Table of Contents
- CONCEPT: Council
- Q: What is the concept of the "council" in governance?
- Q: What is the primary function of a biblical "Council"?
- Q: What are the transformation elements, in terms of IPO [Input, Process, Output] of the "Council"?
- Q: Is the proposed concept "Biblical"?
- Biblical & Historical Precedence
- 1. Council of YHWH
- 2. Council on Earth, People, Kings & Rulers (OT & NT)
- 3. Council in the Early Church (NT)
- 4. Councils in Church History
- Bottomline
- CAPTURE OF UNFINISHED THOUGHTS BELOW ... Read at own risk!
CONCEPT: Council
Q: What is the concept of the "council" in governance?
A:
- Council is the act of assembling for collaboration to oversee something/domain in creation.
- When applied to creation, council convenes to address challenges for improved oversight.
Q: What is the primary function of a biblical "Council"?
A: The primary function of the "Council" is to provide a resolution to the presented challenge(s) and a course of action to the challenges in light of scripture alignment / approval of YHWH
Q: What are the transformation elements, in terms of IPO [Input, Process, Output] of the "Council"?
A: The IPO of the "Council" are as following
- INPUT: Presentation of the challenge(s)
- PROCESS: Deliberation and resolution to the challenge(s)
- OUTPUT: Provision of a resolution(s) and/or decree(s) to the presented challenge & an accompanying course of action in light of scripture
Q: Is the proposed concept "Biblical"?
A: Yes. The concept of the council can be observed in the bible and in the life of the church.
- Council of YHWH
- Council of Earthly People, Kings & Rulers (OT & NT)
- Council in the Early Church (NT)
- Council(s) in Church History
Biblical & Historical Precedence
1. Council of YHWH
Observation 1: In scripture, YHWH holds his council. The assembly of Council of YHWH are compose of YHWH and his "holy ones"
God takes His stand in the congregation of God; He judges in the midst of gods.
A God greatly dreaded in the council of the holy ones, And fearsome above all those who are around Him?
Observation 2: In scripture, Council of YHWH, this assembly event is recognized amongst man, as to its occurrence even in the oldest book in the bible, Job and others.
7 “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills? 8 Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
But who has stood in the council of Yahweh, That he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and heard?
Observation 3: In scripture, Council of YHWH, this assembly event, appears to occur on a frequent bases.
Job 1:6 LSB Now it was the day that the sons of God came to stand before Yahweh, and Satan also came among them.
Observation 4: In scripture, interactions and transactions during Council of YHWH, are provided.
Verse Description 19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. Council of YHWH - Assembled 20 And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ Presentation of a Challenge And one said this while another said that. Deliberation among Council Participants 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Resolution Proposal 22 And Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ Course of Action - Request And he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Course of Action - Proposal Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ Course of Action - Approval 23 So now, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; Execution of Course of Action but Yahweh has spoken calamity against you.” Divine Decree Feedback
2. Council on Earth, People, Kings & Rulers (OT & NT)
Observation 1: When faced with evil and wrong, call for a "counsel" to judge and take action
Judges 19:30 And all who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it; take counsel and speak up!”
Note: Judges 19 is the story of Benjamites Violation & Death of Levite’s Concubine
Observation 2: Kings mimics the council of god
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to respond to this people?”
Observation 3: NT Religious Rulers assemble to do evil
And as the day came, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their Sanhedrin, saying,
3. Council in the Early Church (NT)
Observation: 1st Century Church follow the Council of YHWH as a model for challenge and works together for resolve the challenges
First Council in Jerusalem in Acts 15:1-31
| Council Components | Proof Text | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | Acts 15:4 | Concern brings stakeholders to Assemble |
| Challenge | Acts 15:1 | Challenge is identified |
| Deliberation | Acts 15:6-7a | Discussion and Debate |
| Resolution | Acts 15:7b-9 (Peter) Acts 15:13-18 (James) | Unity in Resolution |
| Course of Action | Acts 15:10-11 (Peter) Acts 15:19-21 (James) | Unity in Course of Action |
| Execution of Course of Action | Acts 15:22-30 | Unity in the Entire Body |
| Feedback | Acts 15:31 | Joy and Encouragement in the Body |
Council functional patterns are observed in Acts 6 in the election of deacons
| Council Components | Proof Text | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | Acts 6:2a So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples ... | Concern brings stakeholders to Assemble |
| Challenge | Acts 6:1b ...grumbling from the Hellenists against the Hebrews | Challenge is identified |
| Deliberation | Acts 6:2b and said, “It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. | Discussion and Debate |
| Resolution | Acts 6:3-4 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” | Resolution Proposal |
| Course of Action | Acts 6:5 And this word pleased the whole congregation, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. | Unity in Course of Action |
| Execution of Course of Action | Acts 6:6-7a And these they stood before the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.{NOTE: Execution is assumed to have happened between these two verses} And the word of God kept on spreading, | Unity in the Entire Body |
| Feedback | Acts 6:7b and the number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. | Joy and Encouragement in the Body |
4. Councils in Church History
Observation: First 4 Ecumenical Councils resolutions appear to be in agreement by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox & Protestants
| ID | Council | Year | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Council of Nicaea | (325 AD) | defining Christ's divinity against Arianism (A heretical teaching of Arius's belief that the Son was a created being, subordinate to the Father, and not eternal) |
| 2. | Council of Constantinople | (381 AD) | Expanded the Nicene Creed, declaring the Holy Spirit "of one substance with the Father and the Son" against Macedonianism (which denied the Spirit's divinity) |
| 3. | Council of Ephesus | (431 AD) | Defined Christ's nature as one person, fully divine and fully human (the Hypostatic Union), against Nestorianism (A heretical teaching that understood Christ to be two persons, one human and one divine) |
| 4. | Council of Chalcedon | (451 AD) | Defined the two distinct natures (divine/human) within the one person. Against Monophysitism (A heretical teaching that Christ having only one nature) |
Bottomline
Observation: The concept of the "Council" is biblical and historical, originating with the "Council of YHWH". It is emulated by people, kings and rulers on earth. It was practiced by the early church and with church history leveraging the "Council" concept to address primarily, theological challenges faced by the church.
The council component patterns include the following.
| ID | Council Components as a Pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Assembly | Concern brings stakeholders to Assemble |
| 2. | Challenge | Challenge is identified |
| 3. | Deliberation | Discussion and Debate |
| 4. | Resolution | Resolution Proposal |
| 5. | Course of Action | Unity in Course of Action |
| 6. | Execution of Course of Action | Unity in the Entire Body |
| 7. | Feedback | Joy and Encouragement in the Body |
Q: If the "Council" as a pattern, provides a template to address "challenges", how can this pattern teach about an approach to solve any problems and challenges in the governance of thoughts internal to self and external to the world? i.e. family, church, work etc... ?
A: Key take away - Every person needs others to collaborate / work together to address challenges faced at the individual and corporate levels.
NOTE: As a member of NCBC, man over 50+, the gathering of the Old Guys every second Saturday every month, functionally fulfills the components of the "COUNCIL" in ...
- As a means of personal encouragement [ a forum to discuss personal "challenges" and through dialogs & conversation, perhaps find biblical insights for prayer, adoption and execution ]
- Dialog concerning our Church & "Challenges" and how we as older men can provide resolutions, encouragement and assistance.
CAPTURE OF UNFINISHED THOUGHTS BELOW ... Read at own risk!
Unfinished Challenge from Genesis???
| ID | Council Components as a Pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Assembly | God creates man and woman |
| 2. | Challenge | Have dominion & subdue the earth. The Fall. Share gospel of Jesus Christ |
| 3. | Deliberation | Assemble to do all that Jesus commanded. |
| 4. | Resolution | ??? l |
| 5. | Course of Action | ??? |
| 6. | Execution of Course of Action | ??? |
| 7. | Feedback | ??? |
While Christ is King and redeems his people, it seems the "challenges" still exists to make disciples.
- Gospel Sharing: Faith comes by hearing - Purpose: For Christ to reign in the individual hearts of men
- Dominion Mandate: Subdue, overcome, conquer the earth. Purpose bring glory to God through out creation.
Other Thoughts TBD
Input [Objectives]: Challenge Presentation
- Gathering Attendee
- Presentation of Challenge(s) to Address
- Rules of Engagement
Process (Objectives): Deliberation, Resolution, Course of Action
- Deliberation,
- Resolution,
- Course of Action
Output (Objectives): Execution
- 7 Causes (Formal Cause)
- Resource Gathering, Building, Delivering
- Feedback
| Identifier | Participants | Time | Location / Domain | Proof Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council within the Trinity | God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit | Eternity Past, Present & Future | Outside Creation | |
| Council of YHWH | YHWH + Holy Ones ( i.e. Angelic Hosts) | Pre & Post Fall of Mankind | In Creation, specifically Earth | |
| Council of the Church | God the Holy Spirit + in Born Again Believers | Post Resurrection / Pentecost | In Creation, specifically Inside the Institution of the Church | |
| Council of the Servants | God the Son (YahShua) + Sons of God (Man & Angels) | Eternity Future | Entirety of Creation |