Understanding the Nature of Church and Its Mission in the Writings of Paul and Luke - Essay Example

Understanding the nature of church and its mission in the writings of Paul and Luke Luke and St. Paul are the two prolific in the New Testament. Traditionally, Luke the evangelist is said to be author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of Apostles. There are theological and linguistic similarities between the two books, suggesting that there is a common author for the two works. Luke, in his writings, shows special interest in poor women, oppressed groups and social ethics (Harris 1985). He gives special emphasis on the activities of Holy Spirit, prayer, and joyfulness (Guthrie 1990). Paul is believed to have written 14 epistles in the New Testament. Paul’s epistles to churches deal with certain aspects of church doctrine, teaching or responses to certain situations that developed in the church. New Testament Church Mission According to Luke, the New Testament Church’s mission is to propagate the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is evident in Gospel of Luke chapter 24. Luke writes “He told them, “this is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24: 46-49). According to Luke, the church’s mission is to ‘go’, to ‘preach’ and ‘make disciples’ and Luke has repeated the church’s mission again in Acts chapter 1 “But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 Paul not only agrees with Luke but also affirms the fulfillment of church’s mission twice in the first chapter of Colossians. Paul writes in Colossians chapter 1 “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood god’s grace in all its truth.” (Colossians 1:6) Paul reiterates the same again in verse 23 of the first chapter “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” But Paul, besides evangelism, adds edification or spiritual maturity (1 cor.14:12) and benevolences towards all as parts of New Testament Church’s mission. Edification and Benevolence are necessary for the well being of church, each member and overall success of the mission of the church. Regarding New Testament church’s mission, both Paul and Luke agree that spreading Christ’s teaching is the main mission. The only difference between the two is that Paul adds, besides evangelism, spiritual maturity and benevolences as part of the church’s mission. The Nature of the New Testament Church in the writings of Paul and Luke The word ‘church’ in the new statement derives from the Greek word ‘Ekklesia’ which means a local body of people or a called out assembly. The Greek used the word ‘Ekklesia’ to mention political assemblies that were convened to carry out local affairs of local government. But Jesus Christ used the Greek word to mention his own followers who were believed in his teachings and were baptized. For Paul and Luke, the word ‘church’ means meetings of the baptized local believers to profess their adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Both Paul and Luke depict church as a flock. Luke describes church as a flock in two occasions (Luke 12:32; Acts 20:28-29) but Paul also talks about the great shepherd who sacrifices his life for the sheep (Hebrews 13:20). The New Testament Church started with Jesus Christ calling out his disciples. “No mortal man founded the New Testament Church; it was Christ who instituted the church.” (Abrams 1992) After the death of Jesus Christ, Apostles have authority over the body of believers and it is evident in the writings of Luke in Acts 1:20-21, where Peter discusses the substitute for Judas Iscariot. In Acts chapter 14, Luke says “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” But in first Timothy, where Paul writes about the selection of church leader he uses an altogether different term i.e. overseer. Paul says “Here is a trustworthy saying: if anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy. 3:1) The word overseer derives from the Greek word ‘episkopos.” The King James Version of Bible translates it as bishop. Many theologians point it out as a new development a development of an up-and-coming hierarchy. It is evident from the writings of Paul and Luke that the early church had no strong central office and most of the churches were autonomous. It is clear that each local church had several elders who have different roles in the administration. “The custom of seeking advice from the senior men of a community meant that “elder” or “presbyter” came to designate a functionary chosen ideally for wisdom, often older in age.” (Brown, The Apostles Left Behind). Each local church was autonomous and was led by group elders. Elders were supposed to refute false teaching and guide the believers. But, final authority rests with the church corporally. Luke says in Acts 20: 17, “the elders were given positions of overseer and shepherd.” It suggests managerial and supervisory functions for the elders. But he was not to ‘lord it over them’ and was supposed to lead by personal examples. Paul, generally, uses the term ‘church’ when referring to large geographical areas. For example, he refers to “the Macedonian churches” (2 Cor 8: 1), “the churches in the provinces of Asia” (1 Co 16:19), “the churches of Galatia” (Gal 1:1), “the churches of Judea” (Ga 1: 1) etc. but there were no nationally organized church or organized regional church. The main reason for the division among the churches was geographical location. But there were also mentions about universal church (Ep 1: 22-23, 3: 10, 21; Col 1:18) to which all the followers of Jesus Christ belong. It has to be pointed out that the universal church was spiritual and unseen with no worldwide earthly organization. So it is very evident from writings of Paul that all the churches in New Testament were combined under Jesus Christ as its head, but there were no earthly organization to bind them together. Even without the help of an earthly organization, churches extended co-operation to one another voluntarily because of the feelings of spiritual oneness of life in Jesus Christ. Paul considers church as a pilgrim church proclaiming Jesus Christ’s death till he comes “for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the lord’s death until he comes.” But he portrays church as community of disciples in his second letter to Corinthians. (2 Cor. 13:14). But it does not mean assembling a band of likeminded persons to worship god in the way they choose. It means, the congregation, in response to God’s call upon their lives entered in to relationship with and in Christ and is led and guided by the Holy Spirit to convent together. In one letter Paul identifies church as company of those who believe. Paul says “ the church of God in Corinth, to those satisfied in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their lord and ours” in his letter to Corinthians. In a sense, it also means church is not merely a local congregation, nor even a national or regional entity but a catholic one. In Colossians and Romans, Paul illustrates church as kingdom of Jesus Christ, Paul says “for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves: (Colossians 1:13). In another occasion Paul describes church as family of which Christ is the head (Galatians 4:6-7). Paul describes church as body of Christ and Jesus being the head nourishes the body and the Holy Spirit is the breath to animate it. Paul strongly emphasizes the relationship between the members of the body and diversity and equality within unity. Paul says “instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held him together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4: 15-16). Conclusion Paul speaks of church as a body, a flock, a vine, a bride in relation to Jesus Christ. The word ‘church’ occurs more than sixty times in his epistles but occurs only rarely in the writings of Luke. This is not surprising, considering the problems Paul faced while ministering to the gentiles. Luke, generally, speaks of church as a community of disciples, a flock. In Luke’s Gospel he presents the apostles as the rulers of Israel. According to Luke, the church started functioning on the Pentecost day. Both Luke and Paul agree that the main mission is to propagation of teachings of Jesus Christ across the world. References Abrams, Cooper, P. (1992). Biblical Basis of a New Testament Church. Retrieved August 3, 2007, from http://www.bible-truth.org/church.htm Brown, R.E., The Churches: The Apostles Left Behind. Paulist Press, New York. P.32 Cook, Henry. (1961). what Baptists stand for. London: The Carey Kingsgate press. P.59. Guthrie, Donald (1990). New Testament introduction. England: Leicester, Apollos. P.105. Harris, Stephen L. (1985). Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield The Holy Bible. (1984). New International Version. International Bible Society. Colorado Springs, Colorado. . Read More