THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE HAD NOT A HIERARCHICAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT LIKE THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SDA CONTINUED PART 2

THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE HAD NOT A HIERARCHICAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT LIKE THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SDA. THUS GOD'S CHURCH IS NOT A CHURCH GOVERNMENT (A study in progress, comments are welcomed - Some are wrongly thinking, being controlled by the GC is what constitutes being part of God's church.)

The group of men called apostles were not a church government, look at how they functioned. Paul did not depend on a church government to be learned in the truth nor to function in his capacity as an apostle. See Gal.1:12,16-19 & 2:6-9. It was 17 years after Paul's conversion that he received the hands of fellowship, that is 17 years after working on the field as an apostle that Paul received the right hand of fellowship from the other apostles in chap. 2:6 he tells us they added nothing to him, and in verse 11 he is rebuking Peter.

As regards Paul's apostleship we are told in verse 9 the other apostles perceived the grace that was given unto him, so Paul was not made an apostle by them, they simply recognized his calling.

In the book of Acts it is noticed that the apostles were on the field canvassing whether it be one unconverted person (Acts 13:7) or a gathering of unconverted persons say in a market place (Acts 17:17).

When Peter saw that certain came from James he withdrew and separated himself from the gentiles. And it is for this Paul rebukes him to the face. This shows Paul saw Peter as another brother in Christ and not a part of some ecclesiastical head. In Acts 11 Peter is rebuked wrongfully but this time by certain of the circumcision.

Acts 11:22 tells us there was a church in Jerusalem (not a church government).

In Acts 13:1-4 At Antioch the apostle Paul receives inspired instruction from the teachers and prophets (Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius and Manaen) to join with Barnabas and to go forth from place to place to preach the gospel. The instruction from the Holy Spirit did not come from Jerusalem where the other apostles were at the time, no it came from Antioch and instructed Paul who was an Apostle just like Peter, John and James.

In Acts 15:5-22 there is a true General Conference which was simply a meeting of the elders. These came from the field and included the opposing parties (a sect of pharisees who believe it was needful for salvation to circumcise the gentiles.) Now this was not a church government but a temporary gathering and when the matter was resolved they all returned to the field