Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Appointment of Elders

biblical commentators of the twentieth century, writes: “Considering the role played by the ministry throughout the history of the church, references to ordination are surprisingly few in the NT. Indeed, the word ‘ordination’ does not occur, and the verb ‘to ordain’ in the technical sense does not occur either. A number of verbs are translated ‘ordain’ in AV, but these all have meanings like ‘appoint.”"5 In similar fashion, Alfred Plummer, another Anglican clergyman and biblical commentator, makes the following remarkable comments on the Greek verbs for appoint in Titus 1:5 and other similar passages: In these passages [Titus 125; Mark 3214; John 15:16; 1Tim. 227; Heb. 521; 823] three different Greek words (poieo, tithe‘mi, kathiste'mi) are used in the original; but not one of them has the special ecclesiastical meaning which we so frequently associate with the word “ordain”; not one of them implies, as “ordain” in such context almost of necessity implies, a rite of ordination, a special ceremonial, such as the laying on of hands. When in English we say, “He ordained twelve,”...the mind almost inevitably thinks of ordination in the common sense of the word; and this is foisting upon the language of the New Testament a meaning which the words there used do not rightly bear. The Greek words used in the passages quoted might equally well be used of the appointment of a magistrate or a steward. And as we should avoid speaking of ordaining a magistrate or a steward, we ought to avoid using “ordain” to translate words which would be thoroughly in place in such a connexion. The Greek words for “ordain” and “ordination,” in the sense of imposition of hands in order to admit to an ecclesiastical office (cheipotheti, cheipothesia), do not occur in the New Testament at all.7 So, to translate the New Testament words poieo‘ (Mark 3:14), kathiste‘mi (Acts 6:3; Titus 125), or cheirotoneo‘ (Acts 14:23) as “ordain” imposes unscriptural priestly or clerical connotations in people’s minds. Surprisingly, not only is ordination not found in the New Testament, it is not found in the writings of the early second century church writers. One can be sure that Ignatius would have used the rite of ordination to bolster his arguments for the overseer’s supremacy over the local congregation if he found any basis for it. But no such practice existed in the early second century.

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