Church Hierarchy

[zelosravioli]

... Ron, neither overseers/bishops, shepherds/pastors, or deacons are mentioned in the OP concerning 1 Cor. 12:28-31... and I really don't think a hard line needs to be drawn between any of 'these' roles/titles (including elders/presbytery) as they all seem to do the same things and even Paul interchanges them in his letters.

But the terms apostle and prophet have their own specific meanings, and are specifically tied to being a witness of Christ and special revelation. These are extremely important differences.
I believe 1 Corinthians 12:28 makes this important distinction: Note that 'God has appointed...' as Paul says. It is not biblical to say any of the other positions such as elder, bishop, pastor or deacon should be thought of or assumed to be Gods appointments. As Paul describes, these offices should be filled by those exhibiting good reliable Christian character.

The Apostles and Prophets should be held in the highest esteem and should never be confused with the others (although they often are, to a horrific fault). Special revelation is not specific of, nor a definition of bishop, priest, pastor, deacon, or teacher. It might be noted that Paul uses the terms slave/bondservant (douloi), workman/laborer (ergaten), soldier, maybe these are the titles we should like for in the Church.

 

[christianforumsuser]

God has authority and gives
There's chaos without Him
Even when someone is wrong, he makes excuses and passes blame, as Adam did.
If anyone wants to get out of this alive, order AND equality are needed in their context/place/order/value.
A soldier is a soldier, but there's kinds of soldiers and sides. Is a woman a man? But they're different. One has a womb and is a weaker vessel. Is she equal? What authorities?

 

[zelosravioli]

The 'church' was supposed to be made of believers / disciples, and each believer is given His Holy Spirit. Therefore the Church should not be chaotic, if chaos is the problem, I would doubt whether we are dealing with Spirit filled disciples. True believers will have disagreements - not chaos. Christian meetings and fellowship is where we should practice love, hospitality, grace, understanding, consider one another, hear each other, and value one another, if we cant demonstrate or practice this kind of behavior then the person(or persons) should start over, or reexamine their 'conversion'.

 

[christianforumsuser]

Start from the right foundation/basis.
Everyone keeps debating and saying they want to learn and do good deeds but if you go and tell them how to do that according to the Bible they cast a man out who doesn't fit in to their carnal thoughts that seek whatever seems easy and profitable
They don't want to learn, they like how they are.
They like pretending to act like their idea of what apostles would be like...or twisting Scripture to fit what sounds loving and nice and putting Jesus on a leash saying "I bet he'd approve"
Who is in charge of those places? Not God...not directly. If He went there they'd crucify Him and spit at Him

If He offered a cheeseburger or did magic tricks they'd accept Him...or if He wielded fearsome power they'd bow
But they don't want to listen, they like sin...but not calling it sin. As they're in sin and sin, considering it impossible to do what they don't see how.
There were captains in Moses's day. In those churches the people who conform more as if loyal get approved more.

If their leaders had faith and understand and order, perhaps their followers would
If the leaders read by the Holy Spirit and believed, not being lawless and loud, wouldn't the followers be like gentlemen or humble and gentle?

 

[Peter Adeshina Babalola]

"28 And God has [r]appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of [t]miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts." 1 Cor. 12:28-31 (NASB)

Where is this hierarchy present in any church denomination today?

This scripture is not an indication of hierarchy in the church but of the different ministry gifts that has been given to the body, the church.

 

[Tayla]

Where is this hierarchy present in any church denomination today?

These four verses (1 Corinthians 12:28-31) are not speaking of a hierarchy but, rather, of gifts and skills of leaders and non-leaders. Every groups needs leaders, but this is not a hierarchy unless by hierarchy you mean merely, leaders teaching true teaching and caring for the flock.

 

[Albion]

and quite obviously so, I think. In those verses we see miracles mentioned in the same way as prophets and Apostles are, plus the word gifts appears more than once.

 

[JAL]

"28 And God has [r]appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of [t]miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts." 1 Cor. 12:28-31 (NASB)

Where is this hierarchy present in any church denomination today?

It's not present because the church has been a bit off-track for the last 1900 years. Although there are plenty of wannabees calling themselves apostles and prophets, I personally believe that God wanted real ones in every generation. Focusing mostly on prophethood/prophecy, I recently defended my own views on this thread (starting from around post #150):
Question about Gift of Prophecy