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The word ''[[overseer]]'' is translated from the same word we see as ''bishop''.<Ref> 1985 ~ἐπίσκοπος~ episkopos \@ep-is’-kop-os\@ from 1909 and 4649 (in the sense of 1983);  n m  AV-bishop 6, overseer 1; 7
[[File:Servant.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Bishop]] or [[Overseer]] provide a service to the Christian community by over seeing the ministers of small congregations of [[tens|ten families]]. The head or eldest natural Father of each family group was an [[elder]] who chose their [[Minister]]. Those minister chose a minister who would be called a "[[bishop]]" and "[[overseer]]" who provided aid during [[dearth]]s whicñ plaged the people during Acts. The ministers of God's form of government are truly [[titular]] leaders in [[righteousness]] and servants of the people. The [[kingdom of heaven]] is like unto a net<Ref>Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:</Ref> In choosing your minister for your family as you sit down in the [[tens]] you are [[network|weaving a net]] of [[righteousness]] through [[charity]], not choosing a ruler nor a guru.]]
: 1) an overseer
::   1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
::    1b) the superintendent, elder, pastor, or overseer of a Christian church; the NT uses the term bishop, overseers, 1985 pastors, 4166 elders, and presbyters 4245 interchangeably {#Ac 20:17,28, Eph 4:11, Tit 1:5,7, 1Pe 5:1-4 etc.}</Ref>
For any government to function, there must be participation by the people in the supply and demand of services within and to participants of society.  


The titular leaders of a free government cannot be given power to exercise authority over how much or when the people entrust their ministers with their [[Freewill offerings|freewill offering]]. Christ commanded that His appointed ministers not “[[Exercises authority|exercise authority]]”. When the people lose their daily right to choose, they are made subjects.
== Bishops and Overseers ==


What is given is given freely and completely, like a burnt offering or bread cast upon the water, but the free will choice to give must remain with the people. The choice and manner of service provided by that gift must remain entirely with the minister, who is a servant of God. In essence, this form of [[Sacred Purpose Trust|sacred purpose trust]], with the minister as the steward (a kind of trustee), is at the foundation of His Church and the [[Daily ministration]] of [[Pure Religion]].  
The word ''[[overseer]]'' is translated from the same word we see as ''[[bishop]]''<Ref>{{1985}} </Ref> in the New Testament.


It has been customary that another group oversee the ministers. Of course, in truth, the actual overseer of the Church is the Holy Spirit or what is sometimes called the ''Comforter''.<Ref>Parakletos translated comforter 4, advocate 1. 1) summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid. 1a) one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.</Ref>
These terms like "[[bishop]]" and "[[overseer]]" are used regularly in today's [[modern Church]], but what did they mean at the time of the [[early Church|first-century Church]] by those [[early Christians]]?


The Apostles met the requirements laid down by Christ. They were prepared to represent the Holy Spirit, and when they had received the power to do so from that Spirit, they were able to go out and preach the Kingdom as the physical representatives of that Comforter. They exercised no authority by their own hand over the people, but relied entirely upon the power of that Holy Spirit.
* '''"[[Bishop]]s, [[presbyter|presbyters]]([[Elder]]) and [[deacon]]s occupy in the [[church]] the same positions as those which were occupied by Aaron, his sons, and the [[Levites]] in the [[temple]]."''' [[Jerome]], Ep. 146


We see more than one word "''paqad''" translated <Ref> 06485 ^דקפ^ paqad \@paw-kad’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-number 119, visit 59, punish 31, appoint 14, commit 6, miss 6,  set 6, charge 5, governor 5, lack 4, oversight 4, officers 4, counted 3, empty 3, ruler 3, overseer 3, judgment 2, misc 28; 305 v
Does the [[Modern Church|modern church]] do what the first-century church did?
: 1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
::    1a) (Qal)
::          1a1) to pay attention to, observe
::          1a2) to attend to
:::          1a3) to seek, look about for
:::          1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
:::          1a5) to visit
:::          1a6) to visit upon, punish
:::          1a7) to pass in review, muster, number
:::          1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
::    1b) (Niphal)
:::          1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking
:::          1b2) to be visited
:::          1b3) to be visited upon
:::          1b4) to be appointed
:::          1b5) to be watched over
:: 1c) (Piel) to muster, call up
:: 1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account
::    1e) (Hiphil)
:::          1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer
:::          1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit
::    1f) (Hophal)
:::          1f1) to be visited
:::          1f2) to be deposited
:::          1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted
::    1g) (Hithpael) numbered
::    1h) (Hothpael) numbered
: n m pl abstr
: 2) musterings, expenses</Ref> ''overseer'' in the Old Testament. It appear more than three hundred times in the [[Bible]] but only translated ''overseer'' a few times.Most of the time it is translated ''number''. If you added the letter ''Hey'' to ''paqad'' you got the word ''pequddah''<Ref> 06486 ^הדקפ^ pᵉquddah \@pek-ood-daw’\@ pass part of 06485; n f; AV-visitation 13, office 5, charge 2, oversight 2, officers 2,  orderings 1, account 1, custody 1, numbers 1, misc 4; 32
: 1) oversight, care, custody, mustering, visitation, store
::    1a) visitation, punishment
::    1b) oversight, charge, office, overseer, class of officers
::    1c) mustering
::    1d) store</Ref> which included ideas like ''"oversight, care, custody, mustering, visitation,  store"''.


All these words together described the role of an overseer in the national [[network]] of the  [[Tens|tens, hundreds, and thousands]]. They supplied '''oversight''' to prevent corruption; They were part of a charitable network providing '''care''' and welfare for the people; They would take '''custody''' of the property of the ministers they served in the case of death or loss of capacity to make sure it got to the next minister chosen by the people. In time of war or attack they would '''muster''' those who would come to the aid of society; In the time of disease or famine they would not just visit  but bring aid to to those communities that needed more help which is what the practice of Pure Religion was all about; Because they were connected in the network, gathering with other overseers of congregations they could call on a huge '''storehouse''' of aid without putting all their supplies in one place.
Do "[[bishop]]s" and "[[overseer]]s" fulfill the same role and duties we see being done in those early days when James explained "[[pure Religion]]"?


Do [[Modern Christians]] depend on the Church for its [[Daily ministration]] of [[free bread]] - ''rightly divided from house to house'' like by the [[early Church|first-century Church]], which was called the [[Eucharist]]?


Israel, the early Church and many nations throughout history gathered in a numerical pattern of  [[Tens|tens, hundreds, and thousands]]. An overseer is a join heir in a national network and the one of the main purposes of an overseer was to account for those he served  by keeping everyone connected in a system of service. He would gather with other overseers or of those other overseers he gathered with in his own congregation and those who chose him as overseer.
[[Modern Christians]] often think it is okay to go to men in ''government'' who "[[exercise authority]]"<Ref name="exauth">{{exauth}}</Ref> but that is the covetous practices condemned by [[Moses]] and [[doctrine of Jesus]], and of course by Paul and Peter [[warned]] the people that such [[covetousness]] was [[idolatry]]<Ref name="Isidolatry">{{Isidolatry}}</Ref> and would make them [[merchandise]].  


The ordination requirements of the overseeing ministry of Christ are extremely controversial today, but have been a tradition both at the time of Christ and before. They are well documented in the Biblical text, but neglected by many modern ministers. The Levites did not belong to themselves as freemen, like those in the congregation of the people, but they “belonged” to God. They were His firstborn servants, appointed to minister to the people according to the Holy Spirit as it moved in them and in the people. They had no right to hold a free dominion offered by God to all men. They had no inheritance in the land as a personal estate. The same was clearly true at the time of Jesus’ appointment of His ministers.
The early [[bishop|bishops]] and [[deacon|deacons]] provided a righteous system of [[social welfare]] through the [[tables]] of [[charity]] and the voluntary [[network]] of of [[love]] through the Church [[appoint]]ed by [[Christ]].


'''The Poor Overseers of a Free Church'''
Are modern bishops fulfilling the same purpose as the original ''bishops'' or ''overseers'' of the [[early Church]] in the practice of [[pure Religion]], or do [[modern Christians]] pray to the government [[benefactors]] of the [[world]] who [[exercise authority]] one over the other?<Ref name="exauth">{{exauth}}</Ref>


In the Bible we see the Greek word ‘episkopos’ meaning overseer.<Ref>  Episkopos. a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, a bishop.   </Ref>   It is often translated as bishop. In the early Church, an archbishop was merely an overseer of overseers. This was a part of the network of the Church ordering itself in groups of tens. Ten families and one minister, ten ministers and their minister or overseer. The early Church used this pattern. But the church of Constantine did not.
It does not appear they are in the [[harlot]] churches that ''ride the beast''. They do not appear to teach the [[pure religion]] that is unspotted by the [[world]]. While the teach a reductionist gospel they deliver the people back in the [[yoke of bondage]] through the welfare system that Psalms, Proverbs, and Paul call a "[[snare|snare and trap]]".<Ref name="snaretrap">{{snaretrap}}</Ref>


On the 30th of April, 311, the emperor Galerius had posted an Edict of Tolerance at Nicomedia making provisions for the Christians, who had “followed such a caprice and had fallen into such a folly that they would not obey the institutes of antiquity” which had been established for the welfare of the people. The Edict of Milan commanded that the “places where they were previously accustomed to assemble” “the same shall be restored to the Christians” including restitution of the value of property taken from the Christians, “without payment or any claim of recompense and without any kind of fraud or deception.”
And are their [[apostle]]s among these men?


[[Constantine]] was not the first to grant tolerance or restitution, but he was the first to grant favor. His instant converts were often required to get baptized, but not to repent. In 325, a small portion of the Church<Ref>[[Constantine]] invited all 1800 bishops (about 1000 in the east and 800 in the west), but only about 250 were present. Many, like Eusebius of Caesarea, walked out.</Ref>  was about to take a big turn down a new path, from which they have not yet returned.
And are they [[Apostle]]s of Christ or someone else?


The First Council of Nicaea endorsed the new Christianity of Constantine, the “Bishop of Bishops.” The vast majority of Christians opposed many of his precepts, but he did end violent persecution. However, a new threat loomed in the complacency of his Pax Romana. The Emperor bestowed gifts from the spoils of war and heavy taxation, winning favor with some, bringing in a seed of corruption until finally, Theodosius I made Christianity the “state religion” or could call the state religion Christianity.
=== Titular ministers ===


These new Christians came to believe without repentance. They were enticed by the favor and grace of emperors, not Christ. These bribes for their faith included millions of dollars in land, gold, and silver, given out of the treasury of Rome. These royal grants were given to bishops who came to his councils and remained, or to those who were appointed by his own permission and authority. These new bishops were soon issuing edicts and commands, even calling for the persecution of pagans or Christians who did not bow down to the thinking of this new church.  
The [[Church legally defined|Church is defined]] as ''one form of government''. For any government to function, there must be participation by the people in the supply and demand of services within and to participants of society.  


The citizens of Milan were truly instant Christians. They eventually elected Ambrose the Bishop of Milan. Ambrose, a roman lawyer and governor, had tortured prisoners and entertained prostitutes. At first he refused the election, knowing little of Christianity or the ways of Christ. But with popular support and the emperor’s encouragement, he relented and within a week he was baptized with water.  
The [[titular]] leaders of a free government cannot be given power to exercise authority over how much or when the people entrust their ministers with their [[Freewill offerings|freewill offering]]. Christ commanded that His appointed ministers not “'''[[Exercises authority|exercise authority]]'''”.  


Except for words and names, there was little alteration of the spirit of these new Christians. Ambrose did take a leave of absence from his employment with the empire to study some of the basic requirements for the ministers of Christ. As bishop of the Church he knew he could own no property in his own name and apportioned his money to the poor, donating his lands, except for provision for his sister Marcellina, and committing some of his property to the care of his family by his brother.
When people lose their daily [[choose|right to choose]], they are made subjects of those who have a right to choose for them.


All the ordained ministers of the Church gave up any personal estate or wealth to follow in the service of God. This had been true for Christ,<Ref>  32 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  </Ref>  the apostles,<Ref>  Matthew 13:44, 19:2;Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33, 18:22, 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”    </Ref>  and new ministers<Ref> Acts 4:36... 5:11. “... Joses ...a Levite, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.... But a certain man named Ananias... kept back part of the price... fell down, and gave up the ghost”  </Ref>  of the Church the same as it had been for the [[Levites]]<Ref>  [[Numbers 18]]:20, 24; 26:62. Deuteronomy 18:2  </Ref>  called out by Moses to serve the tents of the congregations. This was necessary to maintain a government of service, as was the network of small intimate congregations.
=== Servants of sacrifice ===


The true overseers of the Church remained faithful, refusing Faith-Based initiative of the emperor, not only for the Church, but for themselves. They were not masters of those they served, but servants of Christ by serving those they ministered unto. The highest overseer is servant of servants.  
What is given to a minister or bishop of the Church is given freely and completely, like a ''[[burnt offering]]'' or ''bread cast upon the water'', but the free will choice to give must remain with the people. The choice and manner of service provided by that gift must remain entirely with the minister, who is a servant of God.  


The true overseer was an ordained minister meeting the qualifications of Christ, being in the world but not of it. Their full faith and fidelity must belong totally to God. They could not apply on behalf of the Church or themselves for gifts or grace of any sovereign or government. Christ was their king and they were His bondservant alone. No minister following Christ could apply to Rome for protection because God’s kingdom is not of their “[[World|world]]”, their “apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.” To maintain an autonomous church the same continues to be true for its ordained ministers.
In essence, this form of [[Sacred Purpose Trust|sacred purpose trust]], with the minister as the steward (a kind of trustee), is at the foundation of His Church and the [[Daily ministration]] of [[Pure Religion]].  


The ministers of Israel held a similar status even before kings began to appoint them without meeting these requirements of God given to Moses concerning the called out Levites. In those days when there was no king in Israel,<Ref>[[Judges 17]]:6 “In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.”  </Ref>  it had been the election by the courts of the people<Ref>[[1 Chronicles 9]]:22 “All these [which were] chosen to be porters in the gates [were] two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. The word villages is far more often translated courts from the Hebrew word chatser and the word genealogy is from ''yachas'' which had to do with their family group.”  </Ref> that chose the ministers of God’s kingdom. They were paid according to their service<Ref>  [[Numbers 7]]:5 “Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the [[Levites]], to every man according to his service.”  </Ref>  by the offerings of the people of a free nation under God. This peculiar and separate status of the overseers and ordained ministers of the government of God might be called today a vow of poverty.  
It has been customary that another group oversees the ministers in a [[network]] of service. But again, not as rulers one over the other.


This is one of the more controversial subjects concerning the nature of the early Church established by Christ. Like so many things from those ancient days, the meaning and purpose has been shrouded in rituals and ceremonies. Few understand the full significance of that unique status or how it applies today.
Of course, in truth, the actual overseer of the Church is the [[Holy Spirit]] or what is sometimes called the ''[[Comforter]]''.<Ref>Parakletos translated comforter 4, advocate 1. 1) summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid. 1a) one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.</Ref>


We ask no one to accept anything because it is written. We encourage everyone to study out the truth in other sources and their own hearts and minds, praying to the Father for guidance and understanding.  
The [[Apostles]] met the requirements laid down by Christ. They were prepared to represent the [[Holy Spirit]], and when they had received the power to do so from that Spirit, they were able to go out and preach the Kingdom as the physical representatives of that Comforter. They exercised no authority by their own hand over the people but relied entirely upon the power of that [[Holy Spirit]].


In [[FCR|The Free Church Report]] we have tried to shed a new light of understanding on how these ancient precepts and requirements can play an essential role in the free church and free congregations of the people. How, without the implementation of these precepts upon precepts of Christ and the prophets, the Church becomes vulnerable to the powers and spirit of the “[[World|world]]”. There are multiple concepts centering around the proper application of the biblical doctrine of “no inheritance” or a “vow of poverty” and it is important that we have a clear understanding rather than a blind faith in these matters.
The definition of overseership today might be called "the office or status of an overseer."


Because words and phrases are defined in many ways according to their context and usage, we will need to define terms used in this work according to the message and doctrines of Christ. Titles like Bishop or Overseer and Minister or Elder must be defined within the context of the time of Christ, limiting those positions to His instructions. We can't merely accept the definition of modern churches simply because they are common in today’s thinking or religious circles and institutions.
Since a [[deacon]] was a minister to groups of [[Tens]] in a network of Christians. A [[Bishop]] was a minister of [[tens|ten ministers]]. He might be called an ''Archdeacon'' or ''Archbishop'', not because he ruled over the minister but over the responsibility of an office of service. While, these terms are still used today they originally came down to us from the [[early Church]] which provided all social [[welfare]] for Christians through [[Pure Religion]] dependent on a [[daily ministration]] of [[charity]].


== Bishop ==
<blockquote>
"An Archdeacon pre-eminently a priest with pastoral gifts and spiritual maturity, able to relate to, encourage and support both clergy and laity in the archdeaconry in their fulfillment of the church's mission". [https://cofenewcastle.contentfiles.net/media/documents/document/2020/11/Catherine_Sourbut_Groves_service_of_Collation.pdf THE DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE]
</blockquote>


: 1 Timothy 3:1 "This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
Preaching the [[gospel of the kingdom]] does not isolate congregations under an exclusive pastoral leader or divide the "[[body of Christ]]" by [[denominations]]. The common denominator for all Christians is Christ who said we were ''not to be like the governments of the Gentiles who call themselves [[benefactors]] but [[exercise authority]] one over the other'', nor pray to ''the [[Fathers]] of the earth'' who provide [[benefits]] like [[free bread]] or the [[Corban]] of the Pharisees.


The overseership of the Church established by Jesus does not divide people into isolated groups but is desiring to connect all families in a [[network]] of [[charity]] and [[love]].


: Titus 1:6 "If any be blameless<Ref> 410 ~ἀνέγκλητος~ anegkletos \@an-eng’-klay-tos\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 1458;  adj AV-blameless 4, unreproveable 1; 5 1) that cannot be called into account, unreproveable, unaccused, blameless  For Synonyms see entry 5887 </Ref>, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God<Ref> 3623 ~οἰκονόμος~ oikonomos \@oy-kon-om’-os\@ from 3624 and the base of 3551;  n m AV-steward 8, chamberlain 1, governor 1; 10
Christ preached the [[kingdom of God]] at hand and if we [[repent]] and [[seek]] it and the [[righteousness]] of God it will lead us away from despotism<Ref>: “Despotism, suspicious by its very nature, views the separation of men as the best guarantee of its own permanence and usually does all it can to keep them in isolation. No defect of the human heart suits it better than egoism; a tyrant is relaxed enough to [[forgive]] his subjects for failing to love him, provided they do not [[love]] one another. He does not ask them to help him to govern the state; it is enough that they have no intention of managing it themselves. He calls those who claim to unite their efforts to create general prosperity “turbulent and restless spirits” and, twisting the normally accepted meaning of the words, he gives the name of “good citizens” to those who retreat into themselves.”
: 1) the manager of household or of household affairs
: “Thus the vices fostered by tyranny are exactly those supported by equality. These two things are complementary and mutually supportive, with fatal results.” Democracy in America: And Two Essays on America, by [[Alexis de Tocqueville]] </Ref> and back to liberty under God.
::    1a) esp. a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born or  as was usually the case, a freed-man or a slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the  duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and  even to the children not yet of age
::    1b) the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer
::    1c) the superintendent of the city’s finances, the treasurer of a  city (or of treasurers or quaestors of kings)
: 2) metaph. the apostles and other Christian teachers and bishops  and overseers</Ref>; not selfwilled,<Ref> This word is from two words meaning self pleasure. The Essenes you to have a phrase translated as "lovers of soft things" concerning ministers who took benefits from governors</Ref> not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."


Each of us are to be led by the Holy Spirit with that overseer the Bishop of our soul.<Ref>[[1 Peter 2]]:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.</Ref>
The [[modern Church]] is often ''[[Corban|making the word of God to none effect]]'' like the [[Pharisees]] with their state run [[Corban]] because it fails to teach the people [[The Way]] of [[Pure Religion]] and depend heavily on what was called [[public religion]] and the [[covetous practices]] of the [[world]]. These two systems were at the core of the [[Christian conflict]].




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Latest revision as of 08:57, 13 October 2024

A Bishop or Overseer provide a service to the Christian community by over seeing the ministers of small congregations of ten families. The head or eldest natural Father of each family group was an elder who chose their Minister. Those minister chose a minister who would be called a "bishop" and "overseer" who provided aid during dearths whicñ plaged the people during Acts. The ministers of God's form of government are truly titular leaders in righteousness and servants of the people. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net[1] In choosing your minister for your family as you sit down in the tens you are weaving a net of righteousness through charity, not choosing a ruler nor a guru.

Bishops and Overseers

The word overseer is translated from the same word we see as bishop[2] in the New Testament.

These terms like "bishop" and "overseer" are used regularly in today's modern Church, but what did they mean at the time of the first-century Church by those early Christians?

Does the modern church do what the first-century church did?

Do "bishops" and "overseers" fulfill the same role and duties we see being done in those early days when James explained "pure Religion"?

Do Modern Christians depend on the Church for its Daily ministration of free bread - rightly divided from house to house like by the first-century Church, which was called the Eucharist?

Modern Christians often think it is okay to go to men in government who "exercise authority"[3] but that is the covetous practices condemned by Moses and doctrine of Jesus, and of course by Paul and Peter warned the people that such covetousness was idolatry[4] and would make them merchandise.

The early bishops and deacons provided a righteous system of social welfare through the tables of charity and the voluntary network of of love through the Church appointed by Christ.

Are modern bishops fulfilling the same purpose as the original bishops or overseers of the early Church in the practice of pure Religion, or do modern Christians pray to the government benefactors of the world who exercise authority one over the other?[3]

It does not appear they are in the harlot churches that ride the beast. They do not appear to teach the pure religion that is unspotted by the world. While the teach a reductionist gospel they deliver the people back in the yoke of bondage through the welfare system that Psalms, Proverbs, and Paul call a "snare and trap".[5]

And are their apostles among these men?

And are they Apostles of Christ or someone else?

Titular ministers

The Church is defined as one form of government. For any government to function, there must be participation by the people in the supply and demand of services within and to participants of society.

The titular leaders of a free government cannot be given power to exercise authority over how much or when the people entrust their ministers with their freewill offering. Christ commanded that His appointed ministers not “exercise authority”.

When people lose their daily right to choose, they are made subjects of those who have a right to choose for them.

Servants of sacrifice

What is given to a minister or bishop of the Church is given freely and completely, like a burnt offering or bread cast upon the water, but the free will choice to give must remain with the people. The choice and manner of service provided by that gift must remain entirely with the minister, who is a servant of God.

In essence, this form of sacred purpose trust, with the minister as the steward (a kind of trustee), is at the foundation of His Church and the Daily ministration of Pure Religion.

It has been customary that another group oversees the ministers in a network of service. But again, not as rulers one over the other.

Of course, in truth, the actual overseer of the Church is the Holy Spirit or what is sometimes called the Comforter.[6]

The Apostles met the requirements laid down by Christ. They were prepared to represent the Holy Spirit, and when they had received the power to do so from that Spirit, they were able to go out and preach the Kingdom as the physical representatives of that Comforter. They exercised no authority by their own hand over the people but relied entirely upon the power of that Holy Spirit.

The definition of overseership today might be called "the office or status of an overseer."

Since a deacon was a minister to groups of Tens in a network of Christians. A Bishop was a minister of ten ministers. He might be called an Archdeacon or Archbishop, not because he ruled over the minister but over the responsibility of an office of service. While, these terms are still used today they originally came down to us from the early Church which provided all social welfare for Christians through Pure Religion dependent on a daily ministration of charity.

"An Archdeacon pre-eminently a priest with pastoral gifts and spiritual maturity, able to relate to, encourage and support both clergy and laity in the archdeaconry in their fulfillment of the church's mission". THE DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE

Preaching the gospel of the kingdom does not isolate congregations under an exclusive pastoral leader or divide the "body of Christ" by denominations. The common denominator for all Christians is Christ who said we were not to be like the governments of the Gentiles who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other, nor pray to the Fathers of the earth who provide benefits like free bread or the Corban of the Pharisees.

The overseership of the Church established by Jesus does not divide people into isolated groups but is desiring to connect all families in a network of charity and love.

Christ preached the kingdom of God at hand and if we repent and seek it and the righteousness of God it will lead us away from despotism[7] and back to liberty under God.

The modern Church is often making the word of God to none effect like the Pharisees with their state run Corban because it fails to teach the people The Way of Pure Religion and depend heavily on what was called public religion and the covetous practices of the world. These two systems were at the core of the Christian conflict.


  1. ↑ Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
  2. ↑ 1985 ~ἐπίσκοπος~ episkopos \@ep-is’-kop-os\@ from 1909 and 4649 (in the sense of 1983); n m AV-bishop 6, overseer 1; 7
    1) an overseer
    1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
    1b) the superintendent, elder, pastor, or overseer of a Christian church; the NT uses the term bishop, overseers, 1985 pastors, 4166 elders, and presbyters 4245 interchangeably { Acts 20:17,28; Ephesian 4:11; Titus 1:5,7; 1 Peter 5:1-4 etc.}
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Not exercise authority
    Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."
    Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."
    Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
  4. ↑ Covetousness is idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
  5. ↑ Table as a snare
    Psalms 69:22-23 “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake."”
    Romans 11:9 “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:”
    Proverbs 23:1 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
    Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
    Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"
    Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."
    Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league [covenant] with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"
    Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
    Proverbs 6:2 “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Swear not
    Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
    1 Timothy 6:9 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  6. ↑ Parakletos translated comforter 4, advocate 1. 1) summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid. 1a) one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.
  7. ↑ : “Despotism, suspicious by its very nature, views the separation of men as the best guarantee of its own permanence and usually does all it can to keep them in isolation. No defect of the human heart suits it better than egoism; a tyrant is relaxed enough to forgive his subjects for failing to love him, provided they do not love one another. He does not ask them to help him to govern the state; it is enough that they have no intention of managing it themselves. He calls those who claim to unite their efforts to create general prosperity “turbulent and restless spirits” and, twisting the normally accepted meaning of the words, he gives the name of “good citizens” to those who retreat into themselves.”
    “Thus the vices fostered by tyranny are exactly those supported by equality. These two things are complementary and mutually supportive, with fatal results.” Democracy in America: And Two Essays on America, by Alexis de Tocqueville
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