4:12]
THE WORKMEN who are to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments are
the _ministers_. They must be properly called and ordained by the
Church. [Act 14:23, Tit. 1:5] In the New Testament all pastors are
called elders or bishops. It was only at a later period that the office
of a bishop was made superior to that of elder, pastor or minister. The
office of an apostle was a separate and higher office. The apostles were
the witnesses of Christ's redemption, and possessed miraculous powers.
They have no successors. Ministers are the ambassadors of Christ,
beseeching men to be reconciled to God. [II Cor. 5:20+] Christ speaks
through them. He who hears them, hears Christ; he who despises them,
despises Christ. [Luke 10:16] If a minister should happen to be a
hypocrite, his official acts, such as baptisms and the like, would still
be valid. [II Tim. 2:13] _Deacons_ [Acts 6:1-6] are officers whose duty
it is to assist the pastor, and to look after the temporal interests of
the congregation. _Deaconesses_ [Rom.16:1] are consecrated to the work
of love and mercy, and minister to the sick, the needy, the neglected,
the ignorant, the fallen, and the friendless.
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