Grudem Chapter 47 - Church Government

Question 1

Define a Church Officer.

Answer 1

Someone who has been publicly recognized as having the right and responsibility to perform certain functions for the benefit of the whole church.

Question 2

List the types of Church Officers.

Answer 2

1) Apostles
2) Elder
3) Deacon
4) Other Offices Who Perform Specific Functions That Would Make Them An Elder or Deacon But Are Not Called Those Terms

Question 3

List the Qualifications of an Apostle.

Answer 3

1) Having Seen Jesus After the Resurrection With Their Own Eyes
2) Specific Commission From Christ to Be An Apostle.

Question 4

How Many Apostles Were There?

Answer 4

Fifteen and Perhaps More.

Question 5

Who Was Added to the Number of Apostles?

Answer 5

Matthias, Barnabas, Paul, and James.

Question 6

Who was Subtracted From the Number of Apostles?

Answer 6

Judas.

Question 7

What is the main form of church government in the New Testament Church?

Answer 7

Plural Elders.

Question 8

What are three other names for Elders?

Answer 8

Pastors, Overseers, and Bishops.

Question 9

What is the greek term used to describe elders in the New Testament?

Answer 9

Episkopos

Question 10

What two responsibilities did Elders have in the New Testament church?

Answer 10

1) Administration/Governance

2) Teaching

Question 11

What is Grudem’s interpretation of the Phase “Husband of One Wife”?

Answer 11

It does not mean that those who are divorced or widowed and remarried are barred from Church office. Only polygamists.

Question 12

What is the Greek word for Deacon?

Answer 12

Diakonos.

Question 13

What does the term Diakonos usually mean?

Answer 13

“Servant”

Question 14

What seems to be the Scriptural method of choosing Church leadership?

Answer 14

Affirmation/Election By the Whole Congregation.

Question 15

What five factors point to the election of church officers by the whole congregation?

Answer 15

1) New Testament Examples of Elders being Chosen by the Whole Congregation
2) Final Governing Authority in the New Testament Tends to Rest in the Whole Congregation
3) Provides a Source of Accountability
4) Average Congregations Seemed to be the Last People to Accept False Doctrine
5) Government Works Best When it is By the Consent of the Governed

Question 16

List each type of Church Government.

Answer 16

1) Episcopalian
2) Presbyterian
3) Single-Elder
4) Plural Local Elders
5) Pastor-Deacon Board
6) Corporate Board
7) Pure Democracy
8) No Government But the Holy Spirit.

Question 17

What are the arguments in favor of the presbyterian system?

Answer 17

1) Wisdom can be used to govern more than just one local church
2) A national government shows the unity of the body of Christ
3) Prevents individual congregations from falling into error more effectively.

Question 18

Where are the arguments made against the Presbyterian system?

Answer 18

1) Elders do not posses authority over more than one local church in Scripture.
2) Formal litigation over doctrinal disputes
3) power seems to far removed from the laypeople
4) National leadership often adopts false doctrine
5) Unity can be shown in other ways besides a single church government.

Question 19

What are the arguments made in favor of the Single Elder System?

Answer 19

1) New Testament churches having multiple elders was only due to size.
2) James Pastorship of the Church in Acts is a pattern
3) Single bishop but multiple deacons in some NT Scriptures.
4) Angel of the Church interpreted as one Elder
5) Rapid Growth Happens More Often With a Single Pastor

Question 20

What are the arguments made against the Single Elder System?

Answer 20

1) The New Testament gives a clear command for all churches to have a plurality of elders.
2) James was probably an apostle but the Church he was at had multiple elders.
3) The Passages cited in support have a term that show Paul was speaking about general qualifications.
4) The Angel of the Church is a weak example.
5) Rapid Growth is not really proven or a reason to reject Biblically ordained churches.
6) Excessive Concentration of Power in a Single Person or Excessive Demands Laid Upon Him
7) Single-Elder can End Up Function Like Plural Elder Though the Inclusion of the Deacons.

Question 21

Which Offices in the Church, according to Grudem (please don’t hurt me XD), cannot be held by women?

Answer 21

1) Elders
2) Deacons who Function as Elders
3) Pastors.