Addendum: What About Elders?

There are many questions that surround the role of church elder. But I believe all of those various issues can be summed up with these two questions:
#1 - Is this office a truly biblical role in the church?
#2 - If it is, then does the Bible define that role, or are we free to define it as we choose? 

Let me answer the first question right now:
1 Timothy 5:17 - "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine."
Titus 1:5 NLT - "I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you."

This position is absolutely biblical. There is no question that God wants elders in each of HIS churches! In fact, every time they are mentioned in the New Testament, there is never a question or debate about whether they should exist. Their existence in the local church is simply assumed.

Back To The Bible

So then, what is the definition and responsibility of an elder? 

Many different churches and denominations have tried to define what elders are. Some of those are probably closer to the truth than others. However, this series has always been less about tradition and more about scriptural authority - and I will not be changing this now. As Jesus' church, the only definitive authority should be His Word. Agreed?

When we see direct biblical instructions about the office of elder, then those instructions are authoritative.
In areas where those instructions are less direct, then we probably have more freedom to implement our best judgment. But even in those "best judgment" situations, we must still hold to principles that are based on the entirety of scripture.

As we look at the biblical role of elder, let's come from this point of view:

First, let's keep the office of elder in the context of what we've already learned about the local church. If you have not been following this series, or if you have missed parts of it; I encourage you to go back and read this series about the golden lampstand - God's blueprint for the local church.

Second, let's set aside man-made tradition and use scripture as our starting point. Let's start from scratch, using only the Bible as our manual. Doing this will cut through all the confusion about what is, and is not, part of this office.

Elders: More Than Older Saints!

In the general sense, the word "elder" is speaking of someone who is older than most; that is, a person who has had a whole lifetime of experience to draw on. But when we're specifically talking about church elders, we are not just talking about an older saint. According to scripture, church elders are also referred to as "bishops" and "overseers". These are church leaders who have the responsibility of spiritually overseeing and leading their local congregation.

 - In Titus 1:5, Paul told Titus to appoint elders in all the local churches of Crete. And then in verse 7, Paul called these elders bishops (which literally means overseers). 
 - We see this parallel again in 1 Peter 5:1, where Peter calls himself an elder, and then speaks to the "elders who are among you." Then in verse 2, Peter refers to them all as "overseers."

So what is the biblical role of an elder? Let's look at it point by point:

1 - Most importantly, elders are mature believers; not new converts or immature saints. We see this in 1 Timothy 3:6.

2 - Elders are called to one (or more) of the Ephesians 4 offices. All of the elders we see named in the book of Acts were also called "apostles", or "prophets", or "shepherds" at other times. As far as we know, there were no church elders in the New Testament who weren't also Ephesians 4 ministry gifts.

This position should never be delegated to someone only because they're a good brother, a good businessman, a faithful tither, or have attended the church for years. Yes, there are church decisions that are made (and church administration is conducted) by elders. But these are ministry positions - not just administrative boards. 

3 - Elders never operate alone. Nearly every time we see the word "elder" in the Bible - relating to the church - it's plural. The elders of the Jerusalem church met in a council. The elders in the Ephesian church gathered around Paul to say their goodbyes. Titus was told to travel through Crete, and set elders in each city (not "an elder"). 

When elders are operating like they're supposed to, they are a team of ministry gifts that join together and work with one another.

4 - Elders spiritually oversee and lead their local church. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in all the local churches they started (Acts 14:23). Timothy and Titus were also told to appoint elders to oversee their local churches. Again, the elders in Acts 20 oversaw the Ephesian church.

Together, Biblical elders spend time in prayer and the study of the Word...for the sake of the congregation. They find direction in Scripture - and seek the mind of the Holy Spirit on issues affecting the church. 

Even with a council of elders, there will still be a single voice of authority in the church.
James, Timothy, and Titus were each the most visible authority in their churches; even though they were also part of the team of elders. But even when there's a "set man" in the church, they work hand-in-hand with the other elders - seeking God's face and serving Him together.
The result should be a lead elder, who is counseled by a group of mature believers (also ministry gifts themselves)...all moving together as a team toward what God wants for their church.

5 - Less often, groups of elders spiritually oversee and lead multiple churches. The council of elders leading the Jerusalem church also oversaw multiple local churches. With the apostle James as their spokesman, this group of elders actually set policies in the local churches that they oversaw. Even the great apostle Paul himself submitted to the decisions that the Jerusalem elders made.

But again, this group of men didn't make those decision based on their traditions or their own opinions. We know that is true, because the decisions they made about Gentiles were opposed to their Jewish traditions at that point. But after they consulted the Scriptures and sought the leading of the Spirit; they decided according to what "seemed good to the Holy Spirit" (Acts 15:28). 

Are you seeing a difference between what God intended elders to be, and what man-made traditions have turned them into?

The Selection Process

Now that you can see what this position was intended to do - let's talk about how these elders are put in place.

First - Who Is Eligible To Be An Elder?

In God's Word, there are very clear qualifications for a person to be considered as an elder. The first major consideration is this: Are they part of the Ephesians 4 team of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, and Pastor-Teacher? As we've already mentioned, any elder in the New Testament that was named, was also called into one of these ministries. 

I remember something a pastor said once - "If you're part of the Ephesians 4 gifts, someone other than yourself will know it too."

Once that question is settled, we turn to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 for guidance. In those passages, we see a list of qualifications. We see that elders should be:

Blameless - Not caught up in scandals or controversies, not having a questionable reputation

Husband to One Wife - These are people who conduct their marriages God's Way.

Temperate - They are self-controlled

Sober-Minded - They have a clear head, a mind that doesn't get troubled easily

Not Self-Willed - They don't push what THEY want onto the church, at the expense of what GOD wants.

Of Good Behavior - They make wise choices in their life and conduct

Hospitable - They are gracious hosts, and know how welcome others in

Able to Teach - This goes back to their Ephesians 4 calling

Not Given to Wine - They don't buy into the lie that drinking is acceptable

Not Violent - They have no desire to hurt anyone

Not Greedy for Money - They are not taking the position as if it were a "career move"

Gentle - They are selfless

Not Quarrelsome - They don't argue for argument's sake

Not Covetous - They don't define their life based on what they have or don't have

Managing Their Own House and Family Well - After all, that's the main responsibility that they will have in the church...so these people first prove themselves in their own household.

Holding Fast To The Word They Were Taught - These people KNOW the Word, and they also RECOGNIZE those who taught it to them. They don't proudly think that all of their knowledge and revelation came to them on their own.

Second - Who Decides Who The Elders Are?

The Bible is very clear on this. In the New Testament church, no one voted on who was going to be an elder, because there were no elections. There were no resumes submitted. There were no interviews conducted. There were no "trial sermons", where the potential elder came in and taught his best message to make a good impression on the congregation. 

None of that happened in the New Testament. There was only one way to be made an elder in the church - by appointment. Every time you see elders in the Bible, they were appointed to that position by an apostle. 

The reason Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus and told them how to qualify elders, was because they were the ones responsible to appoint them! As Paul's sons in the faith, Titus and Timothy were raised up in the office of apostle; and part of the job of an apostle was to pick qualified people to appoint as church leaders - as elders.

In the case of Timothy; the apostle appointed the elders and then continued as a part of that same local church. Timothy remained the "set man" leading the congregation of Ephesus.
In the case of Titus; the apostle appointed elders in several local churches, and then continually traveled in a circuit to each of them. Titus continued leading the churches in the region of Crete.
In both of those cases, the same apostles that appointed the elders also would also continue to help those elders lead their churches.

But many times in Paul's travels, he appointed elders in local churches, and would eventually leave those churches in the care of its elders or other members of his ministry team. Acts 14:23 says, "So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." Paul's heart seemed to be establishing churches - and he would often leave the leadership of those churches in the hands of the elders that he appointed.

Even the influential council of elders in Jerusalem - which included most of the original twelve apostles - were appointed by an apostle. But it wasn't just any apostle that appointed those elders - it was the greatest apostle that ever lived! Hebrews 3:1 - "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus..." 

While in the office of the Apostle, Jesus Himself set the first elders in the church. Then working as apostles, these men continued to appoint elders in the local churches. And this chain of events should be continuing to this day!