Elders

By: Josh Harpole Where did the idea of elders come from and why do we need them? In Acts 14:23 Paul was on a Gospel spreading, church planting mission as commissioned from God. The New Testament model of churches we have in the scriptures were to be led by these Elders and Deacons. Paul commanded both Timothy (2Tim 2:2) and Titus (Tit 1:5) to appoint these leaders in every town with prayer and fasting, committing them to the Lord to whom they have believed. Acts 20:17-38 The elders are responsible for keeping watch over the church of God, that Jesus, bought with his own blood. They are responsible for giving information, teaching, preaching, and leading the fellowship as the leaders of the body and correction against false doctrine. They are to watch out for wolves that will rise up in the flock as well as preach repentance towards God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the word of his grace that is able to build up and give the inheritance of the sanctified. Here are some things for us to know about elders. 1Tim 4:14 Elders are to bless in prayer and laying on of approving hands to send out godly young men to the work God has for them in the spreading of the Gospel to the peoples. 1 Ptr 5:1-11 Elders led side by side with the Apostles. Elders now are to lead the flock of God in oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have them, not for self-gain, or domineering, but as an example of godliness and humility to all. They are to be sober minded, watchful for the Devil and to resist him and then teach others how to resist him by the spirit of God. 1Tim 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. God has assigned elders to lead His people for many generations, from the past as well as on into the future. They were in the Covenant Body of Israel (Deut. 31:28) as well as now they are asked to lead in the New Testament Churches, as we are looking at here. They will also be in the new Heavens as we see in Rev 4:10-11, the twenty four elders show us how to worship and give proper reverence for God. This is the design of our God for His people and it is not to be despised or rejected. In Deut. 22:18 it was the elders who issued discipline to the people of God both then and now. Heb 13:7-9 The leaders of the faith are to be watched carefully and then copied as they live out their faith that is strengthened by grace.

Heb 13:17 The leaders are to be obeyed and submitted to as they teach the word of God in truth as they keep watch over the souls of the church in joy for the benefit of all. 1Tim 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. It is a position of honor and respect. Is this position of elder only for the lead Pastor? One error in the tradition of the leadership in the church is that the pastor has been the main spiritual leader of the body with the supporting role of the Deacons. The preaching pastor alone would be the one who is mainly responsible for the teaching of the word and prayer in church body and he is the one held responsible for the direction of ministries. This is not the design of God nor is it what we know in the scriptures. Tradition at times fails to pass down the truth, but praise God we still have the final authority in all life, godliness and religious practice in the Word of God. The scriptures teach us that there is to be numerous men who God qualifies for this work in each body of believers. Elders are to be the highest and lead position in the NT church under Christ. In Acts 15:6 these Elders are considered to be in equal standing with the apostles at the Jerusalem council. James in 5:14 says, for healing prayer we should call for the body of elders. 1Ptr 5:1 Peter considered himself a fellow elder, not the head elder as has been taught by the Catholic Church, calling him the first Pope. Also though an apostle, John calls himself simply, The elder in 2nd and 3rd John verse 1. Just as the Apostles didnt consider themselves above the position of the elders but counseled in Jerusalem equally and united with them, so should the main preaching pastor be one of these elders as he qualifies for the equal position for spiritual leadership of the church through the qualifications listed above for an overseer. The preacher or pastor is just one of the elders who has been given the gift to preach like seen in Eph 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Elders are the group of qualified men to fulfill the lead ministries of church. The gifting of these men will vary depending on the needs in that body as Christ sees fit to place them, for some will be gifted to preach, others to teach and others to shepherd. What are the qualifications to be an Elder in the scriptures? 1 Timothy 3:1-7 v1 The saying is trustworthy: anyone who desires the office to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. Overseer, Pastor and Elder are used in translations interchangeable in the New Testament. Though there are different Greek words for more specific application. The Greek word Episkopos and Episkopon are used in the first two verses in this section for overseer. The meaning is; chief officer, watchmen, the one in general charge over. They get their root meaning from a word that means; busy body. These Elders are to be men that are always busy in the work of the Lord in the charge over the souls and families of whom

God brings to that local body. This is not a kingly role, but a servant role. Kings do not visit pauper's houses, yet the Overseers must, as a commoner himself. V2, 3 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife. Soberminded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Above reproach: not held responsible, no fault or guilt in wrong doings. (These are not sinless men, but there is not unconfessed sin, as to bring reproach on Gods name.) Husband of one wife: A one woman Male lit. Not having eyes for other women. This section rules out female Elders by the word Andra means: Masculine, male, husband. Sober-minded: Solidified in thinking and not easily diluted. Self-controlled: Not extreme or excessive in actions Respectable: Orderly and modest behavior or holy in action Hospitable: Lover of strangers, ready to receive guests to make them feel welcome. Able to teach: Skilled at teaching Christian doctrines. Not a drunkard: Someone who does not sit long at the drink. Not violent: does not use extreme force or intense actions Gentle: Kind, moderate and careful. Quarrelsome: (not to be) quickly disputes verbally or always clashing with others Lover of money: (not to be) Envious of other's goods V4,5 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for Gods church? Manage: Maintain, able to contain Dignity: Good, honestly and healthily Submissive: to yield, surrender under authority V6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the same condemnation of the Devil. Recent convert: Newly planted; from the idea of newly germinated. Not old enough to have bore fruit. Like a fruit tree there must time to see if there will be good fruit. Puffed up: high minded of self, proud, haughty. To inflate to look big. From the derivative of blind; not able to see clearly. See also (1Tim 6:4)

1Tim 2:2 all who are in high positions... (Including Elders) lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Quiet; undisturbed, from the root of unmovable. Peaceable; tranquil, not easily made upset Godliness; following a holy life settled in doctrine and truth, acting rightly before God. Reverence; to show honor and respect before all people, especially to God. Necessities of good Godly leadership A Leader must be approachable by anyone for anything, as well as always responding in love, gentleness and graceful humility. If a leader is unloving, arrogant, rude and/or selfish, it makes them unapproachable, uncaring and unable to do Gods work, let alone unqualified. (2Tim 2:24-26; Titus 1:7, 8) The Shepherd leads with grace and the sheep follow. The Shepherd must venture out in front of the sheep to find new and safe paths and fields. The Shepherd does not drive the sheep from behind with a whip of the law. For the law kills but grace gives life through our Lord Jesus Christ. For the sheep are God's; and the Shepherd is only working for the master to help them in their master's way. Sheep must be shown in loving service what their lives should look like and the paths to walk on by example. (Num 27:17, 1 Cor 13:4-13, Jn 13:5-17; 10:27; Rom 4:14-16) The Christ-like leader must have a humble mindset of a servant. Leaders must be able to teach as well as be teachable. We must, in order to lead and teach well be able to show our followers how to repent and be corrected by the word of God. It makes leaders better able to deal with others failures if they know that they themselves are riddled with failures. Leaders must be able to relate and work with others sins and failures in a me too attitude. Otherwise they will be loners on the false mountain pride. Without humility, no one can be a Christ-like leader. (Phil 2:3-8; 1Ptr 5:5) A humble and loving leader can relate to all levels of sin and lostness. For the older the saint gets the worse they see the offences against their Holy and Perfect God and also notice the horror and dreadfulness of their deep selfishness. How these are next to the same root causes as murder and rape and the like. If the King of all creation can stoop to the level of a world of sinners and rebels, why is not the Pastor able to sit with the man in jail for his crimes and totally be able to relate? A leader who cannot relate to sinners, does not know himself yet as he is known. In Hebrews 5:2 (The priest) can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Leadership must not insist on its own way and own glory (1Cor 13:5), but must always be training and lifting others up to lead and teach as God makes these men known. Leaders must not think they are the "only one" that can teach the word of God. But that the Word stands alone as the authority and it is sharper than a two-edged sword, cutting and dividing by its own power and purpose God sent it out to do. Also the abiding Word itself;

causes us to be born again, as well as guiding us and keeping us in its righteous shadow of truth, leading us in all righteousness. Like Paul charged Timothy in his first and second letters to put the "Word" before the brothers, command and teach these things, and in doing so, you will save both yourself and those who hear. Preaching, leading and teaching the Word of God and not our favorite Doctrine is the call of the Pastors, Overseers and Elders. (Phil 2:3, 1Ptr 1:22-23; Heb 4:12; 1 Tim 4:6-10) Leaders must above all things be a lover of God first and secondly of people. Because these are the two greatest commandments (Mat 22:37-40). For knowledge, wisdom and preaching and all things are subject to this one thing; that we love. For a sheep will always listen to a Shepherd that they know loves them. Even in the hardest times of correction, if there is a known loving relationship there, anything can be said. But if the main ministry of the leader is correction and not love, then the correction will fall on hardened and frustrated ears and hearts. Love covers a multitude of sins. But the lack of love causes quarrellings, division and strife. (1Ptr 4:8, 1Cor 13; 1Tim 4:6:11) How many Elders are in a single church? We have looked into the qualities and the qualifications of these godly men called elders. There is no appointed number of elders a church is required to employ, however we find that in Titus 1:5 Paul tells Titus to appoint Elder(s) (plural) in every town in Acts 14:23 we see the same thing, appointed elders for them in every church In Acts 20: 17, Paul sent for the Elders of the church in Ephesus. Jerusalem had Elders: Acts 11:30 and 15:2, 4, and 6 among other places. In these passages we see the importance of the plurality of heads and its effect on the spiritual health of the leaders and the church. Elders should be unified in doctrine and peace. The body of elders should be mature godly men who well founded in the doctrine of the faith and not easily moved. Also they must be able to teach, holding firm the trustworthy word as taught and able to rebuke those who disagree( Eph 4:14, Titus 1:9). Doctrine is very important to give the church a solid foundation to stand on in faith for Paul charged Timothy to put these things before the brothers (1 Tim 4:6). It guards us from endless speculations and ignorance to the faith and righteousness (1 Tim 1:3-7). True doctrine also unites in Christ and keeps out controversies, pride, slander and self-gain (1 Tim 6:2-10). Like in Acts 15:22 when hard things of spiritual matters are being discussed, the unity of the elders is essential. Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. Eph 4:1-7 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spiritjust as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christs gift.