The Divine Pattern
by Homer Hailey
The divine wisdom has provided a divine pattern in all his ways. The doctrine men obey is a "form" or pattern, a mold, such as metal, which is poured into which life is fashioned. (Romans 6:17.) This pattern of doctrine was from God by Christ, who did and taught as the Father had shown him, thus following a pattern given him by the Father. (John 5:19; 7:16; etc.) Christ gave the words to the apostles (John 17:8, 14), which the Holy Spirit was to bring to their minds. (John 14:26.) The apostles, in turn, committed these words to uninspired men as a mold or pattern, instructing them to hold fast the "pattern of sound words" (II Timothy 1:13) and to commit them to faithful men who should be able to teach them to others (II Timothy 2:2).
Jesus Christ is the pattern of moral conduct in all things. (I Peter 2:21-24). To the saints at Philippi Paul was an "ensample" (tupos: pattern) (Philippians 3:17), which they were to follow. (Christ was his pattern, I Corinthians 11:1). The elders, as they follow Christ, are likewise a pattern (tupos) to the flock (I Peter 5:3.) This pattern of conduct revealed by Christ is actually God himself since Christ is the declaration, the "exegete" of God. (John 1:18).
The organization of the church, so far as its arrangement for service under elders can be called an organization, was after the same principle of following a divine pattern. Elders were first appointed by apostles, "elders in every church." (Acts 14:23). Titus was instructed by Paul concerning the church in Crete "to set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge" (Titus 1:5). The word "charge," diatasso, meant "to arrange, appoint, ordain, prescribe, give order" [Thayer]. The word is used for soldiers under command. (Acts 23:31; 24:23.) It was used by Paul concerning the walk of Christians: "As the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain (give order, command) I in all the churches" (I Corinthians 7:17). If Paul was so ordaining in "all the churches," then the walk was after a pattern, a universal arrangement. Paul's charge to Titus concerning the appointment of elders was a "charge," a command, and if a command by an inspired man, then a law of God. That law becomes a pattern, a mold, for all who follow after. This is further enforced by the fact that Timothy was also to assist in the appointment of elders (I Timothy 3), and Paul said of him, he "will put you in mind of my ways ... even as I teach everywhere in every church" (I Corinthians 4:16-17).
