If this was true during the Acts, then the need certainly did not cease afterwards when

the Mystery was revealed with its new calling and walk. The need and importance of

such leadership would be even greater, and the fellowship in the house-church even more

necessary than before so that the new Truth could be studied together and the Body grow

as a whole (Eph. 4: 13, 15, 16). The very fact that instruction concerning bishops and

deacons was given after Acts 28:, when Paul wrote his first epistle to Timothy proves

Some have tried to give an earlier date for I Timothy and place it in the Acts period,

but this is impossible, and even if it were so, there is still the same problem with the

epistle to Titus. A. M. Stibbs in The New Bible Commentary writes (p.1063) "It is

generally agreed that it is impossible to fit these epistles (the Pastorals) within the limits

of Paul's life as we know it from the Acts of the Apostles. For their explanation they

demand the recognition, indeed they themselves provide the most decisive evidence,

that Paul was released from the imprisonment of which we read at the end of Acts

(Phil. 2: 24; Philemon 22) . . . . ."

The duties of an overseer (bishop) are clearly set out in Acts 20: 28:

These believers are also called "elders" in verse 17, showing that these two titles

referred to the same office. The need for nourishing the people of God (who were

enlightened to the new calling of Ephesians) certainly did not cease at Acts 28:

Deacons (diakonoi) appeared to be responsible for certain welfare duties connected with

the assembly. The house of Stephanas had appointed themselves for service (diakonian)

to the saints (I Cor. 16: 15), and was linked with others who helped and laboured

together (17). There is no exalted ecclesiastical office in either of these titles. This was

what they degenerated into as organized Christianity got further and further away from

the original truth. It is worthy of note that there are bishops (plural) at the beginning, not

one bishop ruling and superintending, which again was a declension from original truth,

by the time of Ignatius.

From the standpoint of the Philippian letter, we see the church still organized in

absolute simplicity, with the minimum of `offices' to assure the orderly running of the

new witness.  Because Paul addressed his last letter to Timothy, again some have

assumed that, in view of this, organized groups of Christians had ceased to exist. Most

certainly this was not so, but we can well understand that the Apostle's last thoughts

before his martyrdom would be for the young fellow, his dearly loved son in the faith,

who was soon to take up the great responsibility of standing for all that made up "the

good deposit" of truth which he (Paul) had received from the ascended Christ, and thus

his last letter was a personal one for his correction and encouragement.

At the commencement of Philippians the Apostle gives his thanksgiving for the

believers at Philippi. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" he said.