: 20–24).

Different Uses For Prophecy:

• Prophecy as a warning – Joseph (Matt. 2:13); the Wise Men (Matt. 2:12)

• Prophetic message about the future – Agabus (Acts 11: 27-28),

• Prophetic encouragement – (1 Cor. 14: 3-4),

• Prophetic Judgment – Jesus (Jerusalem – Luke 13: 34-35 and 19: 41-44); (Gorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum – Matt. 11: 20-24),

• Prophesy life – the dead bones (Ezek. 37: 9-10),

• Prophesy for Christ – (2 Pet. 1:19 and Rev. 19:10),

• Prophesy someone’s calling. Simeon (Luke 2: 29-31) and Anna the prophetess (Luke 2: 36-38). John the Baptist’s future through his father. (Luke 1: 67-79).

Different Prophets in the NT:

• Anna (Luke 2:36)
• Agabus (Acts 11:28; 21: 10-11)
• Individuals (Acts 13: 1)
• Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32)
• The disciples at Troy (Acts 21: 4)
• Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21: 9)
• Ananias (Acts 9: 10-18)

Why is Prophecy Important?

“… what you must pay attention to …” 2 Pet. 1:19

“… you must remember the words of the prophets …” 2 Pet. 3:2

“… do not underestimate prophecy” 1 Thess. 5:20

“… so that by it you may fight the good fight” Tim. 1:18

“For the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he will give his counsel unto his servants the prophets” – Amos 3:7

The Evangelist

“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).

The word evangelist simply means: the bearer of good news.

The work of the evangelist is most important: if no one repents, there is no one to teach, care for, or send. That is why we see Jesus’ determined focus on “going” … I have to go and tell others. ” When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Luke 4:40-43.

The word Evangelist occurs only three times in the Bible:

“On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.” (Acts 21:8-9).

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).

False Evangelists:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1: 8-9). Paul emphasizes this statement by repeating it!

The best example of how meeting and conversation leads to the conversion of not just one person, but an entire community – Joh. 4.

Testimony:

We are called to be His witnesses . We no longer testify. Have we lost our power? Is there room in our witnessing services?

I am a witness to good news! I’m not a witness to old stuff, and stories. You’re testifying to something that really happened.

I am a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, not before the church, but before those who do not believe. Your testimony brings hope!

Your testimony is not a teaching. You bible-bash not people. You bring testimony for Jesus to people who still doubt. We need to tell our stories! Young people need to hear our story.

We must tell our story in a timely and untimely manner.

Your testimony should have a sweet smell. How wonderful are the footsteps of those who preach the Word and testify of its working in their lives (Isa. 53: 7). Your story is unique! That’s why we need to tell our story.

Your chance awaits you. You bear responsibility, be respectful. Think of the ceremony of the court, where you have to act as a witness. We must be respectful, respectful, not combative, not seeking his own interest. Our testimony is not used for selfish gain. We testify of Jesus!

When we are faithful to testify of Jesus, He will work together and work further evidence through you to confirm your word and testimony. How do you test an evangelist? You test him on his consistency to the word of His testimony, and the miracles that follow him. If the Lord healed you, go and pray for the sick after you have testified. If the Lord has delivered you from bondage, pray for the slaves to be set free, and you will see deliverance.

The church is not going to create an opportunity for you to testify, you have to create your own platform! Matt. 11: “No one knows the Father except the Son, and those who choose the Son to make himself known.” Jesus did not just talk involuntarily to everyone, Jesus went to make Himself known to those whom the Father had shown Him. We are sent. Ask the Lord to whom He wants to send you. Who chooses the Lord, to whom He wants to make Himself known.

1 Cor. 15: 2: The core of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He lives! Our ministry is focused on people being able to see Jesus’ resurrection in our lives. It is Jesus who gives life and brings life!

You are a representative of the liberating truth! Do not bind people any more with your rules and regulations, set people free! There is no condemnation in the gospel, only for those who do not accept it. You call the impossible as possible. We are dead to the world!

The Teacher

“… for one is your teacher, Christ.” (Matt. 23: 8-10),

Jesus Was a Very Different Type of Teacher:

“… the crowd was shocked at his teaching.” (Matt. 7:28)

“… large crowds liked to listen to Him.” (Mark 12:37)

“They were amazed at his teaching.” (Mark 1:22)

“Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” (John 7:46)

Yet Jesus did not soothe people’s ears, and only said what they wanted to hear:

“… and they arose and drove him out of the city and brought him to the edge of the mountain on which their city was built, to cast him off the cliff.” (Luke 4:29)

“For this cause many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6:66)

“Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and possessed by the devil?” (John 8:48)

“Woe to you when all the people speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26).

Jesus pronounced blessings (Matt. 5: 3–12), but at other times he issued severe warnings of impending judgment (Matt. 23: 13-39):

He taught and demonstrated:

“… healed every sickness and disease among the people” (Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35; Luke 9: 6; 11:20).

“As I cast out devils through the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has indeed come to you.” (Matt. 12:28).

“… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38).

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2: 4-5).

“For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Cor. 4:20).

Jesus Taught With Spiritual Authority:

“Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20: 1-8)

“…for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matt. 7:29).

Jesus taught people in different places, in different ways:

Synagogue – Matt. 4:23; Abandoned place -Matt. 15:38; On journey – Luke 13:22; From a boat – Matt. 5: 3; Temple – Matt. 7:14; Houses, market square, etc.

Jesus taught with true compassion:

“And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34).

Jesus could turn a deaf ear to the academic leaders:

“Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” (Luke 5:17).

Jesus was accessible, even sinners wanted to listen to him:

“And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2); “Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.” (Mark 2:15).

Jesus put people’s need first:

Healing of a lame woman on the Sabbath (Luke 13: 10-17).

Jesus challenged people to action:

The story of Peter walking on the water, the multiplication of the loaves, and when He calmed the storm, was in view of the disciples’ activation to perform supernatural deeds as well.

Jesus taught people how to do it themselves:

After only three months, Jesus sends His disciples out to do what He does (Matt. 10),

Jesus teaches us to pray in public (Luke 11: 1).

He made difficult concepts easy through his parables:

“Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching.” (Mark 4:2, 34) We still remember these parables and stories today.

Jesus primarily used parables and questions to teach people.

See this list of 100 questions Jesus asked during his preaching. So Jesus wanted people to think, they had to work it out for themselves.

The Pastor

“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11). In addition to the prophetic role, the pastoral role is known to the OT audience. We remember Jeremiah challenging the shepherds of Israel over their falsehood and double standards. (Jer. 34:1-5). Jesus therefore comes as the good Shepherd, and is for us an example of how to take care of the people about whom He has appointed us. “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25).

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt.9:36-38). The call for laborers in this context is therefore not for evangelists, but for shepherds who are willing to pastoralize the sheep / flock.

The role of the pastor is on the verge of extinction. It’s simply too difficult. People no longer have “easy trouble”. After much self-help and running around, people usually arrive too late at the pastor. The pastor is not a traveling ministry that just comes and goes. You experience, and walk pain and suffering through together. Preaching and receiving a sacrifice is easy, and wonderful. It’s mostly positive, and people like the difference, and novelty of a visiting preacher. But the shepherd who has lived among his people for twenty years, and cares for them, deserves the highest honor. They mostly have to deal with the questions and problems, which the visiting preacher did not have time to explain.

Pastoral care requires patience, and constant being the same. His family and way of life are also more in the public eye. The visiting preacher can preside over his best foot, but the local pastor, must preside over his best foot every day, and present.

We are specifically instructed to care for the sheep. “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1 Pet. 5:2–4).

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20: 28-29).

Peter, the leader of the Church, is given a pastoral assignment (John 21:15-17): “feed My lambs….”;”tend My sheep…” and,” feed My sheep…”

The term elder includes the fivefold ministry, and anyone who leads a congregation. The guidelines and prerequisites for elders are therefore important to note. People are not elected as elders because of their popularity, status and prestige in the community. Elders are spiritual people, who have already reached a certain level of maturity, in order to teach others.

“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a [novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Tim. 3:1–16).

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” (Titus 1:5-9).

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” (1 Tim. 5:17).

“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (Heb. 13:7).“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:17).