Ordination Debate: Unpacking Chapter 44's True Meaning

Lesson Transcript

So, David, let's then look at, you know, what's considered, you know, the big issue, you know, that's in chapter 44, and it's this whole thing on ordination. And you've got everyone from, you know, all different churches claim and force their interpretation usually on this. I've heard, I mean, Life mentions a very strong Presbyterian argument through it. I see congregational use of this, and I could see the evidence of this.

There's also, of course, the Roman Catholics trying to force a papal thing by forcing Clement into this, and the Orthodox apologists love to do theirs. But let's see what it says here. So the idea, he gives the context of the strife and the Old Testament way of priesthood and how Moses did things. And then he gives us this as the way that says, guys, what you're doing is not orderly. So let's look at it. I'll read right here. Chapter 44.

Our apostles also knew, in other words, Moses knew that this was going to happen. He said, now, our apostles also knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. And the word episcopate means just overseer. So there's going to be strife in this oversee. Join us in earnestly contending for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.