Why Elder Rule? (Part 1 of 2)
October 6th, 2008
The following is adapted from the Grace Church Distinctive on Biblical Eldership.
Biblically, the focal point of all church leadership is the elder. An elder is one of a plurality of biblically qualified men who jointly shepherd and oversee a local body of believers. The word translated “elder” is used nearly twenty times in Acts and the epistles in reference to this unique group of leaders who have responsibility for overseeing the people of God.
The Office of Elder
As numerous passages in the New Testament indicate, the words “elder” (presbuteros), “overseer” (episkopos), and “pastor” (poimen) all refer to the same office. In other words, overseers and pastors are not distinct from elders; the terms are simply different ways of identifying the same people. The qualifications for an overseer (episkopos) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and those for an elder (presbuteros) in Titus 1:6-9 are unmistakably parallel. In fact, in Titus 1, Paul uses both terms to refer to the same man (presbuteros in v. 5 and episkopos in v. 7).
All three terms are used interchangeably in Acts 20. In verse 17, Paul assembles all the elders (presbuteros) of the church of Ephesus to give them his farewell message. In verse 28 he says, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [episkopos], to shepherd [poimaino] the church of God.” First Peter 5:1-2 brings all three terms together as well. Peter writes, “Therefore, I exhort the elders [presbuteros] among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd [poimaino] the flock of God among you, exercising oversight [episkopeo] not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God.” The different terms, then, indicate various features of ministry, not varying levels of authority or separate offices, as some churches espouse.
A Plurality of Elders
The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that each local body of believers is shepherded by a plurality of God-ordained elders. Simply stated, this is the only pattern for church leadership given in the New Testament. Nowhere in Scripture does one find a local assembly ruled by majority opinion or by a single pastor.
The Apostle Paul left Titus in Crete and instructed him to “appoint elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). James instructed his readers to “call for the elders of the church” to pray for those who are sick (James 5:14). When Paul and Barnabas were in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they “appointed elders for them in every church” (Acts 14:23). In Paul’s first epistle to Timothy, the apostle referred to “the elders who rule well” at the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 5:17; see also Acts 20:17, where Paul addresses “the elders of the church” at Ephesus). The book of Acts indicates that there were “elders” at the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:30; 15:2, 4; 21:18).
Again and again, reference is made to a plurality of elders in each of the various churches. In fact, every place in the New Testament where the term presbuteros (“elder”) is used it is plural, except where the apostle John uses it of himself in 2 and 3 John and where Peter uses it of himself in 1 Peter 5:1. Nowhere in the New Testament is there a reference to a one-pastor congregation. It may be that each elder in the city had an individual group in which he had specific oversight. But the church was seen as one church, and decisions were made by a collective process and in reference to the whole, not the individual parts.
In other passages, reference is made to a plurality of elders even though the word presbuteros itself is not used. In the opening greeting of his epistle to the Philippians, Paul refers to the “overseers [plural of episkopos] and deacons” at the church of Philippi (Phil. 1:2). In Acts 20:28, Paul warned the elders of the church of Ephesus, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which God has made you overseers [plural of episkopos]” (Acts 20:28). The writer of Hebrews called his readers to obey and submit to the “leaders” who kept watch over their souls (Heb. 13:17). Paul exhorted his Thessalonian readers to “appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction” (1 Thess. 5:12)—a clear reference to the overseers in the Thessalonian assembly.
Much can be said for the benefits of leadership made up of a plurality of godly men. Their combined counsel and wisdom helps assure that decisions are not self-willed or self-serving to a single individual (cf. Prov. 11:14). If there is division among the elders in making decisions, all the elders should study, pray, and seek the will of God together until consensus is achieved. In this way, the unity and harmony that the Lord desires for the church will begin with those individuals he has appointed to shepherd His flock.
(To Be Completed Tomorrow)
Good teaching. Seems that many in local churches today don’t particularly like this eldership rule, and leadership. There’s a tremendous breakdown on accepting, and respecting, the authority of church leadership. People in the church are fine with elders, as long as they say and do what they want them to, but try and break the status quo, and the strife begins.
It’s great to have a church where there is unity of the Spirit, and the bond of peace, but it seems rare today, if there is godly elder rule.
I agree that an elder rule is Biblical, but how do we appoint elders now? The apostles picked the elders then. Do we have a Biblical precedent for a popular vote in choosing our elders?
We don’t choose elders. God ordains them and the church recognizes them. God provides the gifts to a person that will enable him to be an elder of the church. If a person shows that he is faithful and gifted in the ministry, and fits the qualifications for an elder in Titus 1:5 and down, then most likely he is the man who God has ordained for ministry.
Andrey, that is the way it should be done. However, in reality, too many churches like to “reward” people that have been faithful or served well with the honor of the title of Elder, or Deacon. At times, this means they have to either ignor certain Biblical qualifications, or redefine their interpretation. Unfortunately, I have witnessed this first hand. I have also seen Pastors that, though they believe in a plurality of elders, had trouble implementing it. Not only due to a lack of understanding by the congregation, but also, in part, due to their own personal pride. I am not meaning to be harsh by saying that. How does a small church with a lone pastor, and the financial means to support only one, implement a plurality? I think this is hard for some pastors and their congregations to get figured out, on a practical level.
Dave, I agree with you. Unfortunately, reality many times is different from the way it should be done.
Winston asks: “Do we have a Biblical precedent for a popular vote in choosing our elders? ”
If a man aspires to eldership (1 Tim. 3:1), desires it (1 Tim. 3:1) and is qualified (1 Tim. 3:2-7), then there’s no reason for him to not be ordained. I don’t think it’s so much a vote as in an election as it is an affirmation that he is qualified. If a man is unqualified, then the congregation should be able to show that before any ordination takes place.
“God ordains them and the church recognises them” “If a person shows that he is faithful and gifted in the ministry, and fits the qualifications for an elder in Titus 1:5 and down, then most likely he is the man who God has ordained for ministry.”
I am not disagreeing I am just trying to understand. This would work if we need 2 elders and there are only 2 men who fit the bill. What about a large church with many men who qualify, but we only need 2? Or do we make everyone who qualifies an elder no matter how many elders we get? How do we know how many elders we need?
We had a church of about 100-120, and we had anywhere from 5-8 elders. Sometimes the elders would have to step out for a season, because of other things going on in his life. But even then this elder would be used by the Lord, but he would not be involved in all the meetings and “body-life”.
Elders are examples, and overseers. They need to be in prayer, and definitely have a basic understanding of God’s word. And their character must be well rounded, not sinless, who is. But no chronic sins, or practicing sins.
A church of 1,000 may need 50-80 elders, would be my way of thinking, not to mention deacons. And deaconesses, if you think women can have that office.
Don Sands: “A church of 1,000 may need 50-80 elders”
Winston: “What about a large church with many men who qualify, but we only need 2?”
In our church of 600, we just doubled our eldership to four (4). A shortage…
Winston, ordain two and send the rest to us!
Great topic and conversation. It seems that we have perverted and complicated the pattern the Lord Jesus set for us. Acts 14 shows just how simple it is. They ordained elders in the local church, commended them to God, and went on their way. Many have succumbed to the rudiments of tradition rather than studying the pattern the Lord gave us. We must focus on replicating that pattern, even if it is contrary to modern day organizations. Thank you for an excellent topic and post.