Page 309 - Bible Writers Theology Original

run during the ministry of Jesus on earth (Matthew 10), but after the death and resurrection of their Master, preaching the gospel became their main concern (Acts1:8;4:33;5:19-21,26-28,31-32;15:7;26:16-18). TheBookofActs tells us how they found themselves becoming choked by administration. They deliberately delegated this work so that theycould give fliemselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:1-8).
As examples of evangelistic outreach of the early church, the successive missionary journey of Paul, and the preaching of the gospel in Samaria by Philip, have found their proper place in the narrative of Luke (Acts 8:5-40; 13:2-14; 15:40-41; 18:22-23; 21:17). Paul often shared the urge to preach Christ where He had not been named (Romans 15:20-21), and called Timothy to do the work of an evangelist, even though, as the context seems to suggest, this was not his natural gift (II Timothy 4:2,5).
Theotherministriesalsoengagedintheworkofevangelism. Inthepas toral epistles, it is made clear that any aspirant for the office of presbyter must be a good teacher and be held in respect by those outside the church (I Timothy3:2-7;Titus1:7-9). Whyshouldthisbe,ifpartofhisworkwasnot to reach those outside the Church with the gospel?
The presbyters or bishops were God's gifts to the Church whose task was tobuildupthesaintsfortheirworkofministry(Ephesians4:12). Inthis regard, their function was more internal than external, church-oriented ratherthanworld-oriented.Nevertheless,evangelismwasnotneglected. In his farewell address to the Ephesian presbyters, Paul sets his own evangel istic example before them as a model (Acts 20:18-28).
4 Pastor and Teacher
The duty of feeding and teaching the flock of Christ rKts primarily ufxin thepastor. TheexhortationoftheapostlePeteraddressedtotheChristian eldersisluminousinthisrespect. Itissummarizedintheseterms:"Feedthe flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but ofaready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples of the flock" (I Peter5:2-3;cf.Zechariah11:15-17). ItmeetsthesolemnchargeofPaultothe EphesianeidersinActs20:28. Thepastor'sroleisareflectionofChristthe Good Shepherd (Isaiah 40:10-11; Isaiah 61:1-9; John 10:11-16; I Peter 5:1; Jude 24-25;IITimothy1:12;IThessalonians3:3). Christ'schargetoPeterinJohn 21:15-17 applies to all pastors. The provision of God, as stated in Ephesians 4:11 agrees with the word of the prophets (Ezekiel 34; Isaiah 40:10-11). We should look for the qualifying factors for pastorship, in both the temporal and the spiritual realms as shown in I Timothy 3:1-7.
Ecclesiology-The Church ♦ 293