Every church had one elder or more.

them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." Now, the unavoidable inference from this passage is, that these churches, which were founded by the labors of the apostles, were each of them furnished with one elder or more. The number was probably regulated by the size of the church and the circumstances of the elders. It is probable that most of these were men who labored at some trade, or secular business most of their

tains the correctness of this interpretation, with great learning and ability. (Owen's Works, English edition, vol. xx. pp. 415–418.) “Χειροτονεῖν,” says he, “is the same with τας χεῖρας αἴρειν [ιο raise the hands], nor is it ever used in any other signification." "He," continues Dr. Owen, " is a great stranger unto these things, who knoweth not that among the Greeks, especially the Athenians, from whom the use of this word is borrowed or taken, zagotoviα [the act of voting] was an act ölŋs tns èxuλnoias, ' of the whole assembly' of the people in the choice of their officers and magistrates." He quotes from Demosthenes and Thucydides in proof of this. It is clear that this word is employed (2 Cor. 8: 19) to designate such an act of the church-a popular vote. In speaking of Titus, the apostle says: "he was chosen (or being chosen) of the churches (χειροτονηθεὶς ὑπὸ των ἐκκλησιῶν) to travel with us with this grace; that is, with the collection made for the relief of the persecuted Christians in Judea. No one can doubt that Titus was chosen by a vote of the church; and as the same word is used in both places, the inferènce is, that it designates the same act in both instances. The old English Bible translates the passage: "When they had ordained them elders by ELECTION."

It is not, however, my intention to go at large into a discussion of this question; for whatever may be the meaning of the term χειροτονήσαντες, the passage under consideration is decisive upon this point, namely-that the apostolic churches were each furnished with one elder or more; and it was to establish this, that the text was quoted.

Reasons why some churches had more than one elder.

time. Hence the necessity of ordaining several elders over a single church if that church was large.

This explanation accounts for the fact, that there were a number of elders connected with the church at Ephesus. See Acts 20: 17-31. Ephesus was a very populous city, containing several hundred thousand inhabitants, and was a great resort for strangers from all parts of the world. Paul had spent three whole years in the city, preaching the gospel with great success. The number of converts must have been large; and the church, consequently, required the labors of several such elders as we suppose were employed in primitive times.*

Another reason for a plurality of elders in the primitive churches, may be found in the fact, that the larger churches, in times of persecution particularly, were compelled to meet in small companies, in private houses and other places of security, in order to worship God unmolested. In this case, each of the assemblies would need an elder to conduct their public services; and thus several overseers would be necessary for a single church of any considerable size. Then again the elders were specially exposed to be cut off by persecution; and if there had been but one

* For some time after the first settlement of New-England, all of the more numerous and wealthy churches, maintained a pastor and a teacher if they could be obtained. The pastor devoted himself to the business of visiting and superintending the affairs of the parish; while the teacher attended to the preparation of discourses for the pulpit, and to the doctrinal instruction of the people.

And both of these officers were entirely supported by the church; and were expected to devote their whole time to their respective duties. Besides these, every church had one or more ruling elders and several deacons; who assisted in the worship, government, and discipline of the church.

Elders the same as pastors, overseers, and bishops.

to a church, the church might have been left destitute of any teacher and overseer.

In proof that the elders of the primitive churches were the same order of men who are sometimes called pastors, overseers, and bishops, reference may be made to the epistle of Paul to Titus. In chap. 1st, verse 5th, Paul says to Titus : For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting; that is, the things necessary to the complete organization, and the spiritual improvement of the churches; and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee;" or, as I had previously instructed thee to do.

Paul, it seems, had visited Crete in company with Titus; and their united labors had gathered a number of Christian churches on that island. But, as Paul was pressed for time, and the island was very populous-containing, as it is supposed, one hundred cities and villages-the apostle could not make all the necessary arrangements, and give all the needed instructions for the complete organization of the numerous converts into distinct churches. He therefore left Titus in Crete, with instructions how to proceed in this important work. In the passage just quoted, these instructions are referred to; and some of the more important items in them are recapitulated. One of the most prominent of which was-to "ordain elders (лgεoßv¬ Tégous) in every city,"-that is, in every city where there was a church. Or in other words, to supply every church

with elders.

This is precisely what the apostle and Barnabas did in the cities of Asia Minor, among which they had been

* Pronounced Presbuterous; from whence the English Presbyters.

Qualifications of an elder and bishop, the same.

preaching the gospel. See Acts xiv. Having given this general direction to ordain elders in every city," the apostle next tells Titus what sort of men to select for elders: "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife" [only], 66 'having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly." Then, in the following verse-as if purposely to show that an elder and a bishop were precisely the same church officer-he continues: "For, A BISHOP "—Éлíσxonov,* an inspector, an overseerr—“ must be blameless, as the steward of God;"—that is, of God's house, which is his churchnot self-willed, not soon angry," etc.. Here we perceive that the words elder and bishop are used interchangeably, to designate the same church officer. Nothing can be more clear.

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In the same manner are the words used by the Evangelist, in giving an account of Paul's interview with the elders of the church at Ephesus, Acts 20: 17-28, " And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church"-TоÚÇ пQEσẞUTÉоνs. In the 28th verse the same persons are called overseers (or bishops): "Take heed, therefore, unto all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (iлiσxóпovę, bishops), to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

The case is so plain that no one need doubt that the same order of men are called either elders, bishops, or overseers, interchangeably.

The same thing is apparent from the description of a good bishop, 1 Tim. 3: 1-7; which answers, exactly, to the requisites of a good elder, Tit. 1: 5—9.†

* Pronounced episcopon; whence the English, Episcopacy. The reader who wishes to examine this matter more fully,

Elder-why applied to Christian teachers.

The Greek word (98σßúreços) translated presbyter or elder, means literally an older, or an old-man; being the comparative of лçéσßuç, old. The term was originally applied to the heads of the tribes of Israel, and to the members of the Jewish Sanhedrim or high court of the nation. These were generally men advanced in life; and distinguished for sobriety, knowledge, and sound judgment.

The term is applied to the teachers of the Christian church, because these were, at first, selected from the more aged, and experienced, and intelligent converts to Christianity.

The first place in which the term "elder" is used in the New Testament to designate a Christian teacher, is Acts 11: 30. "The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."

We find it in numerous other places, in such connections as to prove, conclusively, that the same order of persons are designated by the term presbyters or elders-as are at other times, called bishops, overseers, or pastors. The first epistle of Peter 5: 1-4 very clearly illustrates this.

"The elders (großuTέgovs) which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder" (or co-elder) * * "Feed the flock (nouavaτs, act the part of a pastor towards the flock) of God which is among you." Here we have the pastoral

and especially, if he would know the sentiments of the fathers, of the church, and the English Reformers upon this subject, is referred to Dr. Dwight's Theology, Ser. 150 & 151, and to Prof. Pond's most satisfactory exhibition of the matter, in the 8th chapter of his book on "The Church," and Dr. Campbell's learned Lectures on Ecc. History.