Elder

From Neoredemptive

Elders (presbyters), Bishops (overseers), and Pastors (shepherds) are all referenced regularly in the New Testament as playing a regular and important role in the life of the church.

See Greek/episkopos and presbuteros for some discussion of the connections and distinctions between elder/bishop/pastor in the Greek text.

Contents 1 Content ripped off from Wikipedia 1.1 Mandate 1.2 Qualifications 1.3 Duties

Content ripped off from Wikipedia

This content almost certainly violates Wikipedia's NPOV policy and won't last long over there.

• Version referenced: [1]
• Current version: wikipedia:Elder (Christianity)

I'm dropping it here for reference until I can properly sift the best of it into the above (in particular, teasing apart the elder/bishop/pastor requirements and duties).

Mandate

Together, the New Testament writers mention elders, overseers and shepherds in reference to church leadership more than twenty-five times in the Gospels and the Epistles. The basis, selection, office, character, functions, attitude and qualifications of elders are laid out and the pattern established early and often. Strauch writes, "In fact, the New Testament offers more instruction regarding elders than on any other important church subjects such as the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Day, baptism or spiritual gifts".

For example, Acts 11:30; 15:2,4,6,22-23; 16:4; and 21:18 demonstrate that elders had a significant role in the Jerusalem church and the Jerusalem council. In reference to churches in Antioch, Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, Acts 14:23 demonstrates Paul's pattern of appointing elders as a key step in organizing a new church. Paul spoke directly to the elders in Acts 20:17 and warned them in 20:28 to "(b)e on guard for (them)selves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made (them) overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

Each of these passages points to an early understanding that God's intent for church leadership was by a plurality of elders. Instruction about elders is given to the churches in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7,10 and 5:17-22,24-25; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14; and 1 Peter 5:5. Instruction is given to elders about churches in 1 Thessalonians 5:13; James 5:14; and 1 Peter 5:1-5. In the majority of the references the word for elders is plural and word for church is singular, indicating a very clear directive that the church should be governed by a plurality of elders.

Qualifications

(This list was developed by the leadership of Grace Community Church and can be found in "The Biblical Case for Elder Rule")

• Blameless as a steward of God; above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6-7)
• Husband of one wife; a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6)
• Temperate, sober, vigilant (1 Timothy 3:2)
• Sober-minded, prudent (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8)
• Of good behavior; orderly, respectable (1 Timothy 3:2)
• Given to hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
• Apt to teach; able to teach; he can exhort believers and refute false teaching (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9)
• Not given to wine (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)
• Not violent, not pugnacious (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)
• Patient, moderate, forbearing, gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)
• Not a brawler; uncontentious; not soon angry or quick tempered (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)
• Not covetous; not a lover of money; not greedy of base gain (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)
• Rules well his own house; his children are faithful, not accused of rebellion to God (1 Timothy 3:4, Titus 1:7)
• Not a novice; not a new convert (1 Timothy 3:6)
• Has a good report or reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)
• Not self-willed (Titus 1:7)
• A lover of what is good (Titus 1:7)
• Just, fair (Titus 1:8)
• Holy, devout (Titus 1:8)
• Self-Controlled (Titus 1:8)

Duties

• Shepherd the flock, setting an example for all (1 Peter 5:1-3)
• Feed and care for the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:12)
• Teach and preach sound doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:9)
• Rule and lead (I Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:2,4)
• Train and ordain others (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22; Titus 1:5)
• Refute and rebuke the insubordinate (Titus 1:9, 13)
• Keep watch over and give account to God for the spiritual well-being of the church (Hebrews 13:17)
• Serve clothed in Christ-like humility (1 Peter 5:3-5)