Lecture 13-1 Ecclesiology

Question 1

Ekklesia is used

Answer 1

i. 114 times in the New Testament
1. 3 references to secular assembly
2. 2 references to OT people of God
3. 109 references to the Churches of Christ, mostly local, except in Ephesians
ii. 3 times in the Synoptic Gospels
1. once in Matt. 16.18; twice in Matt. 18.17

Question 2

Ekklesia = ek (out) + kaleo (call)

Answer 2

Primary meaning is a gathering, assembly

Question 3

Common Theological Terms Not Necessarily Affirmed by Scripture

Answer 3

i. Church as a Place rather than a Gathering of People
ii. Universal Church versus Local Church
iii. Visible Church versus Invisible Church
iv. Militant Church versus Triumphant Church
v. Mixed Church versus Pure Church
vi. Hierarchical Church versus People’s Church
vii. Territorial Church or Denominational Church
viii. Ecumenical Church or Evangelical Church

Question 4

One People of God 3 Views

Answer 4

i. Replacement (Reformed) view: Israel, the OT church, was superceded by the NT church
ii. Dispensationalist view: Israel is God’s first plan; the church is parenthetical or Plan B
iii. One People of God view: Israel (OT) and the Church (NT) comprise the one people of God

Question 5

d. One Covenant, One People

Answer 5

The only way into heaven, for Gentiles and Jews alike, is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Question 6

Outline

Answer 6

a. The Foundation of the Church
b. The Form of the Church
i. Covenant Basis & Church Discipline
ii. The Lord’s Supper
iii. Believers’ Baptism
c. The Functioning of the Church
i. Ruled by Jesus Christ
ii. Governed by the Congregation
iii. Led by the Pastor
iv. Served by the Deacons
d. The Work of the Church
e. Final Words

Question 7

The Foundation I

Answer 7

a. In Matt. 16.13-20, Christ explains the Foundation of the Church: the Gospel.
b. How the Passage is interpreted by Papal apologists:
i. Peter was given the keys to heaven; Peter became the first bishop of Rome; the Bishops of Rome inhabit Peter’s Primacy; the Pope is the Successor of Peter and Vicar of God
ii. Roman Catholics must prove Peter was in Rome, the first bishop of Rome, passed his authority to later Roman bishops, excludes the other apostles, excludes the church, etc.

Question 8

The Foundation II

Answer 8

c. How the Passage is interpreted by Protestants:
i. Petros (pebble) refers to Peter vs. Petra (rock) refers to Christ or the confession of Christ
ii. Christ addressed all the apostles, whom Peter represents
iii. In Matt. 18.18, the keys are given to the entire church
iv. How do we explain Christ’s words to Peter in Matt. 16:21-23?
v. The Confession of Christ as Lord, the Gospel itself, indeed, Christ Himself, is the foundation of the Church!

Question 9

The Form I

Answer 9

a. In Matt 18, 26, and 28, Christ explains the Form of the Church:
i. Covenant Basis and Discipline,
ii. Lord’s Supper, and
iii. Believers’ Baptism

Question 10

The Form II

Answer 10

b. The Covenant Basis and Discipline of the Church
i. Matt. 18.15-17 (Discipline/Governance)
1. Local congregation – ekklesia (church)
2. Gathered – synegmenoi (gathered together)
3. Disciplined
4. Regenerate
ii. Matt. 18.18-20 (Covenantal Basis & Authority)
1. Covenanted – symphonasosin (contractual agreement)
2. Presence of Christ – en meso (in the midst)
3. Authority – dasate (bind) and lusate (loose)
iii. Triplex munus Christi  triplex munus ecclesiae

Question 11

The Form III

Answer 11

c. The Lord’s Supper
i. The Major Texts
1. Matt. 26.26-30; Mark 14.22-25; Luke 22.14-20
2. John 6?
3. 1 Cor. 11.17-32; 1 Cor. 10.14-17
ii. Theological Meaning
1. Blessing, Bread, Cup, Covenant, Eschaton, Giving, Body, Blood
2. Memorial (Luke 22)
3. Participation, Communal (1 Cor. 10)
4. Worthiness, Unity, Proclamation, Examination, Discipline (1 Cor. 11)
5. Worship
iii. Closure of Communion
1. Reserved for His People (Acts 2:41, 46-47)

Question 12

The Form IV-I

Answer 12

d. Believers’ Baptism
i. Matt. 28:18-20
1. The Great Commission: All authority to Christ
2. The Great Commission: an Ordinance (not an Option)
3. The Great Commission: an Order (not Haphazardly)
a. Going -> Make Disciples -> Baptizing ->Teaching
4. The Great Commission: Baptismal Form
a. Baptized into (eis) a relationship with God
b. Name – Identification
c. Personal – For Believers Only
d. Corporate – A Church Ordinance Dispensed through Her Ministers
5. The Great Commission: Trinitarian (Basis for Creeds)
6. The Great Commission: Universal
7. Baptism is by Immersion Only: Baptizo, Romans 6

Question 13

The Form IV-II

Answer 13

ii. The Regenerate Church
1. All Three of Christ’s Ordinances for the Church Point to the Regenerate Church:
a. Believers’ Only Baptism by Immersion begins or builds a regenerate church
b. Church Discipline preserves a regenerate church
c. The Lord’s Supper as Christian Communion evidences a regenerate church
2. 2 Cor 6.11-18: the church is called to be holy and separate
3. Acts 2.41, 47: believers, the saved, were added to the church
4. 1 Cor 1.2: Christians are set apart to Christ Jesus
5. Eph 4.1-6: unity of the faith
6. Matt. 13.24-30: corpus permixtum, mixed body, concerns the world, not the church (Donatists vs. Augustine)

Question 14

The Functioning I

Answer 14

a. The New Testament church is, according to His Word,
i. Ruled by Jesus Christ
ii. Governed by the Congregation
iii. Led by Pastors
iv. Served by Deacons

Question 15

The Functioning II

Answer 15

b. Ruled by Jesus Christ
i. Matt. 18:15-20
1. Christ is present in the midst of the covenanted (symphoneo) gathering (ekklesia).
2. Where Christ is present, He inhabits His offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. As a prophethood, priesthood, and kingship in Christ, the congregation proclaims, prays, and rules

Question 16

The Functioning III

Answer 16

ii. Col. 1:18
1. Christonomy (rule by Christ)
2. vs. autonomy (rule by self)

Question 17

The Functioning IV

Answer 17

c. The Biblical Polity: Congregational Governance
i. Matt 18.15-20
ii. Acts 6.3
iii. Acts 13.2-3
iv. Acts 15.22
v. 1 Cor 5.2
vi. 2 Cor 2.6
vii. 1 Tim 5.19-20

Question 18

The Functioning V

Answer 18

viii. Extrabiblical or Nonbiblical Forms of Church Governance
1. Roman
2. Patriarchal
3. Episcopal
4. Erastian
5. Presbyterian
6. Independency (“a pope or curia in every parish”)
7. Mystical
8. In matters of communion and election, the congregation must have the final word! If not, it is neither biblical nor Baptist.

Question 19

The Functioning VI

Answer 19

ix. Congregationalism
1. Congregationalism is “that form of church governance in which final human authority rests with the local or particular congregation when it gathers for decision-making. This means that decisions about membership, leadership, doctrine, worship, conduct, missions, finances, property, relationships, and the like are to be made by the gathered congregation except when such decisions have been delegated by the congregation to individual members or groups of members” (James Leo Garrett).
2. “The first English Baptists agreed that decisions were to be made under the public leadership of the minister, but decisions with regard to communion of members and election of leaders may never be delegated” (Malcolm Yarnell).

Question 20

The Functioning VII

Answer 20

d. A Pastor-Led Church
i. Three synonymous New Testament terms:
1. Overseer (= bishop = episcopos)
2. Elder (= senior = presbyteros)
3. Pastor (= shepherd = poiman)
ii. All three terms describe the same leaders:
1. Cf. Acts 20.17 with 20.28
2. Cf. 1 Pet 5.1 with 5.2
3. Cf. 1 Tim 3.1-7 with Titus 1.5-9

Question 21

The Functioning VIII

Answer 21

iii. The Pastor
1. The Pastor is God’s gift to the church, and should be appropriately treated
a. Eph 4.11
b. 1 Tim 5.18-19
2. The Pastor leads the church through proclaiming the Word
a. Acts 20.17-38
b. Heb 13.7, 17
c. 1 Tim 5.17
d. Titus 1.10-14
3. Pastoral candidates have strict qualifications
a. 1 Tim 3.1-7
b. 1 Tim 5.19-20
c. Titus 1.5-9

Question 22

The Functioning IX

Answer 22

e. A Deacon-Served Church
i. Diakonos: literally, “servant;” who, for instance, waits tables. Some references to diakonoi refer to a specific church office; others describe Christian service in general.
1. Acts 6.1-7
2. 1 Tim 3.8-13

Question 23

The Work of the Church

Answer 23

a. It is, first and foremost, to submit to the Lord Jesus
b. Its mission, according to His Great Commission:
i. going – across all boundaries
ii. to make disciples – of all nations
iii. baptizing – as a witness to faith
iv. teaching – all things Christ commanded
c. It is to worship the Triune God – Father, Son, and Spirit
d. It is to edify the membership through the exercise of spiritual gifts and the display of spiritual fruit
e. It is to practice benevolence to believers and unbelievers
f. It is to anticipate the Second Coming of the Lord

Question 24

Final Words

Answer 24

a. Pauline Metaphors
b. The Church and the Kingdom
c. Marks of the Church
d. The Universal Church?
e. Some Admonitions

Question 25

Final Words I

Answer 25

f. Major Pauline Metaphors for the Church
i. Paul Minear, Images of the Church in the New Testament, found at least 96 images/metaphors for the Church in the New Testament. Among the more prominent images are:
1. Temple of the Spirit (1 Cor 3.16, 6.19)
2. Body of Christ (1 Cor 12.12-27)
3. Bride of Christ (Eph 5.22-33)
4. People of God (See Above)
5. Household of God (1 Tim 3.14-15)

Question 26

Final Words II

Answer 26

g. Relationship of the Church to the Kingdom of God/Heaven
i. The “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven” concerns the sovereign rule of the King, Jesus
ii. Ladd’s four conclusions:
1. “The church is not the kingdom”
2. “The kingdom creates the church”
3. “The church witnesses to the kingdom”
4. The church is “the instrument” and “the custodian” of the kingdom George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, 111-19

Question 27

Final Words III-I

Answer 27

h. 4 Creedal Marks of the Church
i. The four marks are correct, but must be interpreted correctly. Roman Catholics and Protestants tend to downplay the holiness of the church in favor of an unholy unity and catholicity. Biblically, the universal church has yet to gather as one (Rev. 19:1-10). Moreover, apostolicity is not guaranteed by a succession of officers, but by a succession of doctrine rooted in the apostolic teaching of the NT.
1. One
2. Holy
3. Catholic (Universal)
4. Apostolic

Question 28

Final Words III-II

Answer 28

ii. 2 (or 3) Reformation Marks of the Church
1. All of the Protestant Reformers taught the first 2 marks, but only Martin Bucer and some of the Reformed taught the 3rd Mark. On the other hand, all of the early Anabaptists and early Baptists taught the 3rd Mark. In the 20th Century, discipline became “the missing mark” of many Baptist churches.
a. Preaching of the Word
b. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
c. Church Discipline

Question 29

Final Words IV-I

Answer 29

i. Universal Church or Generic Church?
1. Matt 16:18
2. Eph 1:22, 5:23, 25
3. 1 Cor 12:12-27
4. No exegetical clue calling for one over the other interpretation.
ii. Universal Church
1. Heb 12:1, 22, 23
2. Eph. 3:21, 5:27

Question 30

Final Words IV-II

Answer 30

iii. “All teaching in the direction that there now exists a general assembly which is invisible, without ordinances, and which is entered by faith alone, will likely tend to discredit particular assembly, which does now really exist and which is the pillar and ground of truth” (B.H. Carroll).

Question 31

Final Words IV-III

Answer 31

iv. “A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Question 32

Final Words IV-IV

Answer 32

v. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation” (BF&M Article, Article VI).