early pattern of the Church had its origins in the Jewish synagogue. Note the following similarities between the ancient synagogue and the early Church. The principal leader of a synagogue was the nasi or president. In the Christian congregation, the leaders were still called president rather than pastor, as late as A.D. 150, by such non-Jewish writers as Justin Martyr.9 In the synagogue structure, three of these leaders would join together to form a tribunal for judging cases concerning money, theft,
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