Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

Theory of the Eldership.
Vitringa discusses at length the meaning of the terms pastor
and teacher. "One thing," he says, "is certain, and admitted
by all, that Paul by pastors designates the ordinary presidents
(Prefectos) of the church, those I say, which are otherwise
called presbyters and bishops." This he illustrates by the
synonymous use of these titles, and by Ignatius, and by a multitude of passages from the Jewish writings, and among them
from Philo and the Zohar, to prove that every part of the
office of the doctor of the synagogue is attributed to pastors;
whence we conclude that pastors (:: Parnasim) formerly
signified learned and pious men, who were devoted to the work
of making prayers and exhortations to the people, and expounding the Holy Scriptures. They were not, therefore, as Lightfoot supposed, the deacons, but "those rulers of the synagogue
who were at the same time doctors, eminent for learning and
piety."* In Vitringa's day, the term pastor was admitted to
mean docere, monere, sacramenta administrare, et omni potestate a Christo ministris suis concessa, gregem gubernare.
Vitringa could therefore triumphantly ask "whether any one
could seriously dare to assert and defend the application of
these titles of pastor and bishop to lay presbyters, (Presbyteris laicis.)" Since his day confidence has considerably
increased, but perhaps, if the authority for it is traced up, it
may terminate in an elephant resting upon nothing.
The argument fromn the plurality of Presbyters.
We are thus led to notice another, and indeed the most
relied upon of all the grounds on which this theory is based.
This is the admitted fact, that in general a plurality of presbyters is spoken of as existing in one and the same place, and
sometimes even in one and the same church. On this subject
we have already said enough to undermine its apparent
strength by calling to mind the missionary character of the
apostolic and primitive churches, and the relation of these
many presbyters to the whole field of their united labours.
Like all the other premises from which this theory draws its
conclusions, this argument is at once prelatic and congregational, and is employed by both parties for the overthrow of
* De Syn. Vet. Lib. iii. part I. chap. ii. pp. 621, 627, et passim.
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