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A Personal Devotional by Debbie Hall
The Elder
Here are some insights I have gleaned from the Bible about the office of Elder:
1. The terms Elder & Bishop (or Overseer) & Pastor (or Shepherd) are used interchangeably in the New Testament
From Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church...
-Acts 20:17 And he said to them in verse 28…
“therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (or bishops), to shepherd (or pastor) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood
“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd (or pastor) the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers (or bishops), not by compulsion but willingly…
-I Peter 5:1-2
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you…For a bishop (or overseer) must be blameless…
Titus 1:5, 7
2. The Apostles functioned as the first Elders in Jerusalem until Elders came into being there.
In I Peter 5:1 Peter the apostle refers to himself as an Elder. In 2 and 3 John’s first verses John the apostle refers to himself as “the Elder.”
In Acts 6:1-7 the apostles lead the Jerusalem congregation in solving a pressing issue by proposing the creation of a group of servants, most probably the first deacons.
By Acts 11:30 there are a group of Elders in Jerusalem.
In Acts 15 the Apostles and the Elders in Jerusalem lead the Jerusalem congregation, along with representatives from the Antioch congregation, in solving a pressing issue.
James, probably the leader of the Elders, speaks after the apostles, and sums up the direction they need to take. This could not have been James the apostle, who was clearly killed in Acts 12:2.
In Acts 21:17-26 Paul the apostle comes before James and the Elders in Jerusalem, with no mention of the other apostles. Paul the apostle submits to the directions they give him to keep peace in Jerusalem.
Thus we infer that in Jerusalem the Apostles began giving Elder type leadership to the church and the go on to other tasks as a separate group of Elders emerges.
3. It was both the usual and expected norm for New Testament churches to have a plurality of elders and deacons
We have already seen this was the case in Jerusalem, the first church.
Acts 13:1-3 seems pretty clear that this was also the case in the second church in Antioch, although our specific words were not used.
At the end of Paul & Barnabas’ first missions’ journey in Acts 14:21-23 we read:
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (a different Antioch), strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
On Paul’s second missions’ journey two of the cities that got churches for the first time were Ephesus and Philippi. We have already seen from Acts 20: 17 that there were multiple elders in Ephesus. Check out Philippians 1:1-
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops (or overseers) and deacons.
The third journey largely retraced the steps of the first two, but Paul also took a fourth journey. Included in that trip was the Island of Crete. We have already seen that from Titus 1:5 that Paul had left Titus there to set in order what was lacking, namely, that each city should have elders in place.
No one today would suggest a church should be served by just one deacon, but far too many churches have just one Elder/ Pastor. He often feels the pressure to do far more things then he can. It’s as if one man is asked to do the work of several men! In reality that’s precisely what is happening!
As we have demonstrated, the New Testament churches also had a plurality of elders who led them, whether you use the tile elder or bishop or overseer or pastor. The job called for more than one man, and more than one man served in each New Testament church.
4. In the New Testament the Elders “led” the church; they did not “rule” the church. Final decisions were made with the pleasure of the church- Elders served as the leadership body that prayerfully proposed direction to the entire church.
In Acts chapter 6: 1-8, the Apostles, functioning in a very elder like way, have obviously met and have a solution to propose to the congregation about a pressing issue. The apostle/elders summoned the multitude of the disciples together and laid out for them a God honoring plan. Verse 5 says:
“and the saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose…”
The Apostle/Elders, as the godly leaders, made a proposal that included the congregation selecting the actual men who fit the criteria the apostle/elders had given. The mutual respect that the leaders and the people had for each other is evident in this Jerusalem Business Meeting. I infer that had the multitude not been pleased, the Apostles would not have forced their decision.
Acts 15 shows the apostles and elders and congregation again meeting together on a key issue. After much discussion, and much guidance by the words of the apostles and elders, they reached a decision that in the words of verse 22 “pleased the whole church.”
All of this to say that I think scripture teaches Elder leadership in a congregational context, not Elder rule of the congregation.
5. Within a congregational context, the Elders of the New Testament had actual or implied oversight of the church as it carried out it’s mission
A. From Acts 6 and 15 we see actual oversight of major decisions
B. From Acts 11:27-30 we see implied oversight of finances
C. From Acts 20:28ff we see actual oversight of a churches teachers, which implies oversight of the churches ministry positions (as in a “Nominating” type role). We also draw this from Ephesians 4:11 which says the Pastor/ Teacher’s role is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
D. From Acts 21:17-26 we see actual oversight of the Apostle Paul as he ministered in their church area, implying oversight of any Pastor or Evangelist who may minister in a church (as in a “Personnel” type role).
E. From Acts 13:1-3 we see an implied correlation between the prayer-based leadership of the leaders and missionary heart and focus
F. From I Timothy 5:17-20 (and perhaps Titus 3:10-11) we see an implied role in handling church discipline
G. From James 5:14 we see an overarching concern for the needs of the people these elders serve
H. From I Timothy 4:14 we see that part of the eldership’s duty is to “lay hands” on those whom God has called into the ministry, confirming the promise they see in the individual
Let me add that oversight does not necessarily mean that elders do all of this work themselves. That the elders may have a role overseeing finances does not mean they could not utilize a finance committee to assist in financial duties. Indeed, a body of elders would be foolish not to utilize members gifted for certain tasks. But they are the ones who will stand before God and give an account for the health of the church, as made clear in Hebrews 13:17:
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
6. The New Testament allows room for the full financial support of some of these elders. I Timothy 5:-17-18 says:
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says ”you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
Incidentally, some of my Presbyterian friends would use this same text to divide Teaching and Ruling Elders, but I remain unconvinced that such an approach is warranted based on the scant New Testament evidence.
7. Finally, from the actual words used for these men we glean important lessons
A. The word Elder describes the maturity these men are to possess. Whether elders succeed or fail in a church will most likely be determined by making sure each man has the same character we expect from the Full Time Pastor we employ. They should exemplify the principles in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
B. The word Bishop, or Overseer, describes their work. As Hebrews 13:17 says, these men watch over the disciples souls as one who must give an account.
C. The Word Shepherd, or Pastor describes their heart. These men are disciple-makers. They want to take people from where they are to where God wants them to be.