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Are Present Day Tongues Biblical?

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Tongues

Babel

          Genesis 11: At that time the whole earth had one language. Man was building a city and a tower with its top in the heavens as a monument to their pride and reputation. God saw that this was only the beginning of what they would do. So He confused their language and dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth. Therefore its name was called Babel, because that’s where the Lord confused the language of all the earth.

Pentecost

          In Jerusalem there were three feasts held every year that all the males of Israel were to attend. Passover, Tabernacles, and Pentecost.

After Jesus death on the cross and 50 days after His resurrection from the dead on Pentecost  we read in the book of Acts for the first time in scripture about speaking in other tongues. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. At that filling of the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire also appeared and rested on each disciple. These other spoken tongues (languages) were real languages that these visiting foreigners knew and spoke everyday. Acts 2:6 lets us know that the disciples spoke in a language that they themselves didn’t know or understand. Yet those who were in Jerusalem at that time, from other nations, marveled because they could understand these tongues (languages) spoken by the disciples who were clearly of the local dialect. It was because the Holy Spirit spoke to these foreign people through the believers who had been filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had told the disciples not many days before this time, that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This was a sign in the early church pointing to the authority of the church. Note: The disciples were already believers who had been baptized. Now they are being filled with the Holy Spirit. (See Filled with the Spirit at the end)  After hearing Peter’s sermon at Pentecost many asked “what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And about three thousand were added. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. Note: There is no mention of these three thousand speaking in tongues. And at the end of Act 2:47 it says that the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. No mention of speaking in tongues here either. In Acts 4 about five thousand heard Peter and believed, also with no mention of speaking in tongues. Again in 9:42 many believed and there is no mention of speaking in tongues. The Philippian jailer and his household believed but again no mention of tongues. I do not believe that we must speak in tongue as evidence of our salvation. Although if God needs me to speak in tongues (language) to present the gospel to some unsaved soul and the Holy Spirit gives me utterance to do so, I am open to being used for whatever God wants to do. A study of the book of Acts reveals a more common theme than that of speaking in tongues. That theme would be the boldness of the disciples and the followers of Christ to proclaim the truth about Jesus life, death (for our sins), resurrection from the dead, ascension, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That indwelling gave them the power and boldness. It will also give all Christians the power and boldness needed to do God’s work.

          Judgment & Blessing

          Important to understand is that Israel a Jewish nation rejected Jesus and even had Him crucified. These languages (tongues) were a sign of judgment to unbelieving Israel. As Prophesied in Isaiah 28:11 about the Assyrians and then in Jeremiah 5:15 with the Babylonian captivity. On the other hand the tongues (languages) is a blessing to us non-jewish (Gentiles) showing that the new covenant or new dispensation of grace or new church age would be for all nations, Jews and Gentiles (us).

Disciples Scattered

          After Stephen’s death there was great persecution against the church in Jerusalem and those who scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to Samaria where the crowds listened to him and saw the signs that he did. And they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Peter and John joined Philip in Samaria and prayed for the people that were baptized by Philip in the name of Jesus Christ to now receive the Holy Spirit. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. The Samaritans  believed and then were baptized. Here again scripture does’t mention speaking in tongues. Note: You may recall in John 4 the account of Jesus and the woman at the well. The Samaritans were a racially mixed group of Jews and Gentiles. Samaritans were avoided by most Jews.

Gentiles receive the Gospel

          Peter presented the gospel message to Cornelius a centurion of the Italian Cohort, his relatives and close friends in Caesarea (Gentiles). While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues (language) and extolling God. The Gentiles were speaking a language the disciples understood, not there own, probably, Latin. And Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Note: They 1} received the Holy Spirit, 2} spoke in tongues (language) and 3} then they were baptized.

Ephesus

          Paul passed through Ephesus where he found some disciples who through Apollos had heard the message of John the Baptist. He asked if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed? They had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance and to believe in Jesus who was to come.They had not heard of Jesus death or about the Holy Spirit. But on hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Different languages would have been needed for them to spread the gospel message in this part of the world. Note: They 1} baptized in the name of Jesus then 2} spoke in tongues.

{I believe that as in Matthew 10 when Jesus gave the 12 disciples special authority before sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so also in Mark 16 “The Great Commission” Jesus was giving these close followers who witnessed His life, death, resurrection, post resurrection appearances and ascension special powers that would be needed in the early days of the Church. This begins the new covenant age (Church).

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

In the early days, the Acts of the Apostles were often accompanied by “signs and wonders,” the “wonders” being the miracles worked through the apostles, which served as “signs” pointing to the truth of the gospel.

Christians disagree on many issues that may not be crystal clear in scripture. Whether the gift of tongues ceased after the apostolic age is one of these issues. It appears that the Holy Spirit operated differently in the Old Testament and the New Testament and also at the beginning of the Church Age, (which is the transition period between law and grace). Remember there was no New Testament Scriptures written yet so that may be why the sign gifts were important to give authority to the message. I will not limit the power of the Holy Spirit with my limited knowledge because God can do anything He wants. If the word of God can be spoken through Balaam’s donkey why not through you or me if that will serve His purpose. I do not find in scripture that speaking in tongues is a requirement to being a true disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I do understand that the fruit produced through my life is the evidence needed to know if I really am a Christian.}

          Corinthians

          The city of Corinth was corrupt and morally depraved. Paul’s letter to them was of the corrective nature. Not about the use of tongues but the abuse of tongues.

When we become Christians we are to follow the scriptures. Romans 12:1-2 tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

God will use us all in very different ways, but always for building up one another. 1 Corinthians 12 says that the Holy Spirit empowers each individual as He wills. Here are some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Utterance of wisdom, utterance of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, to distinguish between spirits, various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. We may have one, some or a mixture of these gifts according to how the Spirit will use us. Different circumstances we find ourselves in may require different gifts. Understand it is not something we make happen it is the Holy Spirit. We do have to make ourselves available and then be obedient when we hear that still small voice. The purpose of the gifts is to build one another up and to care for one another, not to flaunt one’s own spirituality.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? This verse implies that not everyone will have all gifts just what the Holy Spirit wills. Now if they don’t speak in a tongue because the Holy Spirit didn’t give them that gift but instead maybe they preach (prophesy) are they not still filled with the Holy Spirit? Yes they are. If a person is truly saved they are baptized by the Spirit; Therefore, if not everyone receives the gift of tongues then the gift of tongues is not a proof of salvation. The evidence of a Spirit filled person is seen in the fruit that is produced in the life of that person. This is very important to understand and should be taken very seriously. For further understanding start studying in Galatians 5:22-26. It would be another excellent study.

Paul strongly encourages all to show genuine love in 1 Corinthians 13. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul explains that the spiritual gift of speaking (in this case praying) in a tongue speaks to God not to man, because no one can understand him. He builds himself up not the church. If one speaks in tongues and only if someone interprets can the church be built up (edified). Paul goes on in v12 to tell them to excel in building up the church. He explains that praying in a tongue is the individuals spirit praying but the mind is unfruitful. v15 Paul will pray with his spirit and his mind, and sing praise with his spirit and his mind also. In other words he will be silent as for praying or singing out loud in a tongue but speak intelligent words that will benefit the church. In church he would rather speak five words with his mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Read v 22-25 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Confused?, In the underlined verse above the unbelievers are those who have hardened their heart and totally rejected God’s word. It is judgment to them as touched upon above in (Judgment and Blessing). The outsiders or unbelievers in the hi-lighted verses are those who are looking for the truth and are wiling to be taught.

Now if tongues is a judgment on unbelieving Israel and that judgment has taken place, as it did in 70 AD when the Romans captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, do we need tongues in this age or is God’s word enough? Is the Bible sufficient to teach, to rebuke, and to correct us in the way we should live for Christ? For myself I need clear preaching and teaching that expounds upon what is written in the Bible. I don’t need to see and hear dramatic presentations to know if someone is a true believer. There will be fruit produced in their life. See Galatians 5:16-26.

OK, back to Corinthians. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. But all things should be done decently and in order. Paul again is telling the Corinthians not to abuse the gift.

                     Filled with the Holy Spirit

           A person is baptized with the Holy Spirit one time when they truly become a Christian. As disciples of Jesus Christ we must continually be open to the authority and direction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide us in the proper use of the armor of God, transform us so there is boldness in our witness, and influence us in all areas of our spiritual life.

Peter and John were told not to preach the gospel after being released from custody. They reported what had happened to their fellow Christians and they all went to prayer, asking for power and boldness to witness.

When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

There are many other scriptures about being filled with the Holy Spirit. Read about Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, in Acts 5, 6, 7

We read about being filled with the Holy Spirit in scripture. Bear in mind now that the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity, He comes into our innermost being and indwells us 100%. I don’t believe He comes and goes as in the old testament. We are completely filled with the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t evaporate or dissipate nor is He consumed or depleted. But because of our free will we can chose to ignore Him or listen to Him as the authoritative God that He is. The Holy Spirit loves us and wants to help us grow into the person we should be and prepare us for eternity. The definition of influence–the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone. With this understanding I am now aware that most of the time I am ignoring Him. I really need to pray that my fallen, corrupt, sinful self will get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to influence my thoughts and actions. I need to be obedient to that influence. The way that will happen is through prayer and staying in “The Word of God”.

Scripture References

Genesis 11

Acts 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 19

John 4

Matthew 10

Mark 16:

Numbers 22

Romans 12

1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14

 

Researched and Written by a Friend of Ours Who Wishes to Remain Anonymous and Just Give Credit to the Lord for His Word.

 

Is It Real? Salvation Issues and Concerns

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Dr. John MacArthur presented a document on Grace to You website that we feel would be better suited to the above question as a clickable link titled “Is It Real – 11 Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation“.  Some of the excellent bible references as provided by Dr. John MacArthur are 1 John; 1 John 5:1, John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:10.

 

What are the Comparisons between Elders and Deacons?

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WHAT ARE THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN ELDERS AND DEACONS?

THE TWO BIBLICAL OFFICES: ELDERS AND DEACONS

(Be sure to also see blog article, What are the Biblical Qualifications of An Elder?)

Comparing the office of deacon to the office of elder will help us answer these questions. The primary spiritual leaders of a congregation are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Deacons, too, have a crucial role in the life and the health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’. The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church so that the elders can concentrate on their primary calling.

This distinction is based on the pattern found in Acts 6:1–6. The apostles were devoted “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 4). Since this was their primary calling, seven men were chosen to handle more practical matters in order to allow the apostles the freedom to continue with their work.

This division of labor is similar to what we see with the offices of elder and deacon. Like the apostles, the elders’ primary role is one of preaching the Word of God. Like the seven, deacons serve the congregation in whatever practical needs may arise.

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

The only passage that mentions the qualifications for deacons is 1 Timothy 3:8–13. In this passage, Paul gives an official but not exhaustive list of the requirements for deacons.

The similarities of the qualifications for deacons and elders/overseers in 1 Timothy 3 are striking. Like the qualifications for elders, a deacon must not be an addict (v. 3,), not greedy for dishonest gain (v. 3), blameless (v. 2; Titus 1:6), the husband of one wife (v. 2), and an able manager of his children and household well (vv. 4–5). Furthermore, the focus of the qualifications is the moral character of the person who is to fill the office: a deacon must be mature and above reproach. The main difference between an elder and a deacon is a difference of gifts and calling, not character.

Paul identifies nine qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-12:

  1. Dignified (v. 8): This term normally refers to something that is honorable, respectable, esteemed, or worthy, and is closely related to “respectable,” which is given as a qualification for elders (1 Tim. 3:2).
  2. Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something else to others, or say one thing but mean another. They are two-faced and insincere. Their words cannot be trusted, so they lack credibility.
  3. Not addicted to much wine (v. 8): A man is disqualified for the office of deacon if he is addicted to wine or other strong drink. Such a person lacks self-control and is undisciplined.
  4. Not greedy for dishonest gain (v. 8): If a person is a lover of money, he is not qualified to be a deacon, especially since deacons often handle financial matters for the church.
  5. Sound in faith and life (v. 9): Paul also indicates that a deacon must “hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” The phrase “the mystery of the faith” is simply one way Paul speaks of the gospel (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16). Consequently, this statement refers to the need for deacons to hold firm to the true gospel without wavering. Yet this qualification does not merely involve one’s beliefs, for he must also hold these beliefs “with a clear conscience.” That is, the behavior of a deacon must be consistent with his beliefs.
  6. Blameless (v. 10): Paul writes that deacons must “be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (v. 10). “Blameless” is a general term referring to a person’s overall character. Although Paul does not specify what type of testing is to take place, at a minimum, the candidate’s personal background, reputation, and theological positions should be examined. Moreover, the congregation should not only examine a potential deacon’s moral, spiritual, and doctrinal maturity, but should also consider the person’s track record of service in the church.
  7. Godly wife (v. 11): It is debated whether verse 11 refers to a deacon’s wife or to a deaconess. For the sake of this discussion, we will assume the verse is speaking about the qualifications of a deacon’s wife. According to Paul, deacons’ wives must “be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (v. 11). Like her husband, the wife must be dignified or respectable. Secondly, she must not be a slanderer or a person who goes around spreading gossip. A deacon’s wife must also be sober-minded or temperate. That is, she must be able to make good judgments and must not be involved in things that might hinder such judgment. Finally, she must be “faithful in all things” (cf. 1 Tim. 5:10). This is a general requirement which functions similarly to the requirement for elders to be “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6) and for deacons to be “blameless” (1 Tim. 3:10).
  8. Husband of one wife (v. 12): The best interpretation of this difficult phrase is to understand it as referring to the faithfulness of a husband toward his wife. He must be a “one-woman man.” That is, there must be no other woman in his life to whom he relates in an intimate way either emotionally or physically.
  9. Manage children and household well (v. 12): A deacon must be the spiritual leader of his wife and children.

In general, if a moral qualification is listed for elders but not for deacons, that qualification still applies to deacons. The same goes for those qualifications listed for deacons but not for elders. For example, a deacon should not be double-tongued (v. 8, ESV). Paul does not explicitly say this about elders, but no doubt it applies to elders since Paul has said that elders must be “above reproach,” which would include this prohibition.

Still, we should observe the differences in the qualifications, since they either signify a trait that is particularly fitting for the office-holder in order to accomplish his duties, or is something that was a problem in the location to which Paul writes (in this case, Ephesus). This should be more clear as we turn to considering a deacon’s responsibilities.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEACONS

Whereas the office of elder is often ignored in the modern church, the office of deacon is often misunderstood. Based on the New Testament, the role of the deacon is mainly to be a servant. The church needs deacons to provide logistical and material support so that the elders can focus on the Word of God and prayer.

The New Testament does not provide much information concerning the role of deacons. The requirements given in 1 Timothy 3:8-12 focus on the deacon’s character and family life. There are, however, some clues as to the function of deacons when their requirements are compared with those of the elders. Although many of the qualifications are the same or very similar, there are some notable differences.

Perhaps the most noticeable distinction between elders and deacons is that deacons do not need to be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). Deacons are called to “hold” to the faith with a clear conscience, but they are not called to “teach” that faith (1 Tim. 3:9). This suggests that the deacons do not have an official teaching role in the church.

Like elders, deacons must manage their house and children well (1 Tim. 3:4, 12). But when referring to deacons, Paul omits the section where he compares managing one’s household to taking care of God’s church (1 Tim. 3:5). The reason for this omission is most likely due to the fact that deacons are not given a ruling or leading position in the church—that function belongs to the elders.

Although Paul indicates that a person must be tested before he can hold the office of deacon (1 Tim. 3:10), the requirement that he cannot be a new convert is not included. Paul notes that if an elder is a recent convert “he may become puffed up with conceit” (1 Tim. 3:6). One implication concerning this distinction could be that those who hold the office of elder are more susceptible to pride because they possess leadership over the church. On the contrary, it is not as likely for a deacon, who is in more of a servant role, to fall into this same sin. Finally, the title “overseer” (1 Tim. 3:2) implies general oversight over the spiritual well-being of the congregation, whereas the title “deacon” implies one who has a service-oriented ministry.

Beyond what we can glean from these differences in qualifications, the Bible does not clearly indicate the function of deacons. Yet based on the pattern established in Acts 6 with the apostles and the Seven, it seems best to view deacons as servants who do whatever is necessary to allow the elders to accomplish their God-given calling of shepherding and teaching the church. Just as the apostles delegated administrative responsibilities to the Seven, so the elders are to delegate certain responsibilities to the deacons so that the elders can focus their efforts elsewhere. As a result, each local church is free to define the tasks of deacons based on their particular needs.

What are some duties that deacons might be responsible for today? They could be responsible for anything that’s not related to teaching and shepherding the church. Such duties might include:

  • Facilities: The deacons could be responsible for managing the church property. This would include making sure the place of worship is prepared for the worship service, cleaning up, or running the sound system.
  • Benevolence: Similar to what took place in Acts 6:1–6 with the daily distribution to the widows, the deacons may be involved in administrating funds or other assistance to the needy.
  • Finances: While the elders should probably oversee the financial business of the church (Acts 11:30), it may be best left to the deacons to handle the day-to-day matters. This would include collecting and counting the offering, keeping records, and so on.
  • Ushers: The deacons could be responsible for distributing bulletins, seating the congregation, or preparing the elements for communion.
  • Logistics: Deacons should be available to help in variety of ways so that the elders are able to concentrate on teaching and shepherding the church.

CONCLUSION

Whereas the Bible charges elders with the tasks of teaching and leading the church, deacons’ role is more service-oriented. That is, they are to care for the physical or temporal concerns of the church. By handling such matters, deacons free up the elders to focus on shepherding the spiritual needs of the congregation.

Yet even though deacons are not the congregation’s spiritual leaders, their character is of utmost importance, which is why deacons should be examined and held to the biblical qualifications laid down in 1 Timothy 3.

What are the Biblical Qualifications of an Elder?

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The Qualifications of an Elder and Deacon / Deaconesses

(Be sure to also see blog article, What are the Comparisons between Elders and Deacons? )

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1.  It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

2.  An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3.  not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4.  He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5.  (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6.  and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7.  And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9

5.  For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

6.  namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

7.  For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8.  but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9.  holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Must be a male (1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:6)

B. Must desire the work (1 Tim. 3:1)

C. Must be above reproach (blameless) (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)

D. The husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)

E. Have children who believe (Titus 1:6)

F.  Be temperate (vigilant) (1 Tim. 3:2)

G. Be self-controlled (Titus 1:8)

H. Be prudent (1 Tim. 3:2)

I. Be respectable (of good behavior) (1 Tim. 3:2)

J. Be hospitable (1 Tim. 3:2)

K. Be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2)

L. Holding fast to the Word (Titus 1:9)

M. Be able to exhort and refute (Titus 1:9)

N. Must have a good reputation with those outside the church (1 Tim.3:7)

O. Not addicted to wine (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7)

P. Manages his household well (1 Tim. 3:4; Titus 1:6)

Q. Free from the love of money (covetous) (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1Pet. 5:2)

R. Gentle (patient) (1 Tim. 3:3)

S. Not pugnacious (1 Tim. 3:3)

T. Not a new convert (novice) (1 Tim. 3:6)

U. Not self-willed (Titus 1:7)

V. Not quick-tempered (not soon angry) (Titus 1:7)

W. Loving what is good (lover of good men) (Titus 1:8)

X. Sensible (sober) (Titus 1:8)

Y. Just (Titus 1:8)

Z. Devout (holy) (Titus 1:8)

1 Timothy 3:11

11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

1 Peter 5:1-4

1. Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

2.  shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

3.  nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

4. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

5. The Responsibilities of the Elders

  • A. Be on guard for yourselves (Acts 20:28)
  • B. Be on guard for the flock (Acts 20:28)
  • C. Be guided by God’s Word (Acts 20:32; Titus 1:9)
  • D. Be an example to the flock (1 Pet. 5:3)
  • E. Shepherd the flock (feed) (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28)
  • F. Rule and rule well (1 Tim. 5:17)
  • G. Watch for harmful influences to the flock (Acts 20:29-30)
  • H. Silence empty talkers (Titus 1:10-11)
  • I. Assist in deciding differences that arise in the church (Acts 15:6)
  • J. Give instruction to the church (1 Thess. 5:12)
  • K. Help the weak (Acts 20:35)
  • L. Pray for the sick and administer to their needs (James 5:14)
  • M. Encourage the preaching of the gospel and establishment of new congregations when needed (Acts 16:4-5)
  • N. Watch for the souls of the church and give an account (Heb. 13:17) The last passage given above (Hebrews 13:17) summarizes the duties and responsibilities of the elders.

6.  Our Response to the Elders

  • A. Appreciate the elders (1 Thess. 5:12)
  • B. Esteem them very highly in love (1 Thess. 5:13)
  • C. Be submissive to the elders in their leadership of the church (Heb.13:17)
  • D. Live in peace with them (1 Thess. 5:13)
  • E. Obey the elders (Heb. 13:17)
  • F. Do not sharply rebuke an elder; appeal to him as a father (1 Tim.5:1)
  • G. Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19)
  • H. Remember them and imitate them (Heb. 13:17)
  • I. Count them worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17-18)
  • J. Call them when in need (James 5:14)
  • K. Correct them when they continue to sin (1 Tim. 5:20)

Does Extra-Biblical Information Exist That Backs Up The Book of Exodus?

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There were two questions asked on the blog and since they were similar, we’ve addressed them in this prepared answer.  Thanks to the several sources who contributed to answering these difficult questions (A Scientist, A Pastor, A New Testament Scholar and Professor, and Two Academic Researchers).

Question One: Is there historical evidence that the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and after leaving wandered in the wilderness for 40 years?

Question Two: Egyptian History doesn’t seem to give an account of the Exodus, the plagues, Jewish slavery, Moses, etc. Does extra biblical information exist that backs up the Book of Exodus?

Preface:  First, we want to always draw people to the Bible first, which we believe to be the best historical source available. We urge the bloggers posing these questions to read thoroughly the book of Exodus.  Many outstanding and reputable archeologists have used the Bible to guide them in their field research. 1 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB) states, “”All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The questions directed to us refer to the historical time period for the Jewish departure or exodus from Egyptian slavery, led by Moses through a 40 year journey in the wilderness to the land of Canaan finally yielding to a covenant with Yahweh (God) who gives them their laws and instructions for the Tabernacle and the means by which he will dwell with them and lead them to the land.  Exodus means in Greek “going out” [Exodos], and in Hebrew it means “Names [Šemot].

Academic Source One:  “My first thought would be to expose a person to all of the archeological finds which confirm the historicity of the Bible. The books are out there. I heard on a TV special once that there isn’t proof of the Exodus. I guess, if that’s true, it would make sense. They were on the move the whole time, living a nomadic, tent existence—including the tabernacle. So it’s hard to imagine that there would be proof available 3000 years later for that. But, leave it to the atheists and agnostics to point to the lack of evidence in this one area in order to build their case that it’s all a fairytale!”

Academic Source Two:  “There is no written evidence outside the Bible for the Exodus. There is plenty of archeological evidence. Moses was next in line to be Pharoah. It is part of Egyptian tradition to wipe out any history of a traitor. Certainly, no historian would want to record that the Egyptian army was defeated by Moses, admitting at the same time that their god was inferior to the God of the Bible.”

Academic Source Two Additional Comments: “There is a video that actually has footage of the whole Egyptian army carnage on the sea bottom in the Red Sea. I forgot the name of the video. I think it is called ‘In Search of the Exodus.’”  [Editor’s Note:  We verified the name.  Here is a link to the video trailer on youtube, http://youtu.be/2PG26Y3PwRo , and the website, http://www.byfaith.org .  A lot of good sources on this website for Biblical archeology done with academic excellence.]

Pastoral Source:  “There is a lot of good stuff.  Egyptians were pretty good at wiping out any evidence of rulers or leaders or priests once the political climate changed.  The biblical date for the Exodus is around 1450 BC so Joseph would be around 1850 BC.  There a lot more I don’t know than I know.  It’s hard to prove everything in the Bible.  But there has never been a historical or Archeological find to disprove anything in the Bible.  That is very good news.”

New Testament Scholar Source:  “Work by Kenneth Kitchen deals best with issues of the Exodus (also work by James Hoffmeier)”

Scientific Source:  “A couple of years ago, a friend at church asked about Egyptian dating, and [name left blank] & I did some studying on it. I don’t remember the details, but the basic ideas are: Traditional archeological dating is based on a set of assumptions that are taught and accepted early in school and never questioned afterward. But… there is an alternative set of dates that have been proposed, and when you use them, suddenly things begin to line up with Scripture, and you find babies buried under houses in Egypt, a period of confusion in Egypt during which the Hyksos raiders come into Egypt and rule (after the death of Pharoah & his army?), burned rubble in Jericho, the wealth of King Solomon, etc. Traditional Egyptian dating is also used to date the rest of the Middle Eastern cultures, and there is something like a 600 year “dark ages” with nothing happening… maybe that’s because the 600 years got added arbitrarily. Lots of Pharoahs reigned simultaneously, but are listed chronologically in the traditional dating, and this throws all other dates off. We have an audio series by Diana Waring called “What in the World?” that teaches world history as influenced by the hand of God in history, and she discussed it. The series is addressed to teens, home schoolers and adults. She referenced this question, and cited David Role (Rohl? can’t remember exact spelling). [Editor Note:  The name is David Rohl, as you will see in additional comments further down.]  After further checking, there were a couple of other guys that discuss it, too, but Diana’s statement is that they can’t find the evidence because they are looking in the wrong archeological place in history!

Scientific Source Additional Comments: The book I referenced is _Unwrapping the Pharoahs: How Egyptian Archeology Confirms the Biblical Timeline_ by John Ashton and David Downs. Master Books. $35. 220 pages, lots of photos, lots of text. Fits better with ancient historians like Manetho and Josephus, as well as other Middle Eastern histories (like Hittites, Syria, Israel). Removes 1st intermediate period (which they don’t have info on anyway… a missing link?). Also, there are problems with the “Sothic dating”, which relates to astronomical dating from a date on the calendar which creeps around the year, and shifts by an entire year every few hundred years. It assumes that the kings never shifted the calendar so the seasons were associated with the correct month, but there is evidence that they did several times in a particular 300 year period we know about (flooding of the Nile and farming schedule, harvest festivals, etc). Manetho’s Kings List has been “simplified” to 30 year reigns, but in actuality, some reigns were very short, & many overlapped: a fact which is suppressed by the establishment. Chapter 28: A Correct Chronology is a good summary, but many details are explored in the book. We enjoyed reading up on a subject we were never aware of before. With the wrong chronology, the Bible stories of Exodus through Kings is nowhere to be found in archeology. If you shift the dates by a few hundred years, suddenly the Bible is everywhere.

Scientific Source Final Comments: My first post referenced _A Test of Time: the Bible — From Myth to History_ by David Rohl. We never read this book, but he was referenced by Diana Waring, whose website is dianawaring.com, or you can get her series, _What in the World_ from answersingenesis.com.