The ecclesiastical status of Philip

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TryingToLearn

Puritan Board Freshman
Assuming Philip had the power to baptize because he was an Evangelist, if he were to return to his home congregation, would he have the power to baptize there? If so, what would differentiate him from an Elder since he was a Deacon? If not, then why does he have authority to baptize away from his church but not within it (I know the answer may obviously be “because that’s how Evangelists work” but it just seems strange to me he has power and authority in some situations but not in others so I’m trying to work this out in my mind)?
 
We make some assumptions about Philip and his ecclesiastical/life progress, based on the events and circumstances of his life that are related to us combined with a theology of ordination.

There is a definite passage of time occurring between the moments we encounter him in the text of Acts, at least three distinct moments. There is the need identified in the church for deacons, Act.6, when Philip is recognized and ordained. Then in Act.8, which comes following the death of Stephen (another one of the named deacons from earlier) Philip goes afield to Samaria where he preaches. Our theology of ordination and function of office should rather point us to the conclusion that Philip's gifts had seen him set further apart to the gospel ministry by this time.

The church in Jerusalem had seen most of its high-profile persons scattered (Act.8:1) with the exception of the apostles, clearly to preserve their lives but also with a view to seeing that the rising tide of persecution was providentially intended to force the church into a missionary mindset. Philip's successful evangelism in Samaria saw the church in Jerusalem (centered on the apostles) send forth other emissaries in the persons of Peter and John to evaluate and approve and declare that the one church was truly present even beyond the physical bounds of the Old Covenant (Samaria). Perhaps not yet "one o'er all the earth," but one though spread further according to the testimony of Christ in Act.1:8.

But shortly thereafter, Philip is sent (Act.8:26) traveling down the highway toward Gaza, where he encountered the Ethiopian eunuch, saw that man converted, and proceeded to baptize him. We ought to think that the previous events in Samaria, overseen, credited and approved by the apostles, helped Philip recognize his ministerial office now made him free to baptize (thus recognize) not only converts in Jerusalem and Samaria derived (even if by a little connection only) of Jewish stock; but to all who had begun spiritually by looking off to Jerusalem to seek the Living God.

That work suddenly concluded (by the Holy Spirit), Philip was "found" at Azotus (Act.8:40) and went along until Caesarea preaching and presumably fulfilling his office. Caesarea is where Philip is again noted (Act.21:8) where he evidently had planted the church and likely remained as its pastor for all the years of Paul's recorded ministry (that season most clearly coinciding with the intervening chapters that begin with Paul's conversion story). He is still identified as Philip the evangelist and one of the seven--note that distinctive and double identification.

I went to those lengths not for what it tells us in answer to the specific question of the OP, but so we can fully grasp (as we are able) the story of Philip, and also come to appreciate a little better the time scale of that story. From introduction to the last mention is around two decades (20yrs +/-). Philip was one who was believed to have "the Holy Spirit and wisdom" already at the start of that period (Act.6:3). Such gifts as he had were not even fully developed, and they increased along with his ministry. As a deacon, we may be doubtful he was appointed to preaching and baptizing; but he was preaching and baptizing after the scattering of the church (like seeds sown by a sower). Therefore, we conclude he was equipped for that labor.

That Peter and John, representing the church's core, went to approve Philip's first reported labors in Samaria--and saw a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as heaven's approval and confirmation--shows the unity of the church. Philip baptizing a Jew in Jewish lands would not have been cause to summon the apostles for review. Philip's preaching and his baptisms of Samaritans were approved and credited by the one church, and by extension so was the evangelist's labors toward the Ethiopian after that, and subsequently in the Gentile-dominated port city (built by Herod the Great) of Caesarea, the official capital of Roman rule in the province.

Philip's ordination (which we ought to assume went beyond his initial appointment) would have made him a dutiful baptizer as we find him first performing in Act.8:12. He would have had that authority (in a Presbyterian's perspective) anywhere he was recognized in the church as one of its lawful ministers, first in his "home congregation," but not only there; including all over the territory the Jerusalem church held authoritative sway as they recognized themselves. So, he was a preacher and a baptizer all over Judea as soon as he was ordained or recognized as a gospel minister. He was the one to open up the existence of the church (in fact) in Samaria, evidenced by his baptisms there; and certified (de jure) by the church of Jerusalem by the attendance of the apostles.

My answer to your question is that we don't have record of the church's prior approval of Philip's further ministry beyond his deaconate; but we do have the record that he was doing the work of evangelist and church-planter and eventually pastor, leading to the conclusion that if things were done "in order" and with approvals all along the way: Philip's work demonstrates that he bore the prior ordination of one so authorized to speak and act in the way he did, even if we lack the extra report of his appointment event.
 
We make some assumptions about Philip and his ecclesiastical/life progress, based on the events and circumstances of his life that are related to us combined with a theology of ordination.

There is a definite passage of time occurring between the moments we encounter him in the text of Acts, at least three distinct moments. There is the need identified in the church for deacons, Act.6, when Philip is recognized and ordained. Then in Act.8, which comes following the death of Stephen (another one of the named deacons from earlier) Philip goes afield to Samaria where he preaches. Our theology of ordination and function of office should rather point us to the conclusion that Philip's gifts had seen him set further apart to the gospel ministry by this time.

The church in Jerusalem had seen most of its high-profile persons scattered (Act.8:1) with the exception of the apostles, clearly to preserve their lives but also with a view to seeing that the rising tide of persecution was providentially intended to force the church into a missionary mindset. Philip's successful evangelism in Samaria saw the church in Jerusalem (centered on the apostles) send forth other emissaries in the persons of Peter and John to evaluate and approve and declare that the one church was truly present even beyond the physical bounds of the Old Covenant (Samaria). Perhaps not yet "one o'er all the earth," but one though spread further according to the testimony of Christ in Act.1:8.

But shortly thereafter, Philip is sent (Act.8:26) traveling down the highway toward Gaza, where he encountered the Ethiopian eunuch, saw that man converted, and proceeded to baptize him. We ought to think that the previous events in Samaria, overseen, credited and approved by the apostles, helped Philip recognize his ministerial office now made him free to baptize (thus recognize) not only converts in Jerusalem and Samaria derived (even if by a little connection only) of Jewish stock; but to all who had begun spiritually by looking off to Jerusalem to seek the Living God.

That work suddenly concluded (by the Holy Spirit), Philip was "found" at Azotus (Act.8:40) and went along until Caesarea preaching and presumably fulfilling his office. Caesarea is where Philip is again noted (Act.21:8) where he evidently had planted the church and likely remained as its pastor for all the years of Paul's recorded ministry (that season most clearly coinciding with the intervening chapters that begin with Paul's conversion story). He is still identified as Philip the evangelist and one of the seven--note that distinctive and double identification.

I went to those lengths not for what it tells us in answer to the specific question of the OP, but so we can fully grasp (as we are able) the story of Philip, and also come to appreciate a little better the time scale of that story. From introduction to the last mention is around two decades (20yrs +/-). Philip was one who was believed to have "the Holy Spirit and wisdom" already at the start of that period (Act.6:3). Such gifts as he had were not even fully developed, and they increased along with his ministry. As a deacon, we may be doubtful he was appointed to preaching and baptizing; but he was preaching and baptizing after the scattering of the church (like seeds sown by a sower). Therefore, we conclude he was equipped for that labor.

That Peter and John, representing the church's core, went to approve Philip's first reported labors in Samaria--and saw a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as heaven's approval and confirmation--shows the unity of the church. Philip baptizing a Jew in Jewish lands would not have been cause to summon the apostles for review. Philip's preaching and his baptisms of Samaritans were approved and credited by the one church, and by extension so was the evangelist's labors toward the Ethiopian after that, and subsequently in the Gentile-dominated port city (built by Herod the Great) of Caesarea, the official capital of Roman rule in the province.

Philip's ordination (which we ought to assume went beyond his initial appointment) would have made him a dutiful baptizer as we find him first performing in Act.8:12. He would have had that authority (in a Presbyterian's perspective) anywhere he was recognized in the church as one of its lawful ministers, first in his "home congregation," but not only there; including all over the territory the Jerusalem church held authoritative sway as they recognized themselves. So, he was a preacher and a baptizer all over Judea as soon as he was ordained or recognized as a gospel minister. He was the one to open up the existence of the church (in fact) in Samaria, evidenced by his baptisms there; and certified (de jure) by the church of Jerusalem by the attendance of the apostles.

My answer to your question is that we don't have record of the church's prior approval of Philip's further ministry beyond his deaconate; but we do have the record that he was doing the work of evangelist and church-planter and eventually pastor, leading to the conclusion that if things were done "in order" and with approvals all along the way: Philip's work demonstrates that he bore the prior ordination of one so authorized to speak and act in the way he did, even if we lack the extra report of his appointment event.
Thanks! With that answer though, how would he differ from an elder at his own church though?

Also what do you think of Dr Strange’s reply here: https://www.puritanboard.com/thread...-protocol-when-baptizing-the-ethiopian.84854/
 
Assuming Philip had the power to baptize because he was an Evangelist, if he were to return to his home congregation, would he have the power to baptize there? If so, what would differentiate him from an Elder since he was a Deacon? If not, then why does he have authority to baptize away from his church but not within it (I know the answer may obviously be “because that’s how Evangelists work” but it just seems strange to me he has power and authority in some situations but not in others so I’m trying to work this out in my mind)?
I know I am in the minority on this (it was my only stated exception to my declared standards when I joined PB), but I believe the men in Acts 6 were what we now call ruling elders, not what we now call deacons. I believe the text of Acts 6 communicates that these men were chosen and ordained to help rule (in the immediate context to ensure equal treatment in the Church) in a way which paralleled Christ/the Apostles, Moses/the Seventyn etc. I find the common modern elder/deacon distinction (spiritual vs. physical) to be problematic for multiple reasons but don't want to completely derail the thread. I only state all of this because, with this line of thinking, I have no issue with Philip and Steven later preaching and administering sacraments because I believe they were ordained to do so in Acts 6 (without resorting to an argument from silence such as "well they must have later become elders/ministers but Luke left that part out").
 
Thanks! With that answer though, how would he differ from an elder at his own church though?
I don't believe an elder (ruling sort) is authorized to baptize.

Also what do you think of Dr Strange’s reply here:
I agree with him, almost to the letter. He thinks the OPC-respondent (on the official website Q&A) misguided, as that one seems to fail to recognize Philip was--by that time he was baptizing--an evangelist, not merely a deacon.
 
I don't believe an elder (ruling sort) is authorized to baptize.
It is and has been allowable in many churches:

"The privileges of ruling elders include:

"4. When deemed by his session or presbytery to be qualified in the areas of personal godliness, theology, Biblical knowledge and church history he would
be eligible for:
a. Occasional ministry of the Word in the congregation at the request of the session or at the request of another court.
b. Occasional ministry of the Word within the denomination where specifically requested by another court.
c. Occasional pronouncing of God’s benediction upon His people."

"6. Under extraordinary circumstances, to administer the sacraments when specifically appointed to do so on a given occasion by the presbytery."

(RPCNA Directory for Church Government, CHAPTER 3, "The Officers of the Church," I. ELDERS: RULING ELDERS, C. "Privileges").

I suggest this fits the pattern of Acts 6.

(As an aside, I once strongly opposed this allowance - I like things cut and dry but Acts just doesn't seem to support that. Things can be done decently and in order while still being irregular.)
 
It is and has been allowable in many churches:

"The privileges of ruling elders include:

"4. When deemed by his session or presbytery to be qualified in the areas of personal godliness, theology, Biblical knowledge and church history he would
be eligible for:
a. Occasional ministry of the Word in the congregation at the request of the session or at the request of another court.
b. Occasional ministry of the Word within the denomination where specifically requested by another court.
c. Occasional pronouncing of God’s benediction upon His people."

"6. Under extraordinary circumstances, to administer the sacraments when specifically appointed to do so on a given occasion by the presbytery."

(RPCNA Directory for Church Government, CHAPTER 3, "The Officers of the Church," I. ELDERS: RULING ELDERS, C. "Privileges").

I suggest this fits the pattern of Acts 6.

(As an aside, I once strongly opposed this allowance - I like things cut and dry but Acts just doesn't seem to support that. Things can be done decently and in order while still being irregular.)
Different churches, having their specific history and application of Holy Scripture, may find themselves doing or approving things that other bodies find doubtful while not finding their brethren from elsewhere wholly failing their ministries.

My rejoinder to the "6." wherein is authorized sacramental administration in extraordinary circumstances is: why not simply ordain the most qualified person to the office of minister? The denomination and presbytery is evidently cognizant that they are allowing (in extremis) that which is irregular. Covenanters have found themselves in this situation repeatedly in their history. They have at times had so few ministers because of martyrdom and the like, they have sought for some relief for their population by recourse to irregular expedients. And in the process have concluded by codifying rules for these irregularities.

The answer to my hypothetical question might be: in the circumstances envisioned, that ordination would be a death-sentence. Well, perhaps it would be; but until arrest and carrying out, the ordained minister would be fulfilling his ministry under the King and Head. But who am I to tell the martyr-church what sort of solution they ought to come up with? I am not in the position to judge their history or their choices; but acknowledge both my admiration of their courage and my doubts of their solutions in all respects.
 
It is and has been allowable in many churches:

"The privileges of ruling elders include:

"4. When deemed by his session or presbytery to be qualified in the areas of personal godliness, theology, Biblical knowledge and church history he would
be eligible for:
a. Occasional ministry of the Word in the congregation at the request of the session or at the request of another court.
b. Occasional ministry of the Word within the denomination where specifically requested by another court.
c. Occasional pronouncing of God’s benediction upon His people."

"6. Under extraordinary circumstances, to administer the sacraments when specifically appointed to do so on a given occasion by the presbytery."

(RPCNA Directory for Church Government, CHAPTER 3, "The Officers of the Church," I. ELDERS: RULING ELDERS, C. "Privileges").

I suggest this fits the pattern of Acts 6.

(As an aside, I once strongly opposed this allowance - I like things cut and dry but Acts just doesn't seem to support that. Things can be done decently and in order while still being irregular.)
Different churches, having their specific history and application of Holy Scripture, may find themselves doing or approving things that other bodies find doubtful while not finding their brethren from elsewhere wholly failing their ministries.

My rejoinder to the "6." wherein is authorized sacramental administration in extraordinary circumstances is: why not simply ordain the most qualified person to the office of minister? The denomination and presbytery is evidently cognizant that they are allowing (in extremis) that which is irregular. Covenanters have found themselves in this situation repeatedly in their history. They have at times had so few ministers because of martyrdom and the like, they have sought for some relief for their population by recourse to irregular expedients. And in the process have concluded by codifying rules for these irregularities.

The answer to my hypothetical question might be: in the circumstances envisioned, that ordination would be a death-sentence. Well, perhaps it would be; but until arrest and carrying out, the ordained minister would be fulfilling his ministry under the King and Head. But who am I to tell the martyr-church what sort of solution they ought to come up with? I am not in the position to judge their history or their choices; but acknowledge both my admiration of their courage and my doubts of their solutions in all respects.
I'm with Bruce; this #6 at the least doesn't square with any Presbyterian view of the offices I'm aware of (Rutherford, Gillespie). It must date to later and the American perhaps even relatively modern context. The Scots Presbyterians were perhaps the fiercest defender of the office of ruling elder but even in the killing times it was only the ministers that officiated communions in the fields as far as I am aware. I open to being corrected.
 
My only response to the last 2 posts (which I appreciate and am deeply sympathetic to) would be that most of Acts reads like "extraordinary circumstances." So I find it difficult (and maybe dangerous?) to apply many specific acts in Acts to today. But it does serve to establish precedence for the extraordinary (i.e. "irregular").
 
I don't believe an elder (ruling sort) is authorized to baptize.


I agree with him, almost to the letter. He thinks the OPC-respondent (on the official website Q&A) misguided, as that one seems to fail to recognize Philip was--by that time he was baptizing--an evangelist, not merely a deacon.
Thanks! Is Strange suggesting though that an Evangelist has power to baptize only outside the congregation? That’s at least how I read him. Otherwise I suppose the question then comes back to what would differentiate Philip from a teaching elder.
 
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Is Strange suggesting though that an Evangelist has power to baptize only outside the congregation?
I don't believe Dr.Strange suggests the idea you attribute to his words; sometimes our language is open to misunderstanding, and that's all I think is the case here.

The evangelist in the modern, OPC use of the term, when he has been called to special service of missionary work by a Presbytery is dispatched being vested with plenipotentiary power--all of a Presbytery's powers of ordination. So, he is in a position of tremendous responsibility and equipped with great authority. It is his job to bring the church's ordinary presence into a situation where it has never been present; and this requires him (quite possibly all alone) to act as a session would, in examining new members for baptism; and to serve the Lord's Supper alone without immediate elder participation and supervision (since there aren't any local elders yet); and in the place of the whole Presbytery lay hands (for the whole) upon men for to set them apart as elders. He is acting on behalf of the sending church, and doing their work for them with their approval but all alone.

Ministers (which is the OPC's general category of officer to which evangelists, like pastors and teachers, belong) are in the nature of their office ordained to administer the sacraments. Someone with the call of evangelist may preach and administer the sacraments in any particular congregation of the church that acknowledges his ordination as a minister of word and sacrament. Sacramental ordinances belong in the frame of ordinary worship as occasional or regular elements. Word and sacrament ministry is part-and-parcel of this office's ordinary function, which is normally conducted within the bounds of the established church, i.e. in local congregations.

The evangelist with a missionary call is typically establishing the church's new boundaries by extending them. He is forming a congregation, which is the only reason why anyone would baptize a person "outside" of a congregation. By baptizing in a place hitherto lacking such, he is literally forming the nucleus of a congregation in the act of baptizing. He will most likely preach to whomever is in attendance--especially the person or persons to be baptized--indeed, conduct a whole service of worship to set the context for the sacrament. Their baptism event probably does not take place during the first service of worship they ever attended; but it is the first one they experience as formal, enrolled members of the visible church, recognized in their baptism by which the congregation they belong to was initially constituted. The whole church--congregations near and far--rejoices to learn that a new congregation has been born, filled with the baptized.

Philip's baptism of the Ethiopian has aspects of this "missionary" purpose. That man was, when still in Judah, recognized by Philip as a member of that church, as someone he was responsible for, even as he was heading out of those bounds away from immediate supervision and pastoral care. The Ethiopian, being enrolled in the church, took his membership in the one church with him down to his homeland.
 
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