Apostles Elders distinction Acts 15:1-6

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atassina

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1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem** to see the apostles and elders** about this question. . .6The apostles and elders met to consider this question

Who are the elders distinct from the Apostles? In the early Church, what authority did the apostles have distinct from the elders?

Have a nice piece of cyber cake while you think about this question.
 
atassina said:
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem** to see the apostles and elders** about this question. . .6The apostles and elders met to consider this question

Who are the elders distinct from the Apostles? In the early Church, what authority did the apostles have distinct from the elders?

Have a nice piece of cyber cake while you think about this question.
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The journey of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem occurred in 49 AD. Jesus was crucified approximately 16-19 years prior (30-33 AD).

The “elders,” according to some scholars were those disciples who were not among the 12 considered to be Apostles but who were, nonetheless, followers of Jesus from the beginning of his mission or soon after. In other words, they were direct witnesses to the life of Jesus, his teachings and subsequently became pillars of the early Church. They had intimate knowledge of Jesus, could correct and clear up misconceptions and served to guide the Church in its infancy.
 
Peter,
This makes good sense and is especially good as a quick means to explain to students about that seeming discrepancy.

Also, were the elders priests? bishops? or some other form of ecclesiastical authorities?
 
atassina said:
Peter,
This makes good sense and is especially good as a quick means to explain to students about that seeming discrepancy.

Also, were the elders priests? bishops? or some other form of ecclesiastical authorities?
Click to expand...
They may have been but not necessarily. Their authority came from their having been direct witnesses to the life and mission of Jesus.

I recommend you read Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. He discusses the term “Elder” in the book. One thesis of his is that the Gospel of John was written by a man referred to as John the Elder by the early Christian community. He makes a strong case.
 
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