What do we make of Hebrews 13:17?

<Does that verse speak against human authority, or does it speak against prideful titles for Christian servant-leaders?>

Jesus said you have one master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren, that is not talking about titles Jesus is talking about authority. We have one authority God who is in heaven, every believer has a direct access to God and no intermediate authority exists, We are all brethren. This is why he was hated by the pharisees and scribes, he removed their authority.

<There are several passages in the New Testament that encourage and instruct leaders on how to exercise authority: by living up to their ordination [1 Tim. 4:14], >

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.


I don't see how this should apply to leadership position but to all Christians.

<by willingly and righteously assuming oversight of the flock [1 Pet. 5:2]>

1 Pet. 5:2 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:


1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Not b constraint, think on that for a moment, Peter is teaching that those of who are elders should feed the flock, what does that mean? it means teaching the word of God, as I am doing for you now. and not by constraint but willingly, means that I do exerise any authority of you but give as you are willing to accept.



< by consistently preaching the word [2 Tim. 4:2]>

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Again applies to all beleivers.

<by rebuking the unruly [1 Tim. 5:20; Tit. 1:11–13]>



1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.


1Ti 5:21 I charge [thee] before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

With the addition of 1Ti 5:21 you can see that this i a call for all Christians, and not to prefer one before another is a call to equality.




Tts 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.


Tts 1:12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tts 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Tts 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

To rebuke false doctrine is call for all of us, as you and I are doing now, in rebuking each other the truth is revealled. You'll also note that with the addition of Tts 1:14 that we are not to heed the commandments of men, but of God alone in doing this.


<by exhibiting fatherly love [1 Thess. 2:11]. >

1Th 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father [doth] his children,

Specifically to comfort, exhort, and charge as a father would to his children. This is a call for all who are Christians in how we deal with one another.

< Moreover, we have scripture that explains how we should interact with leaders: by praying that they excel in the word [2 Thess. 3:1]>

2Th 3:1 ¶ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you:
2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all [men] have not faith.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.

Certainly we are called to submit to the authorities of the world, but in perspective with 2Th3:3 and 2Th 3:3 it is God will establish us, not an intermediate or other authority.

<By honoring their labor [1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7] >




1Ti 5:17 ¶ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.

This speaks of compensation, teachers and those that are called to labor for the word are worthy of compensation. This doesn't say obey them and submit yourself to them.

<by rendering to them our obedience [Heb. 13:17]>

Hbr 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

This speaks of worldly authorities and confirms that they shall give account for how they have treated you.


by receiving the word they minister to us as directly from God [1 Thess. 2:13].

1Th 2:13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

There is no them, they are us. do you not know that Jesus charged the disiples to go out into the world and make disciples of others? Each of has heard the word from another disciple and accepted it as the word of God, and in doing so become disciples ourselves and delivered the word to still others. I say to you that if you do not desire to walk in the authority of Paul , and Peter and yes to be as Jesus himself then you have strayed from the Christian path:

Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of his household?
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 ¶ What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

I shall fear no man, but only he that in heaven, and my counsel is take from mouths of those that believe and have the holyspirit and from my own heart were likewise the spirit dwells, no man stands before a Christian and God, Amen!

<God has vested authority in leaders of His choosing. They are not usurpers; they're His approved under-shepherds. They exhibit His characteristics of love, respect, service, and trust.
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Jhn 10:7 ¶ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.


Jhn 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.


Jhn 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.


Jhn 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.


Jhn 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.


Jhn 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.


Jhn 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.


Jhn 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.


Jhn 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.


Jhn 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.
>

One Shephard! Amen!

<So agree that the Quakers are non-biblical because they had a leader (george Fox)? >

What I said is that their church gatherings were bibical.

>>>>>And where does it say that?<<<<<<

It says it in John 21, beginning with verse 15.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16
He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep."

Clearly, Jesus is talking to Simon and only Simon here. The text is clear that Jesus addressed these words TO Simon, and what's more, he repeats Simon's name. SImon is given a particular mission---to strengthen his brothers The burden of proof must fall on anyone who claims Jesus was talking to anyone other than Simon here.

ANother important passage in this context is Luke 22:31-32
31 "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you {PLURAL} like wheat,
32
but I have prayed that your [SINGULAR} own faith may not fail; and once you [SINGULAR] have turned back, you [SINGULAR] must strengthen your brothers."
In this context, Peter's "brothers" would already be followers of Jesus. Jesus saw that even his own followers would need their faith strenghtened and he charged someone (namely, Peter) to do it.

That's not reading into the text. That's plain reading!