Our Christian Order
Declared by Paul in Corinth
In The Fellowship of the Mystery, I asserted that Paul’s epistles are indeed God’s instruction in righteousness to all who choose to put their faith in his gospel of the grace of God. And in those instructions, we find a charter or constitution that defines and discerns true Christianity from the counterfeits. We also find the details for our Christian walk and an “order”.
As we’ve studied, these instructions declare that believers become new creatures and as such, stand apart from the rest of the world in fellowship with the Son of God. And, according to scripture, we sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Its happening now, it’s spiritual, it’s eternal, it’s real, ...before God, in his Son.
Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This then is the patriarchal order of Christianity: God the Father, then Jesus Christ, the head of the church, the Holy Spirit in us all, families comprised of a father, a mother, and their children, then bishops, and deacons, all “arranged” in a familial, “horizontal” order rather than a vertical hierarchy of presumed “religious authority” over the “flock”.
As objectionable as this scripturally based, God ordained patriarchy is among “diverse” groups of non-believers, it’s simply another case of God’s word says what it says, ...like it or not, believe it or not, live it or not.
As a means of bounding this look at what Paul teaches about Christian order, let’s begin by considering the use of the word in scripture. “Order” appears 61 times in 59 verses with the first occurrence in Genesis 22:9 and the last in Hebrews 7:21. Most occurrences are found in the Old Testament in context of the Mosaic Law and the associated priesthood of Judaism, most of which declare specific details of the “order” of the children of Israel, if you will.
However, for the purposes of this study and as an introduction to understanding our Christian order found in Paul’s epistles, we’ll only consider the six times he uses “order”.
The context of his usage addresses three specific areas:
First: The partial doctrine Paul delivered to the Corinthians to establish order when the whole church be come together into one place (1 Corinthians 14:23)...
Second: In terms of the order of the resurrection of the dead, both now and upon Christ’s return...
Third, additional order to be “arranged” in every church found everywhere.
And as always, we will study each of these areas in context of time and circumstance.
To help understand Paul’s use of the word “order”, it occurs by itself and in the phrase: “set in order” and are different Greek words.
Strongs’s G1299 for the phrase “set in order”
διατάσσω diatássō, dee-at-as'-so; from G1223 and G5021; to arrange thoroughly, i.e. (specially) institute, prescribe, etc.:—appoint, command, give, (set in) order, ordain.
Strong’s G5010 for “order”
τάξις táxis, tax'-is; from G5021; regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity:—order.
Paul establishes order in the church of God which is at Corinth:
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 KJV
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
I re-read 1 Corinthians to bring to mind the time and circumstances that led to Paul writing Unto the church of God which is at Corinth addressing a number of things going on at that moment in biblical time.
Paul’s first use of “order” occurs in 1 Corinthians 11:34. In fact, four of the six times Paul uses order are found in his first of two epistles to the Corinthians.
As we’ve studied in The Acts of the Apostles Parts 1 through 5, the Book of Acts chronicles Paul’s journeys through all of Asia providing us with a timeline that tells us where he went, who he was with, and often how long he was there.
The exact date of these events is a bit of a tangent beyond the time references made in the word of God, which sets a historical marker so when the biblical record of Paul’s journey is read today, it’s understood in relation to time.
In the case of Paul’s time at Corinth, the first two verses of Acts chapter 18 tells us simply:
Acts 18:1-2
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
The timestamp is clear: Paul was in Corinth at the time Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome during his reign over the Roman Empire.
Again, it’s a bit of a tangent for the purposes of this study, but for those who might not know, I would encourage everyone to research who Claudius was, and when he was.
The important timepiece is simply to know that by this point in biblical time, as recorded in Acts 18, Paul was accomplishing what Jesus Christ had sent him to do back in Acts 9:15 when Christ declares Paul’s ministry to Ananias.
Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
As to the circumstances, Acts chapter 18 is also record of the moment Paul turns to the Gentiles as some of the Jews he encountered, once again, reject his testimony that Jesus was Christ:
Acts 18:3-11
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
We’re told that Paul was in Corinth for a year and six months. We also see Jesus Christ speaking to Paul in a vision, supernaturally, spiritually, seated at the right hand of God in Heaven.
By this account, he was with many believers of the church at Corinth, again, at a time after his commissioning by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel of the grace of God for salvation unto the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47).
So, you got a mix of the Jews and the Greeks (gentiles) at this moment still living, I suppose, as they had been before everything changed; Jews still living as Jews under the law, and gentiles living as the heathen.
In time past, they stood apart, not to comingle ...the circumcision had no fellowship with the uncircumcision, Jews were forbidden to go unto the heathen, but now...
Given the things Paul addresses through the course of his first letter to the Corinthians in particular, they learn that they are now one in Christ, in heavenly places or in standing, but not necessarily in “full” understanding, for they seemed to be off the mark in their walk.
Imagine what it must have been like during this time in the early days of the Christian church. Everything had changed, everything was new, they (Jews and Gentiles) were new creatures, they (Jews and Gentiles) were now blood brothers, a Christian church...
At a time when the Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ were still being supernaturally manifested through the twelve apostles and through Paul; signs and wonders, prophesying, speaking in tongues, miracles, and the like.
Jews and gentiles of Corinth thrust together by Paul’s doctrine had come face to face with what it meant to henceforth, walk as Christians.
There is a continuity of thought and a past, present, future timeline found in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians that can only be fully appreciated by reading it start to finish.
It reads as you’d expect it to, a pointed and purposeful document testifying and declaring God’s instruction in righteousness to the Corinthian believers at the time and for all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:2).
With those things in mind, and assuming everyone will read as much of the before and after passages as necessary to understand the circumstances, we’re just gonna jump right to the meat of the epistle in chapter 11.
Instead of just copying the whole chapter, the following verses detail the spiritual and eternal Christian order established by Paul upon the revelation of the mystery :
1 Corinthians 11:1-3
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1 Corinthians 11:16-19
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
1 Corinthians 11:34
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
In these three passages, we have a doctrinal declaration from Paul to all Christians the very genesis of our order. He establishes the God, Christ, man, woman patriarchal order of the church, ...like it or not, believe it or not, live it or not.
Please read 1 Corinthians chapter 11 for yourself to understand how he reasons with the Jews by referencing Jewish doctrine or Old Testament “truths”, and now with Gentiles in audience.
The point is, Paul was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the Greeks from scripture referencing things that the children of Israel knew. Whether they believed or not is another matter.
Quick Example:
1 Corinthians 11:8-9
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Compare Paul’s declaration above with the record in Genesis of God creating woman:
Genesis 2:18-25
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
This is just to illustrate how Paul’s ministry and his doctrine is the continuation of God fulfilling his promise that in Abraham all nations would be blessed thereby inextricably connecting Paul’s gospel of the grace of God to God’s eternal plan set in motion before the world began.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul writes that he has heard of the division among the members of the Corinthian church when they came together referring to it as heresies, and necessary. See The Fellowship of The Mystery for review.
And in the last verse of the chapter, Paul uses the phrase set in order as something to be done when he comes to Corinth. Meaning, the written instructions for Christian order Paul addresses to them in his epistle was “in part” and they would know the rest when he was with them.
Here’s Strongs’s G1299 again for the phrase “set in order”
διατάσσω diatássō, dee-at-as'-so; from G1223 and G5021; to arrange thoroughly, i.e. (specially) institute, prescribe, etc.:—appoint, command, give, (set in) order, ordain.
The eternal doctrine of Christian order Paul teaches the Corinthians is as true now as it was then. All Christian churches are to be founded on this order, on this arrangement. Before we go any further in to the details of our order, we all must start here:
God is the head of Christ...
Christ is the head of every man...
And the man is the head of the woman...
That there be no divisions...
This then is to be the “order” of every Christian home and church.
Notice the absence of a priesthood...
It’s beyond the scope of this study to get deep in to everything Paul speaks to in this letter.
I would strongly urge everyone to read the whole book. It’s much better for you to be instructed of God and pray for understanding than only taking in this overview of when and what Paul taught as the doctrine of our fellowship in our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, to give an overall sense of the book for now, here are the descriptive headers found for each chapter of 1 Corinthians as provided for the KJV on the blueletterbible.org website:
And I realize, of course, that these “headers” are not the word of God, just someone’s attempt to generalize the content of the book.
Chapter 1 Appeal to Unity and The Wisdom of God
Chapter 2 Paul's Reliance upon the Spirit
Chapter 3 Foundations for Living
Chapter 4 Servants of Christ
Chapter 5 Immorality Rebuked
Chapter 6 Lawsuits Discouraged and The Body Is the Lord's
Chapter 7 Teaching on Marriage
Chapter 8 Take Care with Your Liberty
Chapter 9 Paul's Use of Liberty
Chapter 10 Avoid Israel's Mistakes
Chapter 11 Christian Order and The Lord's Supper
Chapter 12 The Use of Spiritual Gifts
Chapter 13 The Excellence of Love
Chapter 14 Prophecy a Superior Gift and Instruction for the Church (order)
Chapter 15 The Fact of Christ's Resurrection, The Order of Resurrection, and The Mystery of the Resurrection
Chapter 16 Instructions and Greetings (order)
As you can see, the subjects Paul speaks to are wide ranging, from Foundations for Living, Marriage, Christian order, the Lord’s supper, Spiritual Gifts, and the Resurrection.
Unfortunately, I believe each of these topics are often the source of division among many of today’s denominations and I also believe largely out of unbelief.
My intent here is to call your attention to the foundational doctrine of Christian order as the reason for our unity and let you study the intimate details of our union on your own accord.
Mainly, because it’s easy, but not constructive, to cite the passages that are so controversial in today’s society and throw it out there with a “read’em and weep” attitude.
And also becasue I believe this is where the work lies. One can only hope to persuade men to the truth, but ultimately it is for each and everyone of us to know God’s word directly, for yourself and then come together for the purpose of unifying and building the church, the body of Christ, on these doctrines.
Oneness…
One example to illustrate and we’ll move on:
1 Corinthians 14:33-35
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Here we have God’s word telling the world one thing, yet in some faction of today’s “Big Religion” 2024, a woman is suing a “church” accusing them of gender bias for not selecting her as senior pastor.
If someone were to ask me if I “believe” in the doctrine of 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, I would answer, it is written...
And would also say, that the question itself is one of unbelief and is more of a “gotcha” question these days posed by those who stand against this doctrine despite the fact that everything written is for us to believe, ...like it or not, believe it or not, live it or not.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I mean, Paul also teaches the Corinthians what to do when they are together and someone is speaking in tongues, but goes on to teach that tongues will cease. Yet today, there are denominations who believe speaking in tongues is still happening.
It’s the same thing, we either believe what is written by rightly dividing the word of truth or we cherry pick the things we want to believe and discard, ignore, or re-write scripture more to our liking when dealing with the things we don’t want to believe.
What a slippery slope... What a path to destruction...
What I’m attempting to do is set the stage, so to speak, so everyone understands the situational circumstances Paul was faced with, which explains why he spoke to the things he addressed in 1 Corinthians.
What we see now, from our read of scripture today testifying to the active hand of God with the Holy Spirit working in the world through the twelve apostles and through Paul’s separate and distinct ministry, Paul was in Corinth through a transitional period when Jews and Gentiles were hearing one message for both to hear and believe.
For the Jews, a new message to replace the old, the same message as the twelve: Jesus is Christ...
For the gentiles, a new message to bring them to God...
Transitional in the sense those two things were happening at the same time.
The twelve apostles were completing their course unto Israel as Paul was establishing his apostleship to the gentiles, and as he journeyed, he went unto the Jews first in every place until such time he said he was going to the gentiles.
Several passages bear this out speaking in terms of more knowledge to come than what they currently understood...
Here are two examples;
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
We see in these passages that Paul is telling the Corinthians that the things they were witnessing would come to an end and be replaced by the doctrine of faith, hope, charity (agape love), for remember Christ taught us:
Matthew 19:19
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
And Paul teaches believers the same doctrine:
Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
What we’re faced with now is the need to handle Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians correctly. If Paul teaches the Corinthians alive at the time how to handle the supernatural things still happening in their church when they came together, and then tells them prophesies shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge shall vanish away, it is for us to understand circumstances have changed for those in Christ today.
We live in a time where these supernatural things have failed, have ceased, have vanished, and all we’re left with is:
The word of God, faith, hope, and charity, the deeply rooted tenets of our Christian order.
To close this section, here’s a quick look at two of the four passages in 1 Corinthians where Paul uses “order”.
After five chapters of Paul’s instruction in righteousness written to the Corinthian church, giving them and believers today the knowledge of our God given order, he ends with this verse:
1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.
In the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul uses the phrase: “I have given order” to arrange for a collection for the saints in Jerusalem:
1 Corinthians 16:1
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
The order of the resurrection of the dead, both now and upon Christ’s return...
Not gonna spend a whole lot of time on Paul’s use of the word order in context of the resurrection of the dead beyond what he writes to the Corinthians.
I mean, sometimes, even though the bible “says what it says”, often requiring readers to study and pray for understanding, you don’t always need to study something out exhaustively to understand it simply at face value.
Paul concludes his first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 15 summing up everything written in the previous chapters by declaring his gospel as the gospel tying it all back to the resurrection of the dead, Christ first, then a specific order for the resurrection of believers after him.
1 Corinthians 15:23
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Order implemented in every church found everywhere:
The last two times we find “order” in Paul’s epistles occur in Colossians and Titus.
In Colossians, Paul is simply encouraging the order he sees among those believers. Not trying to marginalize this instance nor am I wanting to amplify it beyond what it states.
Colossians 2:5
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
The last time Paul uses “order” in Titus is, again, in the phrase “set in order” and is relevant to this study, for not only do we see Paul’s direction to Titus to set in order the things that are wanting, but also the details of what that order looks like.
Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
I’m going long here and will try to wrap it up.
As he explains to Titus why he was sent to Crete, in the same breath, as it were, Paul puts forth the qualifications for an elder.
Last verse for this study:
Titus 1:6-16
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
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.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Notice Paul directs Titus to appoint elders, referring to them also as bishops, which means simply superintendent, overseer. Again, not marginalizing, just not amplifying it beyond what is written.
We’ll end this study with an assignment of sorts, I’ll leave you to do a word search for “deacon” and compare their “qualifications” with that of an elder. Also, read Strong’s definition for the Greek word translated to deacon.
The point here is for you to see for yourself that Paul teaches that bishops and deacons are married, have children, and are basically chosen from among the men of any local church.
Understanding that, think of the denominations who have historically instituted layer upon layer of a “priestly” order in abject rejection of Paul’s apostleship and ministry to the uttermost part of the earth.
Thus we come full circle from where we started:
Our Christian Order is God the Father, then Jesus Christ, the head of the church, the Holy Spirit in us all, families comprised of a father, a mother, and their children, then bishops, and deacons, all “arranged” in a familial, “horizontal” order rather than a vertical hierarchy of presumed “religious authority” over the “flock”.