What Is In A Title? Knowing Who You Really Are...

[Asst. Pastor Robert Matthews]

Ephesians 4:11, "And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

When reading that scripture, can somebody please help me understand where all of these other titles came from that we use in the body of Christ? For those that have truly been called to these offices, I don't question. Why is everyone now an Arch Bishop, Chief Prophet, Master Prophet, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Presiding Prelates, etc? And then again, who ordained them to be such?

I'm just looking for some biblical, honest (NOT MALICIOUS) feedback! Why is everyone so stuck on titles these days? We are destroyed for lack of knowledge, therefore, I am looking to gain more knowledge on this subject.

[L. Marie Floyd Trotter]

Maybe there are man-made titles just as there are man-made denominations.

[Farris Long]

Ms Trotter,
Once again your candid nature is right on point. Truth has once again surfaced.

I was told recently about the implication of chief priest from Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

and 2Co 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Now all the rest of that stuff... UMMMMMM dunno myself. Well I do know. But I know of no scriptural basis for it.

[Rev ReeRee]

Thanks for this topic.

I have the same question after noticing the multitude of variant titles and designations used by brothers and sisters ithe body of Christ. It made me think and I was humbled.

I understand that most titles have a biblical or ecclesial basis, but where do the descriptive adjectives of master, super, honored, arch, revered, etc. come from when used.

Who bestows, defines and designates same?

[Pastor E.W. DennarD II]

I totally agree with you and sister Trotter...much of the titles depends on the denomination.However,they are suppose to still fall under the ministries that Rev. Mathews was commenting on in Ephesians 4:11.

I agree that some of these titles seem a bit "Blown Up". At the church where God has placed me, the titles are pretty basic and simple...we have Pastor,assistant pastor,youth minister and minister of music.That seems to work well for us.

lol,
Rev. E.W. DennarD II

[Brandon The Servant]

Bruh....imma need u to stayova on ur side of the nation lol...i have been posting messages on myspace and all over about this topic...folks need to stop the theatrics and become servants

[Minister Pamela D Groves]

I totally agree, the truth of real ministry work is servant-hood about all else. Remember Jesus said "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," (Matthew 20:26b). But, what I have also notice since even being on this site is how the like titles migrate together. The veil of separation was ripped from the top to the bottom, yet we use titles to continue the act separation within the Jesus. I ask is God pleased with this behavior and is the ministry work that he has ordained being carried out?

[Farris Long]

`Strangely enough.. although I am a member of the Ecclesia and I walk in a five- fold office, I chose to take my title off my name in general and on certain parts of this site for just that reason. It is on my profile page but that is it. People tend to act different when they talk to a title. I want people to just be themselves. When you can be real about yourself then you can have true fellowship among the bretheren.

plain and simple
~Farris

[PORTIA REESE]

amen sis

[Apostle Abraham Earnest]

my sentiments exactly the title does not define who u are the work does

[Asst. Pastor Robert Matthews]

(General Reply)... I wanted to get a couple of responses before I rang back in on this topic... Looking at all of these sites, bpn, myspace, etc, the question still comes about, is it popularity status that you're seeking or is it kingdom purpose? Alot of these man-made titles that WE attach to titles are for poplularity and to sound important in the body of Christ...

Now let me ask this question, would you still preach the gospel if title and fame wasn't associated with the name? Would you still declare the unadulterated word of God, if you weren't called Arch Bishop or Chief Prophet or any other name? I thank God for the elevation in the kingdom, but you don't have to call me Elder or Asst Pastor. You can call me Brother Matthews or Brother Robert or just Robert. I appreciate the respect given, but my title doesn't make me who I am in the body of Christ. As Jonathan Nelson sangs, "I know who I am because God wrote it in his plan. I know my identity"...

[lorenzo neal]

Titles such as prophet have been around since the writings of the old testament (and not just in semitic cultures such as the ancient Hebrews but also in ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman writings). Apostles are fairly recent (stemming from the first century use of the greek word for messenger/sent out ones). There are modern missionaries acting as apostles establishing new churches in places where the Gospel message either has not been heard or has been repressed becasue of political reasons. America is not one of those places and I would question most people who carry that title becasue there is not a creek or corner on the North American shore where the Gospel is not being heard in some form or fashion. That is why persons should question another person's use of apostle. As far as chief apostle, etc...if people are being sent out and doing mission work, then I would argue that to be legitimate if not, then its another vain label of man's self prestige.


All other titles such as bishop (2nd century used by Ignatius of Antioch) and was initially used as a means of government of the underground church of the first and second centuries. Anyone who uses the title of Bishop is suggesting that they are part of an episcopal form of church government (such as in Roman Catholicism, Anglican and some Methodists). Most who carry such titles are independent organizations with various independent churches, ministries or organizations supporting them. In this case they operate as synods (as Lutherans and some methodists). Archbishop suggests that a person administrates a diocese of a major area or city (only for pomp cause they have no authority over any other bishop). The only clear instance of the gift of these offices is in Ephesians 4. There is no clear direction as to how each office/gift operates or how long each gift/office should be in operation. The modern church is clearly in vanity (and perhaps even idolatry) with titles. That is a concept developed by the organized Roman Catholic Church of the fifth and sixth centuries after the Councils of Trent and Nicea. The wealthier the church grew in power, wealth, and influence, the more titles were added.

Also please understand that these titles were used to distinguish the priesthood from the people. That great divide was maintained until the 18th century with the printing of the king James Version of scripture. It is being peddled the same way in the modern pentecostal/charismatic church with those donning such titles appearing to be more spiritually enlightened and their followers (congregants, covenant partners, etc) being duped to believing in one form or fashion that they have a holier mandate than the average person.

The reality is that we no longer need prophets or apostles in the sense of new testament writings because as believers of the new testament work of Christ on the Cross, we all have access to God's revelation of himself and his word through his Holy Spirit (the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers) and therefore are all capable of doing the work of an apostle (being sent out), or of a prophet (proclaiming the word of God). There may be some who actually stil may be authentic apostles and prophets, but I will dare to argue that there are not as many as claiming to be now. Most have some significant spiritual experience (and I've had several myself) that they feel justifies them to put on such titles. In the end, only God will tell truth and seperate wheat from tares, sheep from goat and hirelings from shepherds.

Blessings and shalom

[ARCHBISHOP MAR DERRICK L. YOUNG]

You are right my brother!!!