Elders, Deacons, and Saints
Titus ministered a young church in Crete, “to set things in order that are lacking” (Tit. 1:5).? Timothy ministered in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3) “to stop teaching false doctrines.” Aside from the Book of Acts, 1 Peter 5 and then Paul?s letters to Titus and Timothy are replete with ideas how the early church was run. Here?s a quick survey of some of those key leadership ideas and concepts.
ELDERS/OVERSEERS are synonymous, they (plural) SHEPHERD (pastor) the CHURCH
?”ordain ELDERS in every city… for a BISHOPS must be blameless” (Tit. 1:5-7)
ELDER is the title/dignity/position while OVERSEER is the function/work/task, which is actually “pastoral” in nature. It as described in the following scriptures, a gift, given by Christ to mature the church for service.
?”…If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a NOBLE TASK.” 1 Tim. 3:1
“ELDERS? be SHEPHERDS of God?s flock SERVING AS OVERSEERS.” 1 Pet. 5:1-2
“Paul… called for the ELDERS of the church…therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you OVERSEERS, TO SHEPHERD the church of God…”? Acts 20:16, 17, 28
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it? It was he who GAVE…. some to be EVANGELISTS, and some to be PASTORS AND TEACHERS to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”? (Eph. 4:7, 11, 12)
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is GIVEN FOR COMMON GOOD… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and HE GIVES them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Cor. 12:7-11)
“ELDERS? be SHEPHERDS of God’s flock that is under your care, SERVING as overseers–not because you must, but because you are WILLING, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but EAGER TO SERVE? not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Pet. 5:1-3.
Spiritual gifts vary and are predetermined by the Holy Spirit. He must not only be up to the tasks of serving the body but also willing and eager to serve. They were appointed by prophecy with the laying on of hands. They were not elected by a popular vote as Congregationalists do, nor were they drawn by lots just like when Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.
“…APPOINT ELDERS in every town, as I directed you.” Tit. 1:5
“? stir up the gift of God which is in you through the LAYING ON OF MY HANDS.” 2 Tim. 1:6
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE ELDERSHIP. 1 Ti 4:14? (cf. Acts 13:1-3)
These are the leaders who sets the direction of the church, and so they must have a strong grasp of the Word, and able to defend the faith. They must practice what they preach in order to serve as good examples for the flocks to imitate.
“An OVERSEER… DEACONS likewise,… must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.” 1 Tim 3:6, 8
“The OVERSEER must be… able to teach.” 1 Tim 3:2
“Since an OVERSEER is entrusted with God’s work… he must HOLD FIRMLY to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can ENCOURAGE OTHERS by sound doctrine and REFUTE THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT.” Tit. 1:7, 9
“ELDERS who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim. 5:17
“…call the ELDERS of the church to pray over” Jas. 5:14
QUALIFICATIONS ? aside from willingness and eagerness to serve?
They must possess leadership, moral and maturity qualities that should be aimed for by everyone to serve as example/patterns the flock should follow. These were given in 1 Tim. 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.
In all NT instances, Overseers (episkopos, G1985 in Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:25) and? Elders (presbuteros, G4245 found in 67 verses) are always masculine in form, whether referring to an Elder in Judaism or as Elder in church setting. But when it comes to old age, the word is applied to both gender (men and women, 1 Tim 5:1-2).
To know more about the role relationship between men and women in the church, download this small group Bible-Study material in PDF: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Even younger men can also be an elder. Timothy is an example of that: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity 1 Tim. 4:12 but not a beginner in the faith (or a recent convert) 1 Tim. 3:6, “An OVERSEER… must not be a recent convert,… DEACONS likewise,…They must first be tested.” 1 Tim 3:6, 8.
The church in Philippi were made up of SAINTS, OVERSEERS and DEACONS (all plural in form),
“To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the OVERSEERS and DEACONS.”? Phil. 1:1
ELDERS aim to meet the spiritual needs of the church while DEACONS try to meet the temporal needs of the church. The first deacons were ordained so as to meet a growing temporal need in the early church.
“So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” Acts 6:2-3, 6.
They have distinctive roles in serving the body. Their qualifications were given in 1 Tim. 3:8-13.
As for the SAINTS, they must aim for maturity, able to teach or at least know their individual gifts in order to serve others.
“In fact,… YOU OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS…solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”? Heb. 5:12, 14
“To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly AS YOU TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER WITH ALL WISDOM…” Col. 1:1; 3:16
“Each one should use WHATEVER GIFT he has received TO SERVE OTHERS, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ” ?1 Pet. 4:10
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is PROPHESYING, let him use it in proportion to his faith.? If it is SERVING, let him serve; if it is TEACHING, let him teach;? 8? if it is ENCOURAGING, let him encourage; if it is CONTRIBUTING TO THE NEEDS of others, let him give generously; if it is LEADERSHIP, let him govern diligently; if it is SHOWING MERCY, let him do it cheerfully.” ?Rom 12:6-8
They volunteer respect to those who work hard among them and over them.
“Remember your LEADERS, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and IMITATE their faith.” Heb. 13:7
“Now we ask you, brothers, TO RESPECT those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.? Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ” 1 Thess 5:12-13
“Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim. 5:17
Let us therefore, level or align our leadership expectations but not on the seductive format and organizational structure of what we deem what could be a successful organization (or from what we have been brought up) but rather in accordance to the scriptures exemplified by the early churches of Christ. The ultimate goal is to serve the body, by shepherding its members toward spiritual maturity and active service.
Sadly, sometime in the second century, how the church was run evolved into what is now called Monarchical Episcopate?where one bishop holds key oversight position on a congregation or an entire denomination.
See how the apostles, elders, deacons, and saints tried to resolve a crucial doctrinal issue that confronted early church in Acts 15.
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