http://www.keelestreet.ca/2012/01/03/pastor-eye-zzed-first-of-2012/
Night of Nights: A Chiasmus
Notes from personal study Summer, 2008
Introduction 1-7
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:1-20
July-28-09
12:09 PM
A Shepherds in field 8
B Angel appears–fear 9
C Angelic Announcement 10-11
D Lying in a manger 12
E Glory to God 13-15
D’ Lying in a manger 16
C’ Shepherdic Announcement 17
B’ Shepherds appear–others wonder 18-19
A’ Shepherds return to field 20
Conclusion: “His name is Jesus” 21
The centre of the narrative is God, and His Glory.
An old essay on eldership
LEADERSHIP:
A STUDY OF I TIMOTHY 3:1-7
by
Scott Jacobsen
1981
Works Consulted
W. Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature. (translated by W. F. Arndt and F. W. Gingrich from the fourth German Ed.; Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957.)
Brown, Colin. ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
Kittel, G. F. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Translated by G. W. Bromiley, Grand Rapids: Wm B., Eerdmans, 1964.
Loupe, G. W. H. A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1961-68.
Moulton, J. H. and Milligan, G. The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament Illustrated from the Papyri and Other Non-Literary Sources. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914-30.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this brief outline is to supply a study guide concerning the eldership, special emphasis being placed upon the requirement for elders. It should be noted that the principle English text used in this study is the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (hereafter RSV), while certain notations are made from the King James Version (hereafter KJV).
Important Greek keywords are supplied as transliterated into English, and important phrases are given. Otherwise, the word order follows the RSV text. I Timothy 3:1-7 is the primary passage in this study.
- I Timothy 3:1
- “The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.”
- Word study
- “office of bishop” ἐπισκοπῆς (episkopēs; DF[1]: ἐπισκοπή, ῆς ἡ episkopē, ēs, hē)
According to Bauer’s lexicon, this term is used to describe a visitation of divine power, either in a benevolent sense, or with the idea of judgement. As in this context, it is used to describe the office or position of overseer in the church.
As in secular Greek, ἐπισκοπή means a person of high authority, yet one who is a public servant. Hence the balance is maintained between servant-hood and authority. The concept of leading by serving is fundamental to the New Testament concept of leadership.
Literally, the word means “to look upon,” in the sense of overseer. The term is used to describe God’s careful oversight of His people, of men visiting the sick, or seeking out someone, and official duties.
’Eπισκοπή seems to be a descriptive term for the eldership, as Paul uses the term interchangeably in Acts 20:17 and 20:28. In verse 17 Paul calls together the “presbyterous” (πρεσβυτέρους; DF: πρεσβύτερος, α, ον; literally, “elders”) of the church at Ephesus. As he address them, however, he calls them “overseers” (episkopous) “to care for (ποιμαίνω, poimainō, literally, “shepherd”, or “pastor”) the church of God.” It may be seen from this passage that the men who were called “elders” in verse 17 are also called “overseers” (episkopous—bishops) in verse 28. In that same verse Paul tells them to “take care of” (pastor) the church of God. The three terms describe the same office.
to be continued . . .
[1] “DF” = Dictionary Form