Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

The Acts of the Apostles

calls him (Gal. 1219; 229,12; 1 Cor. 1527). Although we may be in clined to wonder what position James held in the church, Luke seems to have little interest in James’ title or official position. A major reason for this disinterest is found in the revolutionary teachings of Jesus con cerning brotherhood in the community of the risen Christ. Jesus sternly warned His disciples against the prideful obsession with titles and positions that characterized the typical religious leaders of His day. He forbade them from taking honorific titles in the fraternal commu nity: “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers” (Matt. 2326-12; italics added). The practical implementation of Jesus’ teaching is found through out the New Testament, and this passage is a good example of the biblical writers’ basic disinterest with formal titles and rank. Although Luke mentions James four times in the book of Acts, he does not once identify his position in the church (Acts 1:14; 12:17; 15:13-21; 21 :18). Galatians 1219 seems to classify James as an apostle, yet there is some uncertainty about the statement concerning James’ apostleship that appears in that passage. Many in Jerusalem considered James to be of equal status with Peter and John as one of the “pillars” of the church (Gal. 229). At the Jerusalem council, James spoke as one of the chief spokesmen of the council and church (Acts 15:13-21). James’ letter “to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad” (James. 1:1) reveals his widespread influence and great stature among Jewish Christians. It also exhibits his outstanding personal character and remarkable prophet-like teaching. James was so highly esteemed by the believers that Jude could identify himself simply as the “brother of James” (Jude 1). The first Christians had high esteem for the brothers of Jesus (1 Cor. 925). Peter’s command to notify James of his deliverance from prison (Acts 12:17), James’ leading role at the Jerusalem council, and Paul’s encounters with him all reveal James’ unquestionable leader ship position and prominence among his Jewish Christian brethren, yet his exact title and position remains unspecified. The question regarding the official relationship between James and the elders has long been debated. In the early centuries of Christianity, it was commonly thought that James was the bishop of Jerusalem and the elders were his clergy. Others claimed that James was the twelfth apostle. These ideas have no basis in Scripture, however. Scripture reveals (in Acts 15) that “the apostles and elders” met together as a council and it identifies James as one of the principle

131