• Jared Smith On Various Issues

    Sermon Notes on Romans 9

    Having not been able to complete the scheduled Bible study for the mid-week service, I threw together some notes on the ninth chapter of Romans. It is not often I go ‘old school’ by scribbling on the nearest blank piece of paper. After teaching the study, I proceeded to broaden my notes for future reference. As the notes set forth a statement on High-Calvinism, I’ve chosen to include them with the online resources of the AHB. There are two sets of notes—the handwritten scribble is what I used in the pulpit (I haven’t bothered typing them out); the typed notes are what I jotted down after teaching the study. The key to unravelling the teaching on election (in particular, the Father’s work in the Covenant…

  • A Biography of John Hazelton, by William Styles (Complete),  Jared Smith On Various Issues,  William Styles, A Memoir Of John Hazelton (Complete)

    John Hazelton: What He Can Teach Us

    On Friday, 21st March 2014, Dr. Matthew Hyde delivered the annual lecture for the Strict Baptist Historical Society at Bethesda Chapel.[1] After the lecture, he and I shared a brief exchange on the subject of high-calvinism and nineteenth-century Strict Baptist pastors. Since one of these pastors, John Hazelton, had been connected with the church that I pastor,[2] his name naturally came up. Subsequent to our chat, Dr. Hyde graciously gave me one of his copies of William Styles’, “John Hazelton: A Memoir”. I believe Baptists should be familiar with the life and ministry of John Hazelton for three reasons: First, the life and ministry of John Hazelton is worth knowing because he was one of the leading Baptist ministers in the city of London during…

  • Jared Smith on Eldership

    Preface

    The subject of eldership in Baptist circles has been one of the most misunderstood issues of recent years, with the result that it has become fashionable and even considered orthodox for churches to supplement or replace a single pastor with a team of ‘elders’. I contend this mode of governance is unscriptural, impractical and unconventional. This pamphlet is designed to argue the case why Baptist churches should retain their historic practice of appointing one bishop/pastor, assisted by a group of deacons. I have completed a comprehensive textbook on this subject, which is under review for publication. In the interim, this pamphlet is an abridged preview of the larger forthcoming work, and I extend special thanks to Adam Nixon who encouraged the pamphlet’s preparation, and to…

  • Jared Smith on Eldership

    An Introduction To Eldership

    It is commonplace to hear it staunchly affirmed by preachers that the term elder is one and the same with bishop and pastor; that the term is usually used in the plural, indicating the early churches were overseen by a plurality of elders. Hence, it is argued, if churches today are to reflect the most Scriptural form of governance, then elders must be appointed as overseers. • Some believe there is parity among the elders, wherein all share equal authority as teachers/rulers; whereas others believe there is a difference between the elders, wherein some are set apart with a gift for teaching and others with a gift for ruling. • Some will only use the title Elder to identify the office, whereas others will also…

  • Jared Smith on Eldership

    1. Elders Are Unofficial Leaders Never Elected Or Appointed To An Office

    The Biblical term ‘elder’ was based upon the traditional cultural understanding of what the word universally meant. For in every culture and community, elders are the patriarchs and matriarchs of local and extended family units. These elders are never elected or appointed to an office—they merely assume this unofficial role of leadership by virtue of age, wisdom and influence. An example of continuity in the practice and use of the term surviving with its meaning intact from earliest times until today is cited with perfect clarity by S. M. Stiegelbauer in her paper on the First Nation Elders, published in The Canadian Journal of Native Studies.[1] With reference to the Inuit people who today still inhabit the Arctic regions which include Canada, researcher Stiegelbauer writes:…

  • Jared Smith on Eldership

    2. The Terms Elder, Bishop And Pastor Are Not Interchangeable

    When the term elder is used within Christian circles, it conjures up ideas of ecclesiastical clergy, either elected to office by the congregation, or appointed to office by the denomination. In fact, it is only within Christian churches that the term elder is made to mean something other than persons honored in virtue of their age, wisdom and influence. This irregular interpretation is rooted in a flawed hermeneutic of several biblical texts which refer to elders. It is assumed, because a few scripture passages use the term elder when identifying a bishop/pastor, that therefore, most (if not all) references to elders in the early churches must be bishops/pastors. The absurdity of this presupposition is comparable to one who boasts that all disciples must be apostles,…