Lecture 5 - Ecclesiology Flashcards
(47 cards)
Ecclesiology
The study of the church
Elect Exiles
Believers are scattered across the earth yet have their home in Christ
The Local Church
A group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances
Universal Church
The church across all time, continents, and centuries; all Christians past, present, and future - the people not the building
Local Church
A geographical manifestation of the universal church; a church with a time and place
Invisible Church
The part of the universal church that is currently living, though the number is unknown
Visible Church
Christians tangibly identified with a church (members)
Gathered Church
Occurs when a church is assembled. There are rights and privileges for this gathering (the ordinances) that should not be practiced in the scattering of the church
Scattered Church
Christians living their normal lives
Ecclesia
Assembled ones; assembly
Organism
Individual Christians of a corporate body
Organization
The gathering with its structure and incorporations. It is not obligated to take on all or any passions of organisms
Prescriptive
Describes what ought to be done in every church
Descriptive
Describes what has happened in past churches
The Regulative Principle
Emphasizes what Scripture commands and only allows that: Reading, preaching, prayer, singing, sacraments, and sometimes creeds and confessions
The Normative Principle
Anything not forbidden in Scripture concerning the gathering is permissible
Adiaphoron
A useless thing; popularized in the 40s and 50s concerning the church. But God cares not just that he is worshipped but how he is worshipped.
Polity and Government
How the church is structured. 3 models, all three confess Christ as the head of the church
Episcopalianism
Bishops have the authority in the church. 3 offices: Archbishop/Bishop, Elders, Deacons
Presbyterianism
Elders have authority over the church. 2 offices: Ruling Elders/Teaching Elders, Deacons
Congregationalism
The congregants hold the authority, with the offices of elder (pastor) and deacon. Each congregation has it own authority; no outsider can tell it what to do
Elder/Pastor/Overseer
One of two offices. List of qualifications in 1 Tim 3 and in Titus 1. Often overlooked: desires office and not quarrelsome. Consider: patterns of life vs. once-for-all standards
Plurality of Eldership
Elders always mentioned in the plural in Scripture. Elders need their own shepherds for support and accountability
Complementarianism
The office of elder is reserved for men. Both are made in God’s image and equal in worth, but they are designed for complementary roles.
