Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

office. This means on the one hand that they do not obtain it at the hands of any civil
authority, which has no power in ecclesiastical matters, and therefore cannot bestow
any; but on the other hand also, that they do not derive it from the people in general,
though they are representatives of the people. Porteous correctly remarks: “That the
presbyter is termed the people’s representative shows that he is their chosen ruler. The
way in which the office is acquired, but not the source of its power, is designated by the
title of representative.” 33
B. THE NATURE OF THIS POWER.
1. A SPIRITUAL POWER. When the power of the Church is called a spiritual power, this
does not mean that it is altogether internal and invisible, since Christ rules both body
and soul, His Word and sacraments address the whole man, and the ministry of the
diaconate even has special references to physical needs. It is a spiritual power, because it
is given by the Spirit of God, Acts 20:28, can only be exercised in the name of Christ and
by the power of the Holy Spirit, John 20:22,23; I Cor. 5:4, pertains exclusively to
believers, I Cor. 5:12, and can only be exercised in a moral and spiritual way, II Cor.
10:4. 34 The State represents the government of God over the outward and temporal
estate of man, while the Church represents His government of man’s inward and
spiritual estate. The former aims at assuring its subjects of the possession and
enjoyment of their external and civil rights, and is often constrained to exercise coercive
power over against human violence. The latter is founded in opposition to an evil spirit
and for the purpose of delivering men from spiritual bondage by imparting to them the
knowledge of the truth, by cultivating in them spiritual graces, and by leading them to a
life of obedience to the divine precepts. Since the power of the Church is exclusively
spiritual, it does not resort to force. Christ intimated on more than one occasion that the
administration of His Kingdom on earth involved a spiritual and not a civil power,
Luke 12:13 ff.; Matt. 20:25-28; John 18:36,37. The Church of Rome loses sight of this great
fact, when it insists on the possession of temporal power and is bent on bringing the
entire life of the people under its sway.
2. A MINISTERIAL POWER. It is abundantly evident from Scripture that the power of
the Church is no independent and sovereign power, Matt. 20:25,26; 23:8,10; II Cor.
10:4,5; I Pet. 5:3, but a diakonia leitourgia, a ministerial power, Acts 4:29,30; 20:24; Rom.
1:1, derived from Christ and subordinate to His sovereign authority over the Church,
33 The Government of the Kingdom of God, p. 322.
34 Bavinck, Dogm. IV, p. 452.
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