Titus 1:5-9

Definition and Clarification

Overseer- ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos).

Acts 20:28 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Deacon- διάκονος (diakonos)

Mark 9:35 “And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.””

Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:”

1 Timothy 3-

Elder- πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros)

Older in Age Luke 15:25 ““Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.”

Leaders and governing Council Ruth 4:2 “And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.”

Lexham Theological Wordbook πρεσβύτερος

The early church adopted the term “elder” to refer to church leaders. Leadership in the church of Jerusalem consisted of apostles (άποστόλος, apostolos) and elders (presbyteros; e.g., Acts 15:2), though the leadership is described only in terms of elders (presbyteros) in Acts 11:30. Outside of Jerusalem, when new churches were planted and leaders appointed, they were called “elders” (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Drawing on the Jewish precedent, elders were expected to make judgments (Acts 15:2) and give direction to the congregation (Acts 11:30; 14:23). In the Pastoral Letters, elders (presbyteros) may have different functions, including directing the church, preaching, and teaching; there may have been multiple elders in each church (Titus 1:5).

In 2 John 1 and 3 John 1, the author identifies himself as “the elder (presbyteros).” Both instances suggest it is a term signifying a position of pre-eminence and dignity. It may refer to the leader of a group of churches, possibly like a modern bishop in an episcopal denomination who oversees a group of churches.

The use of the word in Revelation (e.g., Rev 4:4) appears to have nothing to do with church leadership.