But we are not left to probability. Paul charges Titus to ordain presbyters in every city, and says they should be "without reproach" in life and character, "for," he adds, "the bishops must be blameless as God's stewards" (Titus i :5-7).
Again, Peter exhorts the elders to "tend the flock of God, exercising the oversight" (i Pet. v:1-2). But "the oversight" is the bishopric, episcopontes, is the word pointing unmistakably to a bishop's functions. Again Paul charges the Ephesian elders to "take heed to all the flock in which the Holy Ghost made them bishops." The two terms apply to the same persons, presbyters and bishops are identical.
There was a plurality of elders in every church. Titus was charged to "ordain elders in every city." We read of "the elders of the Church at Ephesus (Acts xx :17), and the elders of the church at Jerusalem (Acts xv :4), and of the bishops of the church at Philippi (Phil. i:i).
Paul and Barnabas on returning from their first missionary journey were "appointing elders in every church" (Acts xiv :23). These were not diocesan charges, each extending over wide areas, but individual churches, in some cases infant missionary churches, and over each a plurality of bishops were ordained.
(5) Functions of the Presbyters. The func tions of the presbyters or elders were varied. They were to exercise the functions of govern ment (Heb. xiii :7-17; Rom. xii :8; Acts xx :28). But over and above this function of rule, they were to "take heed to the flock," ."to feed the
Church of God" (Acts xx :28), to "watch for souls," "speak the Word of God" (Heb. xiii :7 '7), and "to labor in the Word and in teaching" (I Tim. v:17), in short they were to exercise every function of spiritual oversight : irpEsprEpos, Pres-ht-ter-os, indicated dignity, character ; toros, efi-is'kofi-os, indicated authority, oversight; but the terms were used interchangeably for the same office.
The presbyters, or elders, or bishops were of equal rank, having a just and true parity. In New Testament teaching there is no trace of of ficial disparity.
(6) Early Distinctions. Unquestionably a dis tinction was early made between elders. The ever-growing need of the church for a distinctly qualified and recognized body of teachers who should give themselves wholly to "laboring in the Word," soon led to this distinction. But at the first it was simply a distinction of gifts and qualifications and not of office and appoint ment (I Tim. v:17).
(7) Method of Choosing. There is no dis tinct New Testament record of the method by which these presbyters were chosen to official place. But as the elders of the synagogues were chosen by the people, and as the apostles them selves directed the Church at Jerusalem to choose seven men for another spiritual office whom they (the apostles) might appoint over the business, it is fair to infer that the preshyters were first chosen by the church, and then officially appointed and set apart by the apostles. H. J.