The intent of this lesson is to demonstrate that Christianity, and consequently the church, has been ordered after a divine plan and that God intended that plan to be the pattern by which the church in the New Testament can be identified and reproduced throughout history.
I. The Pattern Concept Defined
From the Greek, tupos means standard, pattern, form, figure and example. The biblical use of the term carries these ideas:
A. The Moral Idea
Christians whose lives are worthy of imitation are held up in Scripture as models or patterns of the Christian lifestyle. Paul said of the apostles, "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern" (Philippians 3:17). Evangelists are to be models for believers to imitate (I Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7).
B. The Technical Sense
The word tupos is used of a "pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made," as when God commanded Moses to make the tabernacle "according to the pattern that he had seen" (Acts 7:44). The writer of Hebrews also speaks of God's instruction to Moses when he was about to make the tabernacle, "See that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you in the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).
C. The Doctrinal Sense
Tupos is used of a particular teaching. Paul reminded the Roman Christians that they had obeyed from the heart a form (tupon) of teaching in order to be made free from sin (Romans 6:17-18). Paul charged Timothy to hold a distinct body of doctrine (teaching): "Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me" (II Timothy 1:13).
A pattern may be thought of as a mold, cast or form into which some substance such as concrete, lead or wax is poured, and each time the same image is reproduced. Doctrinally speaking the pattern concept should produce the idea of doctrinal identity. Consequently modern church builders should search the scripture for and attempt to conform to the same pattern of teaching that the apostles delivered to first-century churches. This pattern of teaching gives the church her distinct identity of nature and form.
- taken from "The Church of Christ: The Distinctive Nature of the New Testament Church" by Edward C. Wharton
