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The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline

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    Evangelists May Serve as Elder or Deacon

    “From what has been said, it will be seen that the officers of the church which are appointed solely by the church itself are reduced to two; namely, elders and deacons. From what then has arisen so much confusion upon the subject? It must be from the fact that the different names of elder, bishop, and pastor, are applied to the same office, and also from overlooking the principle that a person holding any one of the higher offices is qualified to officiate in any of the lower; and when performing the duties of such office is called by the title applying thereto. Thus Peter, though an apostle, calls himself an elder [1 Peter 5:1]; and Paul, carrying the liberalities of the brethren up to Jerusalem [Acts 11:30], might with equal propriety be called a deacon. In 2 Corinthians 8:4, he is spoken of as performing the office of a deacon. The brethren prayed him to ‘take upon himself the fellowship of the ministering [Greek, diakonos, deaconship], to the saints;’ which he did. Verse 19, 20. Evangelists, also, are called elders. Paul says to Timothy, ‘Let the elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in word and doctrine.’ 1 Timothy 5:17. Here were some laboring in word and doctrine who are called elders; but such labor shows them to be evangelists, it being especially their work; hence evangelists are sometimes called elders; but only, of course, when acting in that capacity.COOD 130.1

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