Question 30 — Are there any differences in the office or offices of the guides, rulers, elders, or ministers of the chur
John Owen A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God d for them, that they may, and to exhort them, if need require, to fulfil the work of the ministry; to communicate unto them of their temporals, for their comfortable subsistence in the world and e usefulness unto others; wisely to order things by their direction, so as that they may be amongst f them without fear; to abide with and stand by them in their sufferings for the gospel, and service of Christ among them. a 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 1 Tim. v. 17. b Heb. xiii. 17; 1 Cor. xvi. 16. c Eph. vi. 18, 19; Col. iv. 3; 2 Thess. iii. 1; Col. iv. 17. d Gal. vi. 6; 1 Cor. ix. 14. e 1 Cor. xvi. 10. f 2 Tim. i. 16–18, iv. 16.
Question 30 — Are there any differences in the office or offices of the guides, rulers, elders, or ministers of the church?
Answer — The office of them that are teachers is one and the same among them all; but where there are many in the same church, it is the will of Christ that they should be peculiarly assigned unto such especial work, in the discharge of their office-power, as their gifts received from him do peculiarly fit them for and the necessities of the church require.
Rom. xii. 4–8; 1 Cor. xii. 4–6, 8; 1 Pet. iv. 10, v. 2.
Explication — The office of them that are to instruct the church in the name and authority of Christ is one and the same, as hath been showed before. And there are many names that are equally accommodated unto all that are partakers of it, as elders, bishops, guides; they are all alike elders, alike bishops, alike guides, — have the one office in common amongst them, and every one the whole entire unto himself. But there are names also given unto them, whereby they are distinguished, not as to office, but as to their work and employment in the discharge of that office: such are "pastors and teachers," Eph. iv. 11, which are placed as distinct persons in their work, partakers of the same office. Now, the foundation of this distinction and difference lies, —
First, In the different gifts that they have received; for although it be required in them all that they have received all those gifts, abilities, and qualifications which are necessary for the work of the ministry, yet as to the degrees of their participation of their gifts, some may more excel in one, others in another: 1 Cor. xii. 4–6, 8, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;