Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
But there is a still more pointed reference to this class of Elders in 1 Timothy v. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. It would seem that every person of plain common sense, who had never heard of any diversity of opinion on the subject would, without hesitation conclude, on reading this passage, that, at the period in which it was written there were two kinds of Elders, one whose duty it was to labour in the word and doctrine, and another who did not thus labour but only ruled in the Church.
The Apostle declares that Elders who rule well are worthy of double honour, but ESPECIALLY those who labour in the word and doctrine. Now, if we. suppose that there was only one class of Elders then in the Church, and that the were ALL teachers, or laborers in the word and doctrine, we make the inspired Apostle speak in a manner utterly unworthy of his high character. There was, therefore, a class of Elders in the apostolic Church who did not, in fact, or, at any rate, ordinarily, preach, or administer sacraments, but assisted in government;-in other words, Ruling Elders.
For the reference, see Samuel Miller on ruling elders and 1 Timothy 5:17.
The Apostle declares that Elders who rule well are worthy of double honour, but ESPECIALLY those who labour in the word and doctrine. Now, if we. suppose that there was only one class of Elders then in the Church, and that the were ALL teachers, or laborers in the word and doctrine, we make the inspired Apostle speak in a manner utterly unworthy of his high character. There was, therefore, a class of Elders in the apostolic Church who did not, in fact, or, at any rate, ordinarily, preach, or administer sacraments, but assisted in government;-in other words, Ruling Elders.
For the reference, see Samuel Miller on ruling elders and 1 Timothy 5:17.
