Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

Pastors and Teachers.
almost without exception, concur." (Comment on pp. 226,
227.) "These officers," says Schaff, "are undoubtedly the
same with those elsewhere in the New Testament, commonly
called presbyters, and fewer times bishops, whose business is
expressly declared to be the feeding and oversight of the
flock." (Apost. Church, p. 522.)
Neander, who originated this theory and interpretation of
"pastors and teachers," admits that at the time of the Pastoral
Epistles, presbyters, on account of heresies and heretics, were
required to be able to teach. "The gift of teaching, and the
order of teachers are then spoken of as constituting an entirely
distinct function and order." (History of Church, vol. i. p. 260.)
The passage in Titus i. 9, he thinks, "certainly implies that
the bishop must possess the gift of teaching," or "the ordinary
and regular office of teaching." (Pp. 258, 267.) But when he
assumes a very late date for these epistles, he relies upon
"an extremely doubtful hypothesis of a second imprisonment
of the author at Rome."* "The conclusion, therefore, is that
the presbyters or bishops of the apostolic period were the
regular teachers and pastors, preachers, and leaders of the
congregations;"t and it is very pleasant to find Dr. Killen
concurring in our views when he interprets from another
stand-point. Thus, on page 260, after showing that the
churches of all Asia, (see pp. 258, 259,) were included in
Paul's farewell charge, (Acts xx.) and in Peter's solemn
appeal, (1 Peter v. 1-5,) to the presbyters of so many provinces, Dr. Killen declares that the metaphorical illustration
and "the designations are identical." The exhortation of
Peter in verse 5, "is obviously addressed to ministers. This
command can be acted upon only by ministers who are confederates, and hold the same ecclesiastical status." He would
therefore on this occasion render the words thus: "Likewise
ye younger (presbyters) submit yourselves unto the elder, and
ALL to ONE ANOTHER." "I have," he adds, "supposed presbyters (his own italics) to be understood as the apostle is
speaking to them in all the preceding part of the chapter."t
* Schaff, Apost. Church, pp. 531, 328-347. t Ibid.
Anicient Church, page 260. The reconciliation of this with pp. 232 and
258, we cannot of course be responsible for.
1860.]
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