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The Ruling Elder
According to the Scriptures, the Body of Christ is to be ruled by a plurality of elders elected by and accountable to the people of each congregation. One of the most complete treatises ever written on the Presbyterian system of church government, this book details the historical basis and scriptural qualifications for the office of ruling elder.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1832
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About the author
Samuel Miller
254 books6 followersThere are several authors on Goodreads with this name. This is Samuel^^^Miller, the American theologian.
The fourth son of Rev. John and Margaret Miller, Samuel Miller was born near Dover, Delaware on October 31, 1769. He completed studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789 and began studying theology under his father's tutelage. Following Rev. John Miller's death in 1791, Samuel moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to complete his theological studies with Charles Nisbet, president of Dickinson College. Samuel was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry on June 5, 1793 and was called to the Presbyterian churches of New York City, serving alongside Rev. Dr. John Rodgers and Rev. Dr. John McKnight. In 1806, he was named moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and for several years also served as its official historian.
While in New York, Miller was active not only in the church, but also as an author. His best-known work, the two-volume Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, printed in 1803, earned him serious attention and acclaim. He published his Letters on the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry in 1807 and wrote a memoir of Dr. John Rodgers in 1813. Also while in New York, Miller served as chaplain for the first regiment of the New York State artillery.
Miller continued his service in New York until 1813, when he was appointed professor of church history and government at the newly established Princeton Theological Seminary. While teaching and preaching, he continued to write and publish. He wrote a memoir of his mentor, Charles Nisbet, in 1840, penned a life of Jonathan Edwards for Jared Sparks' American Biography series, and published numerous speeches and sermons on various topics.
Among his other activities, Miller served as a trustee of both Columbia College and the College of New Jersey, as a founder and president of the New York Bible Society, as a founder of the New York Historical Society, and as a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
On October 24, 1801, Samuel Miller married Sarah Sergeant, the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, attorney general of Pennsylvania. The couple had ten children, including sons Samuel, Elihu, and John. Rev. Samuel Miller continued in his teaching position at the Princeton Theological Seminary until his death on January 7, 1850.
The fourth son of Rev. John and Margaret Miller, Samuel Miller was born near Dover, Delaware on October 31, 1769. He completed studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789 and began studying theology under his father's tutelage. Following Rev. John Miller's death in 1791, Samuel moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to complete his theological studies with Charles Nisbet, president of Dickinson College. Samuel was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry on June 5, 1793 and was called to the Presbyterian churches of New York City, serving alongside Rev. Dr. John Rodgers and Rev. Dr. John McKnight. In 1806, he was named moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and for several years also served as its official historian.
While in New York, Miller was active not only in the church, but also as an author. His best-known work, the two-volume Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, printed in 1803, earned him serious attention and acclaim. He published his Letters on the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry in 1807 and wrote a memoir of Dr. John Rodgers in 1813. Also while in New York, Miller served as chaplain for the first regiment of the New York State artillery.
Miller continued his service in New York until 1813, when he was appointed professor of church history and government at the newly established Princeton Theological Seminary. While teaching and preaching, he continued to write and publish. He wrote a memoir of his mentor, Charles Nisbet, in 1840, penned a life of Jonathan Edwards for Jared Sparks' American Biography series, and published numerous speeches and sermons on various topics.
Among his other activities, Miller served as a trustee of both Columbia College and the College of New Jersey, as a founder and president of the New York Bible Society, as a founder of the New York Historical Society, and as a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
On October 24, 1801, Samuel Miller married Sarah Sergeant, the daughter of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, attorney general of Pennsylvania. The couple had ten children, including sons Samuel, Elihu, and John. Rev. Samuel Miller continued in his teaching position at the Princeton Theological Seminary until his death on January 7, 1850.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 16, 2020
***updated review: There are two versions of this floating around. I first read the pamphlet which is about 50 pages and consists of a few excerpts from the larger work entitled, “The Ruling Elder”. I just finished the larger work. It is a phenomenal defense of the office of ruling elder. He labors heavily to show from scripture, the patristics, the medieval church, the reformers, and the post-reformation era the office of RE is biblical and necessary. He also touches on a unique American Presbyterian debate of the 19th century related to the laying on of hands by ruling elders in the ordination of teaching elders (ministers).
Samuel Miller does the church a great service in laying out the biblical basis for:
1. The nature of the office of Ruling Elder.
2. The biblical basis for the office of Ruling Elder.
3. The requirements and characteristics of Ruling Elders.
4. The required attitude and respect owed to the men of this office from the laity.
Frankly, this should be required reading for all Presbyterians.
Samuel Miller does the church a great service in laying out the biblical basis for:
1. The nature of the office of Ruling Elder.
2. The biblical basis for the office of Ruling Elder.
3. The requirements and characteristics of Ruling Elders.
4. The required attitude and respect owed to the men of this office from the laity.
Frankly, this should be required reading for all Presbyterians.
December 4, 2022
Spectacular summary and defense of the office of RE - first half is a summary of origin and early adoption.
June 24, 2024
This book is a one stop shop for understanding 1. What a ruling elder is and 2. Is it biblical?. Miller is absolutely amazing and thorough in his analysis of scripture and church history. I did not expect the book to answer all of my questions, but Miller leaves no stone unturned in his analysis. I was especially impressed that when we argued for Ruling Elders from church history he didn’t quote any Presbyterians to show that throughout time, even those who have different forms of church government have viewed ruling elders as biblical and a part of the early church.
The only small “downside” of this book is that it is more focused on arguing for the office of ruling elder rather than giving all the practical things a ruling elder should do. As evidence of this fact, more than half the book is arguing for the office and only a chapter or two gets into the things ruling elders should be doing. So if you want to understand ruling elders, this book is perfect but if you already know what ruling elders are and you want more practical advice on how to discharge the office well, you might need to supplement this book with something else.
But all in all, a masterful book and a must read for anyone thinking about church leadership.
The only small “downside” of this book is that it is more focused on arguing for the office of ruling elder rather than giving all the practical things a ruling elder should do. As evidence of this fact, more than half the book is arguing for the office and only a chapter or two gets into the things ruling elders should be doing. So if you want to understand ruling elders, this book is perfect but if you already know what ruling elders are and you want more practical advice on how to discharge the office well, you might need to supplement this book with something else.
But all in all, a masterful book and a must read for anyone thinking about church leadership.
June 29, 2012
Good defense of the Presbyterian form of church government as well as the case fore ruling elders.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews