Fivefold

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The creation of doctrines around the FiveFold Ministry concept has often led to a neglect of the duties of the Church. Christ appointed the ministers of His Church to do a job and provide the services of Pure Religion through charitable practices, freely giving what was freely received like the Levites before them, who were the Church in the Wilderness. They were public servants of the appointed Kingdom of God of, for, and by the virtue of the people and the ministries of His Church. Providing welfare through the state where men may call themselves benefactors creates a social compact with a corporate body that exercises authority which makes the word of God to none effect and snares the people as surety for debt. They gave up personal wealth being "called out" and relied upon charity. They were not mendicant which would be contrary to the early Church. They were to be in one accord, One Body, as the true Church. 1000 years later in the days of Lady Godiva the Church would look to the Benefactors who exercise authority and the Fathers of the earth becoming entangled in the elements of the world. It is time to repent!


The fivefold ministry or five-fold ministry is a Neo-charismatic Christian belief that five offices mentioned in Ephesians (Ephesians 4:11), namely those of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (or "shepherds") and teachers, are assumed to be active or valid offices in the contemporary Christian Church. But is the modern Church actually doing what the early Church did?

They are particularly associated with Pentecostal beliefs and by others considered these characteristics as mere roles or spiritual gifts ( 1 Corinthians 12). Paul refers to the "signs" of an apostle in 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 and the qualifications of overseers or what is called Bishops are listed in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

Apostles: The Twelve (Luke 6:13-16), Matthias (Acts 1:24-26), Paul (Galatians 1:1), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7).

[[File:Jesusteach.jpg|right|300px|thumb|To think like Christ, you may need to change the way you think. We are warned about a strong delusion that will deceive many. Jesus, according to his own words, came to take the kingdom from those who were teaching something different from Moses. Their Corban was making the word of God to none effect. Jesus appointed a kingdom to His Apostles so that they would bear witness and through the Holy Spirit the people would repent and bear fruit. Through [[Christ],] the world might be saved if the people would repent and seek the kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Many modern Christians do not practice "pure Religion". In fact, they often engage in "covetous practices' going to the Fathers of the earth who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other to set the table of which early Christians would not eat. ]]


Apostolos

The word Apostolos is from the Greek word apostello meaning to send, to order (one) to go to a place appointed. An ambassador from Greece would be called an Apostolos and certainly the Apostles were ambassadors from the kingdom of God to the world. It appears 78 times as apostle but twice as messenger. It could include anyone who is a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.

While it might be "specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ," in a broader sense it is also applied to others who are spiritually sent or delegated by God as prophets or teachers or any task based on the righteousness and Will of God.

The kingdom of God is one form of government where its ministers are servants with no offices where men exercise authority one over another because Jesus said it was not to be that way with us.

There is only one denomination of His Church because Christ and His doctrine is the only common denominator.

Only God delegates men to be His Apostles. If any man preach a doctrine other than that which Jesus taught, he is clearly not an apostle of Jesus.

An apostle may have authority over things that by their nature and circumstance belong to God. This would be things freely given to men who actually are separate from the world and actually belong to God.

The apostles seemed to actually have belonged to God as they considered themselves to be His bondservants saying there is another king, often doing contrary to the decrees of Caesar.[1]


Ambassadors of Christ

An ambassador of Christ could certainly be called an apostle if he or she was truly sent from the kingdom of God to the world by way of the Holy Spirit.

The term Apostolos clearly appears 78 times as apostle in the Bible, but the real question is how would you know if someone was truly sent by God?

And what would that look like?

They would be doing what Christ commanded and conforming to the directives of Christ to His Disciples and the Doctrine of Jesus concerning his ministers.

Christ was the king of Judea and took the kingdom from the false ministers of Moses and appointed it to His trained disciples.

What the early Church did can give us insight into what an ambassador did.

Ambassadors of others

Many people claiming to be ambassador of Christ fail to meet the guidelines for Christ's ministers.

If men calling themselves apostles or bishops are not conforming to the instructions of Christ, they may be some other King's apostle.

There are lots of things that can give us insight into what a bishop was expected to do and be. And there are examples of what they should not be doing.

Ambrose was a bishop of a church overseen and funded by Constantine. But many of these new bishops who oversaw that daily ministration of free bread which included covetous practices with an appetite for the dainties of Constantine or other.

The people who chose to at the tables of rulers should have put a knife to their throat because what should have been for their welfare was a snare.


Listen to Audio The Church (Ekklesia in Greek or Qahal in Hebrew) - Then and Now. How is the church different today than the first century?, Essenes, Dead Sea Scrolls, Apostles = Ambassadors, "Swear not!"...

Listen to Second Audio

Audio notes

Was Christ really King? Structure of government in Christ's time,

Why did the pharisees ask permission from Rome to kill Christ?

Making covenants

What is "faithfulness"?

Herod the Great's method,

Dead stones vs. living stones,

A word or two on oaths

Hosanna in the highest!

The "palm" tradition,

Christ in the treasury,

Apostles = ambassadors,

Church is a government,

"This Rock",

Who has the Keys of the Kingdom?

Prophets: The company from Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-28), Agabus (Acts 21:10-11), Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32) and the daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9)

In the Old Testament a prophet[2] was a spokesman, someone who was under influence of divine spirit.[3]

The Hebrew word for prophet is nabiy or NunBeitYodAlef, which is derived from an action verb naba, NunBeitAlef.

To be inspired by the spirit of God, a.k.a. Holy Spirit, which was God's desire for all His people[4]

Adam walked with God in the "Garden" and ate of the tree of life but when he ate of the tree of life he hid himself in the trees from God.[5] It says that God walked in the garden in the cool of the day. The term translated cool is ruwach[6] is normally translated "spirit".

This spirit of the creator gives us insight into how the universe works. It gives us understanding on the unknown, light where there is darkness.

While the true prophet may have understanding based on Spiritual insight or revelation when they try to put their understanding down in written form comprehending what they mean may be misinterpreted by the people who read them.

Part of this is due to the manner of of prose and poetry, the metaphor and meme[7] used to explain their insight.

The Roman and Greeks also understood the need for insight into the unknown and sought the leverage of the gods or prophets and prophetesses of their time.

The Sibylline Books[8], were offered for sale to Tarquinius Superbus, the last of the seven kings of Rome, by the Cumaean sibyl[9]. He refused to pay her price, so she burned six of the books before finally selling him the remaining three for the price she demanded.

The price of the truth is the whole truth and those who do not love the light will never see the truth.

[10] [11] to prophecy.[12]

But the word we see translated prophet in the New Testament is the Greek word prophetes [13] which would be anyone one who, moved by the Holy Spirit of God and therefore was His spokesman through the wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of that spirit.[14] A prophet was to “speak for another, especially one who speaks for a god.”



The common list includes the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

The Twelve Minor Prophets: Hosea[15], Joel[16], Amos[17], Obadiah[18], Jonah[19], Micah[20], Nahum[21], Habakkuk[22], Zephaniah[23], Haggai[24], Zechariah[25], and [[Malachi][26]].

But there should be an accounting of David, Samuel, Gideon, and others.


Teachers: Apollos (Acts 18:25), Paul (2Timothy 1:11)

In the Hebrew Bible there are several words translated teacher which can also mean everything from one who learns and teaches[27], or understands[28] to an archer[29] or even someone who scorns.[30] In the New Testament the Greek word which we see as teacher[31] is more often translated master which was a common title for a teacher centuries ago. Choose your teachers wisely because those who teach often becomes the master of generations to come.

Evangelists: Philip (Acts 21:9)

The word evangelist[32] only appears three times in the Bible. It is from the word euaggelizo [33] which appears some 55 times and simply means preach[34] or bring good news. It is from two Greek words meaning well or good and message. Anyone may bring the good news of the Kingdom of God, especially if they are led by the Holy Spirit.

In addition to this, Acts 13:1-3 lists some "prophets and teachers" in Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen and Saul (who later became Paul).

What was the New Testament ministers and congregations really doing as this peculiar people and why did they face such persecution?

Congregations of record or CORE groups linked together through the bonds of Charity and Love through network of volunteer Ministers who served the people a pattern of tens as commanded by Christ. The Christian communities were offering the benefits of Health, Education, and Welfare that would set believers free in spirit and in truth.

While the idea of fivefold ministry may help you organize the rolls of ministering to one another in service these categories are clearly not offices as we might see in the governments of the world. There are offices of sorts in the kingdom of God e.g. Bishop, deacon, and elder which are all elements of the tens whch are unlike the elements of the world, but they are often misconstrued in the Modern Church because of how many have strayed from the mission and purpose as well as the practices of the early Church.

It would have been almost impossible for the first century or New Testament Church to feed the flock of Christ in love if they had not gathered in the Tens as Christ commanded. We should remember that the early Church provided all the social welfare needs by Christians through Pure Religion. It has been regularly forgotten that Christians were persecuted because they would not apply for the welfare of the men of other governments that called themselves benefactors and offered free bread for the benefit of the people. By providing welfare through their exercising authority by taxation they make the Corban of the people to none effect. This of course was the error of the Nicolaitan.

While those subject to tribute should pay that tribute it is clear from the teachings of Christ, Paul, Peter and others that covetous practices would again entangle us in the elements of the world and make our merchandise, to say nothing of curse our chilcren.


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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
  2. 05030 ^איבנ^ nabiy’ \@naw-bee’\@ NunBeitYodAlef from 05012 נָבָא‎ naba’ v. prophesy; n m; AV-prophet 312, prophecy 1, them that prophesy 1, prophet + 0376 1, variant 1; 316
    1) spokesman, speaker, prophet
    1a) prophet
    1b) false prophet
    1c) heathen prophet
  3. 05012 ^אבנ^ naba’ \@naw-baw’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-prophesy 111, prophesying 2, prophet 2; 115
    1) to prophesy
    1a) (Niphal)
    1a1) to prophesy
    1a1a) under influence of divine spirit
    1a1b) of false prophets
    1b) (Hithpael)
    1b1) to prophesy
    1b1a) under influence of divine spirit
    1b1b) of false prophets
  4. Numbers 11:29 "And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"
  5. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking <01980> in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
  6. 07307 ^חור^ ruwach \@roo’- akh\@ ReishVavChet from smell 07306; n f; AV-Spirit or spirit 232, wind 92, breath 27, side 6, mind 5, blast 4, vain 2, air 1, anger 1, cool 1, courage 1, misc 6; 378
    1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
    1a) breath
    1b) wind
    1b1) of heaven
    1b2) quarter (of wind), side
    1b3) breath of air
    1b4) air, gas
    1b5) vain, empty thing
    1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
    1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
    1c2) courage
    1c3) temper, anger
    1c4) impatience, patience
    1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
    1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
    1c7) prophetic spirit
    1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
    1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God’s spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
    1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
    1e1) desire
    1e2) sorrow, trouble
    1f) spirit
    1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
    1f2) rarely of the will
    1f3) as seat especially of moral character
    1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
    1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
    1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
    1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
    1g4) as endowing men with various gifts
    1g5) as energy of life
    1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory
    1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
    • ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)
    • ו Vav Connection, Connecting realms and worlds or the dividing veil between them. [nail... And, Add, secure, hook] (Numeric value: 6)
    • ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
  7. A meme is generally a unit of cultural information spread by imitation.
  8. The Sibylline Books were cryptically written in hexameter verse and in Greek and required not only translation but interpretation by the decemviri.
  9. Sibyl a woman in ancient times supposed to utter the oracles and prophecies of a god.
  10. Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.
  11. [John 6]]:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
  12. 4394 ~προφητεία~ propheteia \@prof-ay-ti’-ah\@ from 4396 ("prophecy"); TDNT-6:781,952; {See TDNT 673} n f AV-prophecy 16, prophesying 3; 19
    1) prophecy
    1a) a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events
    1b) Used in the NT of the utterance of OT prophets
    1b1) of the prediction of events relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to it, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is due
    1b2) of the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called prophets
    1b3) the gifts and utterances of these prophets, esp. of the predictions of the works of which, set apart to teach the gospel, will accomplish for the kingdom of Christ
  13. 4396 ~προφήτης~ prophetes \@prof-ay’-tace\@ from a compound of 4253 and 5346; n m AV-prophet 149; 149
    1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things
    2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
    2a) the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah.
    2b) of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah
    2c) of the illustrious prophet, the Jews expected before the advent of the Messiah
    2d) the Messiah
    2e) of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men
    2f) of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians
    2f1) they are associated with the apostles
    2f2) they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (#Acts 11:27)
    2f3) in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers
    3) a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration)
    3a) of Epimenides (#Tit 1:12)
  14. Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
  15. The theme of Hosea is God's loyal love for His covenant people, Israel, in spite of the idolatry but that love may be like hot coals...
  16. The theme of Joel is that salvation will come to Judah and Jerusalem only when the people return to Yahweh and His way. Then only will His divine will bring and the fertility of righteousness favor to them and the land itself.
  17. The theme of Amos is God expects purity and even may become an Israel as an enemy of God, if it is guilty of injustice toward the innocent, poor, and young women.
  18. The theme of Obadiah the God of Nature will bring a judgment on those who oppose Israel and the way promising deliverance and restoration for the faithful.
  19. The theme of Jonah
  20. The theme of Micah like Isaiah, is a book of vision with the punishment of Israel and creation of a "remnant", followed by world peace centered on Zion under the leadership of a new monarch but the people must be doers of justice, turn to Yahweh and His way , and wait upon the LORD.
  21. The theme of Nahum is that even though God is slow to anger, He not abdicate judgment and consequences are coming if you go against the law of life. But also speaks of actionable repentance taking effect.
  22. Wikipedia says Habakkuk theme is, "is trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. Habakkuk addresses his concerns over the fact that God will use the Babylonian empire to execute judgment on Judah for their sins." The best summary is the "just shall live by faith."
  23. The theme of Zephaniah
  24. The theme of Haggai is that those who have just returned from exile need remain faithful, obedient, and hopeful for God's way of Jerusalem.
  25. The theme of Zechariah
  26. The theme of Malachi is to reinforce his people's faith in a return to Yahweh and His way reminding them of their responsibilities as the covenant community with Yahweh.
  27. 03925 ^דמל^ lamad \@law-mad’\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 1116} AV-teach 56, learn 22, instruct 3, diligently 1, expert 1, skilful 1, teachers 1, unaccustomed + 03808 1; 86
    1) to learn. teach, exercise in
    1a) (Qal) to learn
    1b) (Piel) to teach
    1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained
  28. 0995 ^ןיב^ biyn \@bene\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 239} AV-understand 62, understanding 32, consider 22, prudent 8, perceive 7, regard 6, discern 3, instruct 3, misc. 27; 170
    1) to discern, understand, consider
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to perceive, discern
    1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)
    1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
    1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding
    1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding
    1c) (Hiphil)
    1c1) to understand
    1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
    1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently
    1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct
    2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
  29. 03384 ^הרי^ yarah \@yaw-raw’\@ or (#2Ch 26:15) ^ארי^ yara’ \@yaw-raw’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-teach 42, shoot 18, archers 5, cast 5, teacher 4, rain 2, laid 1, direct 1, inform 1, instructed 1, shewed 1, shooters 1, through 1, watered 1; 84
    1) to throw, shoot, cast, pour
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to throw, cast
    1a2) to cast, lay, set
    1a3) to shoot arrows
    1a4) to throw water, rain
    1b) (Niphal) to be shot
    1c) (Hiphil)
    1c1) to throw, cast
    1c2) to shoot
    1c3) to point out, show
    1c4) to direct, teach, instruct
    1c5) to throw water, rain
  30. 03887 ^ץול^ luwts \@loots\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 1113} AV-scorner 14, scorn 4, interpreter 2, mocker 2, ambassadors 1, derision 1, mock 1, scornful 1, teachers 1; 27
    1) to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to boast
    1a2) to scorn
    1b) (Hiphil)
    1b1) to mock, deride
    1b2) to interpret (language)
    1b2a) interpreter (participle)
    1b2b) ambassador (fig.)
    1c) (Hithpalpel) to be inflated, scoff, act as a scorner, show oneself a mocker
  31. 1320 ~διδάσκαλος~ didaskalos \@did-as’-kal-os\@ from the verb to teach 1321; n m AV-Master (Jesus) 40, teacher 10, master 7, doctor 1; 58
    1) a teacher
    2) in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man
    1a) one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so
    1b) the teachers of the Jewish religion
    1c) of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds around them i.e. John the Baptist, Jesus
    1d) by preeminence used of Jesus by himself, as one who showed men the way of salvation
    1e) of the apostles, and of Paul
    1f) of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit
    1g) of false teachers among Christians
  32. 2099 ~εὐαγγελιστής~ euaggelistes \@yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’\@ from 2097; n m AV-evangelist 3; 3
    1) a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist
    2) the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles
  33. 2097 ~εὐαγγελίζω~ euaggelizo \@yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo\@ from 2095 and 32; v AV-preach 23, preach the Gospel 22, bring good tidings 2, show glad tidings 2, bring glad tidings 1, declare 1, declare glad tidings 1, misc 3; 55
    1) to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
    1a) used in the OT of any kind of good news
    1a1) of the joyful tidings of God’s kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings
    1b) in the NT used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation
    1c) glad tidings are brought to one, one has glad tidings proclaimed to him
    1d) to proclaim glad tidings
    1d1) instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation
  34. 2099 ~εὐαγγελιστής~ euaggelistes \@yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’\@ from 2097; n m AV-evangelist 3; 3
    1) a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist
    2) the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles