# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_M rz 1858_S85
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On Lay Elders or Congregation Presidents. 85

Just as in 2 Cor. 12:28 helpers and governors are listed alongside the
teachers, and just as, besides the priests, the elders of the people cared
for the outward Jewish worship, Matt. 21:23, so one reads in Augustine, in
the third book against Cresconius, of church elders of the Mascitan
district." (Bibl. illustrat. ad l. c.)

Georg Weinrich (Doctor and Professor of Theology at Leipzig, d. 1617)
writes on 1 Tim. 5:17: "The Apostle makes two kinds of
presbyters: the one, which chiefly occupied itself with investigating and
judging the disputes arising among the brethren, of the sort that are used
for church courts. The others, however, are those who labored at the word
and at teaching." (Comment. in epp. Paulin. ad l. c.)

Johann Quistorp (Professor at Rostock, d. 1648) writes on the very same
passage: "He (Paul) designates two kinds of elders. The proper name of
the latter, who do not teach but preside over church discipline and morals,
I find nowhere; but who they were can be recognized from the practice of
the church. Thus it is said, Acts 15:6, that the elders came together with
the apostles to hear the contending parties. They were those men who
governed the church together with the apostles, and who, beyond doubt,
were especially respected men from among the believers, who presided
over the improvement of morals — more prudent than learned men. Just as
today the consistories are made up of ecclesiastical and political
persons." (Comment. in omnes Pauli epp. ad l. c.)

Sal. Glassius (General Superintendent at Gotha, d. 1656) writes
on Rom. 12:8: "Προϊστάμενοι are those who were set over the maintenance
of discipline and good order in the church, of the sort the governors
alongside the pastors (to whom this care is entrusted) are, who serve as
president and assessor in the church consistories." (Meditation. sacr.
super Epp. Dominical. Jena 1636. p. 365.)

Daniel Arcularius (Professor at Marburg, d. 1596) writes on
Acts 14:23: "The presbyters (in Latin they are called seniores) were those
who either administered the teaching office in the church and are called
by another name, pastors or bishops, or who were assigned as adjuncts to
the pastors or ministers of the word (adjuncti) and were accustomed to
exercise the censure of morals and to uphold discipline, 1 Tim. 5. One may
well assume that here (Acts 14:23) both were chosen by the apostles and
set over the individual churches." *) (Acta app. triumvirali commentario.
illustrata II, 337.)

Conrad Dannlauer (Professor at Strasbourg, d. 1666) writes in his

*) In what follows Arcularius shows that the apostles set presbyters over
the churches in such a way that they let the people's choosing by show of
hands go before it.