At the same time the shepherds of the post apostolic gentile church began separating the church from its Hebrew root, they also started erecting dividing walls within the church.
The apostles and Jesus warned about people, being used by Satan, who would bring teaching that differed with what the apostles taught and they warned believers to watch out and keep away from them. The teaching of the apostles is now in written form in the New Testament scriptures. Paul says:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us." 2 Thes 3:6
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." Romans 16:17
Paul uses words such as command, implore, beseech, and beg believers to guard against those that bring any teaching that is contrary to the Word of God that will cause division and create obstacles. Just as Adam and Eve were to be watchman and guard the Tree of Life in the garden, believers were to watch over their assemblies and make sure the serpent Satan didn't enter in with false teaching.
Jesus came to tear down walls of separation between Jews and Gentiles. It says in Ephesians 2:
"you who were Gentiles...at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
He came to tear down walls that divided an assembly of believers: all believers were priests, and no human was needed to mediate between Yahweh God and humans.
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
"...and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--" Revelation 1:6
There was to be no hierarchy of leadership but every believer was to offer their particular spiritual gift to the body. Preaching, teaching, prophesying was not designated to a particular class of people because of birth or schooling, but every believer could proclaim the gospel to unbelievers. There was to be no spiritual aristocracy or nobility and all believers are to be saints.
"and have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon earth." Revelation 5:10
The shepherd or overseer of their assembly was to make sure the body of Christ was flowing as it should according to the Word of Yahweh and that it was staying true to the renewed covenant of Yeshua Jesus. The body of Jesus was to be a living breathing organism and just as the human body survives because of the unity of all it's parts and gets sick and will eventually die if there is anything blocking or dividing one section of itself from another.
However, after the Apostles died, men came in that slowly started erecting dividing walls and obstacles in the church. Satan started his work in getting the shepherds or overseers of the church to use their position for unjust gain. The verse in Romans 16 about men who cause division and obstacles is followed by:
"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
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