[233] The 7 FDS presidents of the first presence

'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power' - Abraham Lincoln

Epaphras 

12 Epaphras, who is from among you, a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always exerting himself in your behalf in [his] prayers, that you may finally stand complete and with firm conviction in all the will of God (Colossians 4).

Epaphras was with Paul during his 'first' two year imprisonment in Rome. Paul's journey to Rome began just after Tishri10 and less than a couple of months after Felix was appointed as governor of Judea at Caesarea (Acts 25,26).

9 As considerable time had passed and by now it was hazardous to navigate because even the fast [of atonement day] had already passed by, Paul made a recommendation (Acts 27).

Felix was preceded by Festus and succeeded by Albinus who murdered James the brother of Jesus. The Cambridge Ancient History has Festus as acceding in 60 AD. This puts Paul's arrival in Rome in the spring of 61 (Acts 27,28).

16 When finally we entered into Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him
30 So he remained for an entire 2 years in his own hired house (Acts 28)

23 Sending you greetings is Epaphras my fellow captive in union with Christ (Philemon).

But he was a fellow captive in Christ, rather than being imprisoned by the Romans as Paul was. There were only 3 discreet virgins in FDS1, and these were the first 3 presidents - see [65]. Timothy was a discreet virgin for reasons given below in his section. So Epaphras was 4th or 5th. It is unlikely that he was 5th because anyone with a close relationship with Paul cannot really run WSS1, which was in opposition to Paul.

Paul

1 Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's chosen ones and the accurate knowledge of the truth which accords with godly devotion (Titus 1).

1 Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ (Romans 1).

James

2 He did away with James the brother of John by the sword (Acts 12).
17 But he motioned to them with his hand to be silent and told them in detail how Jehovah brought him out of the prison, and he said: Report these things to James and the brothers. With that he went out and journeyed to another place (Acts 12).

19 Hence my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God
20 But to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood (Acts 15).

James, the brother of Jesus, made the Jerusalem decision himself, evidently with the authority to make it. But Peter spoke first on that occasion. We suggest that Peter had appointed James to be the 'Head of bible research', and therefore the decision was his to make. Of course Peter had already spoken similarly saying:

10 Now, therefore, why are you making a test of God by imposing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we were capable of bearing? (Acts 15).

So there was no dispute between Peter and James. So we contend that Peter was actually the president of FDS1 at the time,  since he would only lose this position through death or long term captivity. And Peter's actions here show how to be a head and yet not undermine your administrative structure.

Paul said:

8 for He who gave Peter powers necessary for an apostleship to those who are circumcised gave powers also to me for those who are of the nations;
9 yes, when they came to know the undeserved kindness that was given me, James and Cephas and John, the ones who seemed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of sharing together, that we should go to the nations, but they to those who are circumcised.
10 Only we should keep the poor in mind. This very thing I have also earnestly endeavored to do.
11 However, when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned.
12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class.
13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Barnabas was led along with them in their pretense.
14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all: If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice? (Galatians 2).

This James is again the brother of Jesus, who we know From Josephus Antiquities book 20 Chapter 9 was stoned on a false charge from the high priest Ananus around 62 AD (it must have been a bum rap). If you think this guy had a silly name for a high priest, his successor was Damneus! 

But here is the haunting scripture:

1 James, a slave of God and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are scattered about: Greetings! (James 1).

This cryptically implies that he is a slave twice, i.e. of FDS2 with Paul. So the LWs would like to introduce the '3 James theory'. Firstly, whenever James is mentioned (other than by Jude) a dispute about what laws Gentile Christians should obey follows, as can be seen in Galatians 2 and Acts 15 above and in Acts 21:

18 But on the following [day] Paul went in with us to James; and all the older men were present (Acts 21).

25 As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out, rendering our decision that they should keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols as well as from blood and what is strangled and from fornication (Acts 21).

But FDS2 had a different set of laws for a different group of Christians from FDS1. Now we have deduced from the parable of the 2 Drachma's temple tax - see [74], that Peter eventually joined FDS2. And we know that his second letter was written near the end of his life, since he says in it:

14 Knowing as I do that the putting off of my tabernacle is soon to be, just as also our Lord Jesus Christ signified to me (2 Peter 1).

So 2 Peter was written to FDS2. Now 1st and 2nd Peter start with the words:

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents scattered about in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, to the ones chosen (1 Peter 1).

1 Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours, by the righteousness of our God and [the] Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1).

So we see that Peter is writing to those with a 'faith held in equal privilege to ours', who must be a new set of Christians, and these are scattered and not in Jerusalem. So both of these letters were written to the congregation of FDS2 after Jerusalem fell in 70 CE. Likewise James writes to those scattered about (as a result of the destruction of Jerusalem) and says:

18 Because he willed it, he brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be certain firstfruits of his creatures (James 1).

So James identifies himself a being of a group of certain firstfruits, thereby revealing that he was aware of another group of firstfruits, who are the Christ (through the 1NC saints). James then pens the famous words:

7 Exercise patience, therefore, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until he gets the early rain and the late rain.
8 You too exercise patience. Make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close (James 5).

Showing himself to be aware of two water baptisms, into FDS1 and FDS2. He is also aware that the manifestation of the presence is close. So the letter must have been written a few years before the fall of WSS1 in 90/91. But he does not advise anyone to leave his administration because he is running FDS2. 

Peter

1 Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours, by the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1).

Jude

1 Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to the called ones who are loved in relationship with God [the] Father and preserved for Jesus Christ (Jude).

Jude's letter deals with lawlessness coming into the congregation, and identifies the time period as being 'in the last time' when he says:

17 As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
18 How they used to say to you: In the last time there will be ridiculers, proceeding according to their own desires for ungodly things (Jude).

It looks at first sight like Jude might be quoting from 2 Peter 3:3, which reads:

3 For you know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires (2 Peter 3).

But Peter is saying that the ones scattered about already know about these ridiculers, so really both Jude and Peter and issuing reminders in writing about the spoken warnings of the apostles. But Certainly Jude must be the 5th and last president of FDS1, since he is the president 'in the last time'. It is worrying that a half brother of Jesus should become the head of a Wicked and Sluggish Slave. But possibly in his case, the lawlessness in the church was just too much for him to deal with. It must have been quite a wrench for him to accept that his own brother was the vehicle for someone who was now Mighty God. Perhaps a second somersault into FDS2 was just too much to ask.

1 A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John (Rev 1).

Timothy

1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in union with Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, along with overseers and ministerial servants (Philippians 1).

1 So he arrived at Derbe and also at Lystra. And, look! a certain disciple was there by the name of Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman but of a Greek father, 2 and he was well reported on by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul expressed the desire for this man to go out with him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for one and all knew that his father was a Greek (Acts 16).

17 That is why I am sending Timothy to you, as he is my beloved and faithful child in [the] Lord; and he will put you in mind of my methods in connection with Christ Jesus, just as I am teaching everywhere in every congregation (1 Corinthians 4).

So Paul baptised Timothy (in water and in holy spirit presumably). Now Timothy is only referred to as a slave of Jesus in Phillipians, which was written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome. Whereas Paul's first letter to Timothy was written after this imprisonment. 1Timothy is written as to the president of the church for he says:

18 This mandate I commit to you, child, Timothy, in accord with the predictions that led directly on to you, that by these you may go on waging the fine warfare (1Timothy 1).

20 O Timothy, guard what is laid up in trust with you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called "knowledge (1Timothy 6).

In 1Timothy3, Paul defines the qualifications for an overseer. This sort of information would be presumably meant for the head of the whole congregation, who appoint all overseers. So we can deduce that Timothy was the president at the time of Paul's writing first Timothy. And evidently he was still the president at the time of Second Timothy. Given Timothy's close relationship to Paul, it is unthinkable that he would become the president of the WSS. So he was the 3rd or 4th president. Then there is the verse literally states the presidency of Timothy:

14 Do not be neglecting the gift in you that was given you through a prediction and when the body of older men laid their hands upon you.
15 Ponder over these things. Be absorbed in them, that your advancement may be manifest to all [persons].
16 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you (1 Timothy 4).

The governing body of FDS1 laid their hands on Timothy commissioning him to be their head. The Romans did this with their emporers. And Moses did it with Eleazar:

22 And Moses proceeded to do just as Jehovah had commanded him. Accordingly he took Joshua and stood him before Eleazar the priest and before all the assembly
23 and laid his hands upon him and commissioned him, just as Jehovah had spoken by means of Moses (Numbers 27).

Also Timothy is exhorted by Paul to keep considering his teaching, in other words to keep doing his own personal bible research, so he cannot have been a foolish virgin in the sense of Matthew 25 - see [65]. So he must have been the 3rd president of FDS1.

Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke etc.

16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us.
She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction.
17 This [girl] kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to you the way of salvation.
18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
19 Well, when her masters saw that their hope of gain had left, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers (Acts 16).

37 But Paul said to them: They flogged us publicly uncondemned, men who are Romans, and threw us into prison; and are they now throwing us out secretly? No, indeed! but let them come themselves and bring us out (Acts 16).

So Silas was a Roman by nationality, but was not called a slave of Jesus, and was only called a slave of the most high God along with Timothy Paul and Luke (who wrote acts) by a spirit medium. So we are not interested in her words (not literally anyway). Presumably from the code, we should be very interested symbolically.

Tychicus

7 All my affairs Tychicus, [my] beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in [the] Lord, will make known to you (Colossians 4).