Gospel Preaching & Human Organizations
Recently, brethren have been discussing the issue of gospel preaching and human organizations. Specifically, do we have authority to establish an organization apart from the local church to do the work of preaching and teaching the gospel? In an effort to defend the practice of human organizations holding Bible lectureships, some have pointed to Paul's use of various locations (organizations, it is argued) for his preaching. Let us briefly examine a few of these to see if there is a parallel between what Paul did and what some of our brethren are doing today.
The Synagogue
In Acts 17, when Paul came to Thessalonica, he went to the Jewish synagogue. This was "according to [his] custom" (v. 2). While there, he "reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ'" (v. 2-3). This was done over a period of "three Sabbaths" (v. 2).
Was Paul acting as an agent of the synagogue, as part of that organization? Or was he simply using the facility in order to have an audience with those who were gathered there? The context indicates it is the latter. Verse 4 says, "some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas." Why was Paul preaching in the synagogue? To convince them that Jesus was the Christ and to convert them out of Judaism into the kingdom of God. The synagogue was a place for Jews to learn about the Law of Moses as they tried to serve God according to it. When Paul came to them, the Law had already been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). He was not working as an agent of the synagogue. He was working as an agent against the very purpose of the synagogue.
The Areopagus
Later in Acts 17, Paul came to Athens and was busy preaching the gospel in the synagogue and in the market place (v. 16-17). After speaking with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers about the resurrection, he was brought to the Areopagus to explain this teaching (v. 18-20). Paul used this opportunity to teach them about the "Unknown God" (v. 23), who was the one true God. This God was the one who had "fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (v. 31).
The New Testament gives us no indication about the nature of the Areopagus assembly. Some have gone to secular sources to show that this was not just an informal gathering, but was an organization that met regularly at this place to discuss both civil and religious matters. If this is the case, what then do we see? We see Paul, as an individual Christian, taking advantage of an opportunity to speak to this audience. He was not a member of this organization. He was simply asked to speak. Also, the Areopagus council was composed of non-Christians, not Paul's brethren. As we saw with his teaching in the synagogue, the purpose was to convert those who were listening to him to Christ.
The School of Tyrannus
Paul came to Ephesus in Acts 19. When he arrived he found some men who had been baptized into John's baptism. After teaching them about Christ, they were "baptized in the name of the Lord" (v. 1-5). Following the conversion of these twelve men, Paul went to the synagogue. He was teaching them about the "kingdom of God" (v. 8). Again, he was trying to convert them to Christ, not encourage them in what they had already been doing. Some did not like the message that Paul brought. As pressure built against "the Way," Paul "withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus" (v. 9).
Was this school of Tyrannus a location or an organization? Was Paul simply using this as a facility in which to meet and teach others the gospel? Or was Paul part of an organization, a member of the faculty, and used his position to teach the gospel? Many of the newer translations of the Bible, such as the New International Version, have the term "lecture hall" in place of "school." This would lend itself to the idea that this was simply a place to meet. Several commentaries and other reference works also support the idea that the school of Tyrannus was not an organization Paul was a part of, but was simply a meeting place. E.M. Zerr comments: "This 'school,' then, was a place maintained by Tyrannus, a kind of public auditorium that was open to the public for free use of any persons who wished to engage in cultural and recreational activities." Paul simply used this facility as a place where he could preach the gospel. Those who were able to hear Paul's message were "all who lived in Asia" (v. 10), not just a student body.
Is There A Parallel?
We've briefly noticed cases of Paul preaching in synagogues, at the Areopagus, and in the school (lecture hall) of Tyrannus. Some brethren point to these examples as authority for them to establish organizations separate from the church and preach the gospel through that organization. Is that practice authorized by these examples?
The Synagogue -- The synagogue was made up of Jews who had not been converted to Christ. They arranged for the reading of the Law. This is what Paul did. He "reasoned with them from the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2). He was taking advantage of the opportunity to read and comment on the Law. His purpose was not to build up and encourage the Jews in the ways of the Law, but to convert them to Christ.
The Areopagus -- The Areopagus was made up of Gentiles, non-Christians. They provided a forum; not only for Paul to speak about the resurrection, but also for whoever might bring "something new" (Acts 17:21). Paul spoke for the purpose of convincing these people that there was one true God, that He would judge the world through Christ who had been raised from the dead, and to convert these people to Christ.
The School of Tyrannus -- The school of Tyrannus was simply a lecture hall that Paul utilized in his preaching efforts. There was no organization. Paul was using this facility to reach a larger audience than he could in the synagogue.
Conclusion
The practice being defended today has an organization being founded by and comprised of saints. This organization then plans, organizes, and hosts a Bible lectureship. The preaching is done by the organization; hence the lectureship being in their name. Those invited to speak are doing so in the name of, or as an agent of, the organization. They are preaching for the purpose of building up and encouraging those in attendance. This is not parallel with any of the examples we considered. These examples do not authorize brethren to form organizations separate from the local church and preach the gospel through them. If there is Bible authority for the practice, we will have to look elsewhere in Scripture to find it.
- Andy Sochor