Lecture 1/10/22 Flashcards
Why is polity important?
Order is the condition that allows for the flourishing of the church
Reading of Acts reveals about the extraordinary?
That it yields to the Ordinary
Transitional vs Programmatic
Transitional = temporary
Programmatic = on going
Is the Pentecost transitional or programmatic?
transitional
Is the apostolic council transitional or programmatic?
programmatic
why study Polity?
Right structure that best affords full and true nature of church
Polity is doing right thing in the right way.
What are 5 blessings of denominations?
1) Accountability of members
2) Safety for pastor
3) Safety for congregation
4) Unity of doctrine
5) Unity in fellowship
what happens when you disregard polity?
disregard doctrine
What are 2 things churches need to avoid in future related to polity?
getting rid of their denominations
forming alliances (bc too lose to hold accountable)
What does waters say this has to do with the great commission?
In order to accomplish the great commission she must be governed well. The integrity is bound up with the polity
what is the esse of the church?
being of the church
what is the bene esse of the church?
well being of the church
4 kinds of churches
- Pure (rightly ordered)
- imperfect (Baptist, Anglican)
- corrupt (catholic ? )
- false (mormon)
What is a PURE church NOT?
Sinless. Still has man in it.
two things Theodore Beza said about the church
- Satan knows it’s easier to overthrow gov than doctrine
2. laxity will lead to erosion of doctrine
what makes up the invisible church?
all the elect, have been, are, shall be, under Christ. Spread across many generations. #’s fixed, never change.
What is the visible church?
All those throughout earth that profess Lord Jesus Christ. CURRENT. It’s the church you and I see. #’s increase or diminish.
What are the marks of the church?
a. Preach word
b. Prop admin of sacraments
c. The faithful exercise of Church Discipline
who is under church discipline?
we are all under church discipline
Unlike apostolic succession, What is handed down in Protestant?
teaching of the apostles
List 4 items in Formal Principle of reformation
Sola Scriptura
RPW
RPP
Presbyterian tripod
Describe Sola Scriptura
Bible is only rule for faith and practice. Only infallible rule.
Faith = what we believe
Practice = how we behave
what is the regulative principle of worship?
RPW
bible decides how we conduct worship services
must do what bible tells us to do
Difference between Luther & Reformed when considering RPW?
Luther is normative: whatever Bible doesn’t condemn
Reformed Bible instructs
What is the regulative principle of polity?
RPP
The test of polity is not antiquity, but scriptural teaching and practice
John Calvin = Authority should be exercised and admin by HIS Word alone
What is the Presbyterian Tripod?
a. Doctrine
b. Worship
c. Government
What is Divine Right of Church Gov?
Church government is determined by apostolic teaching and practice.
What is Human Right Church Gov?
Believes that church gov is determined by human expedience, as Scripture does not reveal rules for the right ordering of the church.
What are 3 kinds of power of the Church?
Roman Catholic Power is Hierarchical
Congregational Power is Democratic
Presbyterian Power is Divine Monarchy
Power in General Office
every member of the church:
Prophet, priest, king Image of God Eph 4:24, col 3:10 Knowledge: (prophet) Righteous (king) Holiness (priest)
do catholics have special office?
NO
What are 7 factors of Presbyterian / Reformed Polity?
1) General office
2) Special office
3) Both part of reformed church polity
4) Minister: prophet
5) Deacon: priest
6) Elder: king
7) Right order results in growth of church
Neither democracy nor hierarchy
Biblical priesthood is yielding to a greater priesthood
what did the radical reformation do to the general office?
eliminates special office
Stuart Robinson: This is “anti-ecclesiastical evangelicalism.”
What is Right order results in growth of church?
Biblical priesthood is yielding to a greater priesthood
4 areas of Presbyterian Polity: Divine Monarchy
Christ is the sovereign head of the church.
Christ’s law is its only law.
Officers are not to please men but God.
Christ appoints his officers
what kind of power does the church hold?
The power of the church is to “ministerial and declarative.”
the officers of the church: declare and execute the Word
Church ministers the word of god in 3 ways
- Declares its doctrine
- Order of worship and sacrament (visible word of god)
- Disciplines its members
Power resides in the body and officers
- In the body = essence
2. In the officers = exercise
Spiritual power is NOT carnal power
- JC didn’t give sword to Peter
But the church’s power is real power: christ did not give the keys of the kingdom
What are the keys to the kingdom?
a. Power of binding and loosing
b. Church officers can admit sinners and ban the impenitent
Capital punishment in the church
- State = sword of coercive force
2. Church = Spiritual excommunication (unless repent, eternally damned)
what’s it called when other churches receive person excommunicated?
“receiving fugitives in discipline”
Most other churches in habit of doing this. getting people from other churches.
Explain Munis Triplex
Prophet – King – Priest
Doctrine – Discipline – Distribution
Minister – Elder – Deacon
Why is Acts 15 key passage for Presbyterians
i. verbal center of book
ii. Luke ties gospel to applying to gentiles
iii. Teaches us that bib church gov is NOT obstacle to missions and evangelism
If you buy this as programmatic, then waters says, the actions fit hand in glove with the mission of the church to bear witness to the nations.
Elders in Scripture
Prophets and Elders (Old Testament)
Rabbis and Elders (Inter-Testamental)
Apostles and Elders (Apostolic Foundation)
Ministers and Elders (Post-Apostolic Church)
Elders in the New Testament
Transition in Jerusalem Church with death of James (Acts 12:2):
Luke begins to mention elders in the church.
Elders sit with apostles at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4)
Paul reports to elders: Acts 21:8
Churches are characterized by plurality of elders: Acts 14:23; 20:17; Eph 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:17)
was the Assembly in Acts 15 transitional or programmatic?
Pres = programmatic. Decision binding for whole church.
Baptists = transitional
Name 3 ways NT describes visible church?
- Local: rom 16:5, 1 cor 16:19
- Regional: acts 8:1, 11:22, 13:1,
- Ecumenical: 1 cor 10:32,
Polity: 3 basic forms
- Prelacy: the seat of the bishop
- Independence: the local congregation
- Presbyterian: organic connection (heavenly center of the church)
6 features of apostolic church
a. Officers were chosen by people. Acts 6:5, 14:23
b. Office of bishop and elder are identical
c. There was plurality of elders in ea church
d. Ordination was an act of the presbytery
e. Rights of appeals
f. Christ recognized as only head of church
3 basic types of church gov by these 6 criteria
a. Hierarchical gov meets none
b. Independent gov meets 3 of 6
c. Pres meets all 6
Q:75 how many kinds of office bearers did Christ appoint in his church?
Extraordinary = apostle
Ordinary (permanent) = pastor
describe extraordinary officers of the church
supernatural gifts and extra authority
apostles, evangelists, and prophets
Q. 77. For what purpose were extraordinary officers appointed?
Make known will of god,
settle the constitution of the church,
commit the admin of it to ordinary and perm officers.
That’s foreshadow of narrow arc of book of acts. Word of God is being preached unhindered.
Q83 are present ministers successors
Ministers today are maintaining the doctrine of the apostles and prophets
This is apostolic succession for presbyterian.
Q84 who are the ordinary officers of the christian church
Ministers, elders, ruling elders, and deacons.
How many ordinary office positions are in the PCA
two
elder (includes teaching and ruling)
deacon
How many ordinary offices are there with non PCA?
3
minister
elder
deacon
