Under the Law of Moses, the worship of God's people was lead by a High Priest and a supporting priesthood drawn exclusively from one tribe of Israel, the tribe of Levi.  Under the New Covenant, we are all priests unto God, "an holy priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5).

As we examine the New Testament scriptures we notice firstly that the church is given various descriptions.

►  "My church" (Matthew 16:18)

►  "The flock" (Acts 20:28)

►  "The church of God" (Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 15:9)

►  "God's husbandry, God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9)

►  "The church" (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 1:22, 3:21, 5:23, 24, 25, 29, Colossians 1:24)

►  "His body" (Ephesians 1:22)

►  "An holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21)

►  "An habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22)

►  "The whole family in heaven and earth" (Ephesians 3:15)

►  "The body" (Ephesians 5:23)

►  "The house of God" (1 Timothy 3:15)

►  "The church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15)

►  "The pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15)

►  Christ's "house" (Hebrews 3:6)

►  "The general assembly and church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23)

►  "A spiritual house, an holy priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5)

Besides these, in over 150 places throughout the New Testament the church is referred to simply as "the kingdom", or as "the kingdom of God", "the kingdom of our God", "the kingdom of their Father", "thy [Jesus'] Kingdom", "the kingdom of heaven", "the kingdom of His Son", "my Father's kingdom", "my kingdom", "His kingdom", "the kingdom of His dear son", "His heavenly kingdom", or "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ".

All of these descriptions assign ownership of the church to either Jesus or His Father.  It is not Peter's church or Paul's church.  It is not our church.  It is not a "catholic" church or an "orthodox" church or a church formed by the union of various other churches.  It is not a "Pentecostal" church or a "latter-day" church or a "new" church.  Rather, it is the church which Jesus built Himself, to which His apostles were ministers, and to which both Jews and Gentiles alike were called.

With Jesus being "the Head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18), the church is not a democracy in which members have a vote on the doctrines or teachings of the church.  Nor is it a society or association led by a "Board" or "Committee" that exercises leadership on behalf of its membership.  It is a kingdom led by a King.

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-16 that God had given "some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Paul uses five words to describe those whom God has ordained or intended to lead the church:  apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (verse 11).  Together they were to "perfect the saints", minister to, and edify the body of Christ, or as the Lexham English Bible (LEB) reads, it was "for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ" (verse 12).

Apostles	From the Greek word, ἀπόστολος, meaning "a messenger" or "one that is sent" Those twelve men, plus Paul, who were personally chosen by the Lord to take the gospel into the world in the days immediately following His ascension into heaven.
Prophets	From the Greek word, προφήτης, meaning "a foreteller or prophet". Those to whom the Holy Spirit would give special understanding of things not previously revealed.
Evangelists	From the Greek word, εὐαγγελιστής, meaning "a preacher of the gospel".
Pastors	From the Greek word, ποιμήν, meaning "a shepherd or pastor".
Teachers	From the Greek word, διδάσκαλος, meaning "an instructor".

The apostles in Acts 6, exercising the authority given to them personally by Jesus in Matthew 16:19, saw the need to also appoint men to be deacons (or "servants") within the church.  The Greek word here is from διάκονος, meaning "a servant or one who ministers".

Together, these six roles were able to meet the needs of the New Testament church.  No other formal roles are alluded to in the Scriptures.

 

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Apostles

Prophets

Evangelists

Pastors (Elders)

Teachers

Deacons