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The Church Built By Jesus Christ In The New testament - Lesson 4

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Lesson 4: The Organization of the Church

Key Passage: Philippians 1:1

“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

Introduction

Modern churches today vary widely in their structures—some led by a single “pastor,” others by boards, committees, or popes. Some have global hierarchies, while others operate as democratic assemblies. But does God leave the organization of the church to human preference? Absolutely not. The New Testament gives a clear and inspired pattern for the local church’s structure, and this lesson will uncover that pattern, contrast it with man-made systems, and call us to follow only what is written (1 Cor. 4:6).

Historical Context

The church in Philippi was established during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:12–40). By the time Paul wrote this epistle (circa A.D. 61), the church had matured enough to have bishops (plural) and deacons in place. This shows that the New Testament model for church leadership was local, plural, and scripturally qualified. The epistle to the Philippians addresses a single local congregation—not a regional diocese or denominational headquarters.

Biblical Context

Christ as the Only Head:

  • Ephesians 1:22–23 — “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church...”
  • Colossians 1:18 — “And he is the head of the body, the church…”

There is one Head and one body—Jesus Christ and His church. No man or board holds authority over the universal church.

Local Church Organization:

Each local congregation, when fully matured, had:

  • Elders (also called bishops, pastors) — Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1–4
  • Deacons (servants) — 1 Timothy 3:8–13
  • Evangelists (preachers) — 2 Timothy 4:5; Ephesians 4:11
  • Saints (members) — Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1

The terms “elders,” “bishops,” and “pastors” refer to the same office (see Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5–7). These men must be qualified and serve as a plurality in each local church (Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1).

Greek Exegesis: "Bishops" (Phil. 1:1)

Greek: ἐπισκόποις (episkopois) — plural of episkopos

  • epi = over, skopos = watcher → “overseer”
  • Same office as pastor (ποιμήν, poimēn) and elder (πρεσβύτερος, presbuteros)

Commentary:

God never authorized a one-man leadership over a church. The office of bishop is always plural in the local church and requires men who meet strict qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). The misuse of “pastor” as a title for an unqualified, unmarried, or sole leader is unscriptural.

Full Scripture Cross-Referencing

  1. Acts 20:28 — “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers...”
  2. Titus 1:5 — “Ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee...”
  3. 1 Peter 5:2–3 — “Feed the flock of God... not as being lords over God’s heritage...”

Doctrinal Note:

Elders must be men, must be married, and must have faithful children (Titus 1:6). Women, single men, and unqualified individuals are not authorized to hold this role.

Doctrinal Significance & Application

  • Each local church is autonomous, self-governing under Christ, with no earthly headquarters or governing boards.
  • Elders shepherd the flock among them—not other congregations or distant works.
  • Deacons serve under the elders in practical needs.
  • Evangelists preach, teach, and sometimes appoint elders (Titus 1:5), but they do not rule over the church.
  • Church organization is not tradition—it is divine order.

Application Today:

Any church not patterned after this divine model is departing from New Testament Christianity. We must resist denominational titles, unscriptural positions (e.g., pope, cardinal, archbishop), and the unscriptural elevation of evangelists as “lead pastors.”

Refutation of False Doctrines:

✘False View #1: A single pastor can lead a church.

📖 Refuted by: Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Philippians 1:1

✞Truth: Leadership in the church is always plural elders, not a one-man system.

✘False View #2: Women can serve as pastors or elders.

📖 Refuted by: 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Titus 1:6

✞Truth: Elders must be husbands of one wife and apt to teach, roles not given to women.

✘False View #3: The church can be led by denominational headquarters or synods.

📖 Refuted by: 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28

✞Truth: Each local church is autonomous, accountable to Christ alone, not to any hierarchy.

Conclusion and Exhortation

God is not the author of confusion but of peace—and His church is no exception (1 Cor. 14:33). The divine pattern for church organization is simple, beautiful, and wise. It is not to be altered by culture, convenience, or tradition.

Exhortation:

Let us reject the denominational confusion of the religious world and restore the pattern found in Scripture. Let every congregation strive for biblical organization, raise up qualified elders and deacons, and respect Christ as the only head of the church. Anything less is rebellion—anything more is presumption.

“Hold fast the form of sound words…” — 2 Timothy 1:13 (KJV)

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Aralin 4: Ang Organisasyon ng Iglesia

Pangunahing Talata: Filipos 1:1

“Si Pablo at si Timoteo, na mga alipin ni Jesucristo, sa lahat ng mga banal kay Cristo Jesus na nasa Filipos, na kasama ng mga obispo at mga diakono:”

Panimula

Iba-iba ang estruktura ng mga modernong iglesia ngayon—may iisa lang na “pastor,” ang iba naman ay pinamumunuan ng mga lupon, kardinal, o papa. May ilang may pandaigdigang pamunuan, habang ang iba ay parang demokratikong samahan. Ngunit pinahihintulutan ba ng Dios ang tao na siya ang magtakda ng organisasyon ng iglesia? Hindi kailanman. Ang Bagong Tipan ay nagbibigay ng maliwanag at banal na padron (pattern) ng kaayusan para sa lokal na iglesia. Ilalahad sa araling ito ang padron na ito, ihahambing sa gawa ng tao, at tayo’y pinananawagang sumunod lamang sa nasusulat (1 Cor. 4:6).

Pangkasaysayang Konteksto

Ang iglesia sa Filipos ay itinatag sa ikalawang paglalakbay ni Pablo (Gawa 16:12–40). Nang isulat ni Pablo ang liham na ito (bandang A.D. 61), ang iglesia ay dumaan na sa pagsasaayos at mayroon nang mga obispo (maramihan, plural) at mga diakono. Ipinapakita nito na ang modelo ng Bagong Tipan para sa pamumuno sa iglesia ay sa kanyang local lamang, maramihan, at may banal na kwalipikasyon. Ang sulat sa mga taga-Filipos ay nakatuon sa isang lokal na iglesia—hindi sa isang rehiyonal o denominasyonal na pamunuan.

Kontekstong Biblikal:

Si Cristo ang Tanging Ulo ng Iglesia:

  • Efeso 1:22–23 — “At pinasuko ang lahat ng mga bagay sa ilalim ng kaniyang mga paa, at siyang ibinigay na pangulo sa lahat ng mga bagay sa iglesia…”
  • Colosas 1:18 — “At siya ang ulo ng katawan, sa makatuwid baga'y ng iglesia…”

Mayroon lamang isang Ulo at isang katawan—si Jesucristo at ang Kanyang iglesia. Walang tao o lupon ang may karapatang pamunuan ang buong iglesia.

Organisasyon sa Lokal na Iglesia:

Kapag naging ganap ang isang lokal na iglesia, ito ay nagkakaroon ng:

  • Matatandang lalaki (obispo, pastor) — Gawa 14:23; Tito 1:5; 1 Pedro 5:1–4
  • Diakono (mga lingkod) — 1 Timoteo 3:8–13
  • Ebanghelista (mangangaral) — 2 Timoteo 4:5; Efeso 4:11
  • Mga banal (mga miyembro) — Roma 1:7; Filipos 1:1

Ang mga salitang “matatanda,” “obispo,” at “pastor” ay tumutukoy sa iisang tungkulin (Gawa 20:17, 28; Tito 1:5–7). Ang mga ito ay dapat may kwalipikasyon at laging maramihan sa bawat lokal na iglesia (Gawa 14:23; Filipos 1:1).

Pag-aaral ng salitang Griyego na ginamit: "Obispo" (Filipos 1:1)

Griyego: ἐπισκόποις (episkopois) — maramihan ng episkopos

  • epi = ibabaw, skopos = tagamasid → “tagapangasiwa”
  • Katumbas ng pastor (ποιμήν, poimēn) at matanda (πρεσβύτερος, presbuteros)

Tandaan:

Hindi kailanman pinahintulutan ng Dios ang isang taong namumuno lamang sa iglesia. Ang tungkulin ng obispo ay laging maramihan (plurality) sa isang lokal na iglesia, at dapat na may mahigpit na kwalipikasyon (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Tito 1:5–9). Ang maling paggamit sa titulong “pastor” sa iisang taong hindi kasal o binata o walang kwalipikasyon ay hindi ayon sa Kasulatan.

Buong Pagpapatibay mula sa Kasulatan

  1. Gawa 20:28 — “Ingatan ninyo ang inyong sarili, at ang buong kawan, na sa kanila'y ginawa kayo ng Espiritu Santo na mga katiwala…”
  2. Tito 1:5 — “Maglagay ka ng mga matanda sa bawa’t bayan, gaya ng iniutos ko sa iyo…”
  3. 1 Pedro 5:2–3 — “Pakanin ninyo ang kawan ng Dios na nasa inyo… hindi gaya ng mga pinapapanginoon…”

Puna ng Doktrina:

Ang mga matatanda ay dapat lalaki, may asawa, at may mga anak na mananampalataya (Tito 1:6). Ang babae, binata, at walang kwalipikasyon ay HINDI karapat-dapat sa tungkuling ito.

Mahalagang Aral at Aplikasyon

  • Ang bawat lokal na iglesia ay may sariling pamamahala sa ilalim ni Cristo, walang headquarters sa lupa.
  • Ang mga matatanda ay dapat na mga pastol sa kawan na nasa kanila—hindi sa ibang iglesia o kawan.
  • Ang mga diakono ay mga tagapaglingkod sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng matatanda.
  • Ang mga ebanghelista ay nangangaral, nagtuturo, at minsan ay nagtatalaga ng matatanda (Tito 1:5), ngunit hindi sila tagapamahala ng iglesia.
  • Ang kaayusan ng iglesia ay hindi tradisyon, kundi utos ng Dios.

Pangkasalukuyang Aplikasyon:

Ang alinmang iglesia na hindi sumusunod sa nakasaad na padron ng Bagong Tipan ay lumilihis sa tunay na Kristiyanismo. Dapat nating tanggihan ang mga denominasyonal na titulo, mga posisyon tulad ng papa, obispo sa labas ng konteksto ng lokal na iglesia, at ang pagpapalabis ng kapangyarihan sa mga ebanghelista bilang “lead pastors.”

Pagpapabulaan sa mga Maling Aral

✘Maling Aral #1: Maaaring pamunuan ng isang pastor ang buong iglesia.

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng: Gawa 14:23; Tito 1:5; Filipos 1:1

✞Katotohanan: Laging maramihan ang pamumuno sa iglesia sa Bagong Tipan—hindi iisa.

✘Maling Aral #2: Maaaring ang mga babae ay maging pastor o obispo.

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng: 1 Timoteo 2:12; 3:2; Tito 1:6

✞Katotohanan: Ang matatanda ay dapat asawa ng isa lamang babae at marunong magturo—mga tungkuling hindi ibinigay sa mga babae.

✘Maling Aral #3: Ang iglesia ay dapat pamunuan ng denominasyonal na sentro o sinodo (synod).

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng: 1 Pedro 5:2; Gawa 20:28

✞Katotohanan: Ang bawat lokal na iglesia ay may sariling pamamahala at tumatalima kay Cristo lamang.

✍ Konklusyon at Panawagan

Ang Dios ay hindi Dios ng kaguluhan kundi ng kaayusan (1 Cor. 14:33). Ang padron ng Bagong Tipan para sa kaayusan ng iglesia ay simple, marilag, at puspos ng karunungan. Hindi ito maaaring dagdagan o bawasan ng kultura, kaginhawaan, o tradisyon.

Panawagan:

Talikuran natin ang kaguluhan ng denominasyonalismo at ibalik ang padron ng Bagong Tipan. Pagsikapan ng bawat iglesia na maitaguyod ang tamang kaayusan, makapagtalaga ng may-kalayaang matatanda at diakono, at kilalanin si Cristo bilang nag-iisang Ulo ng iglesia. Ang kulang ay pagsuway; ang sobra ay kapangahasan.

“Ingatan mo ang mga ulirang mga salitang magagaling...” — 2 Timoteo 1:13

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