Paula

Actually, I think the Reformation needs to Revolt! They sought to reform the RCC when they should have abandoned the whole thing and went straight back to the Bible. It’s the difference between trying to filter out poison from a glass of water, and getting a clean glass of water from a clean source.

A frequent tactic of those who are told that “pulpit” and “pastorate” are not in the Bible is to claim that these Exulted P’s are on the same level as the Trinity; that is, that since the Trinity is not expressly stated but has to be inferred, then pretty much anything can be inferred.

And of course that’s fallacious. The Trinity, unlike the Exalted P’s, has scriptural support (for example, the simultaneous presence of all three Persons when Jesus was baptized). There are many OT scriptures as well from which the Trinity can be derived. But for the Exalted P’s there is deafening silence. Paul never addresses any “pastor”, elders are addressed as a group and not “head pastors”, and as you pointed out, none of them had authority of their own.