Elders in the church
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· 7 viewsIn the NT a group of leaders responsible for managing and teaching a local church. As the name implies, they were normally men of experience and maturity. Although women played a very significant part in early Christian ministry, there is no specific NT evidence for women as elders.
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Elders in the Jerusalem church
Elders in the Jerusalem church
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
See also Ac 11:30; Ac 15:2; Ac 15:6; Ac 15:22–23; Ac 16:4; Ac 21:18
Elders are also called “overseers”
Elders are also called “overseers”
Ac 20:28 In Ac 20:17 they are described as “elders”. Here they are “overseers”.
See also Tt 1:6–7
Elders are appointed by apostles or their delegates
Elders are appointed by apostles or their delegates
Ac 14:23 Here, as always in the NT, people are appointed to a joint eldership. There is no NT example of a single elder leading a church.
See also Tt 1:5
Qualifications for elders
Qualifications for elders
Tt 1:6–9 As in Ac 20:17,28, “elder” is here synonymous with “overseer”.
See also 1 Ti 3:1–7
The role of elders
The role of elders
As leaders
As leaders
The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
See also 1 Ti 3:5
As teachers
As teachers
The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
See also 1 Ti 3:2
As pastors and guardians against false teaching
As pastors and guardians against false teaching
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And men will rise up from your own number with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.
See also Tt 1:9; 1 Pe 5:1–4
In the healing ministry
In the healing ministry
Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.
The remuneration and correction of elders
The remuneration and correction of elders
The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says:
Do not muzzle an ox
while it is treading out the grain, and,
the worker is worthy of his wages.
Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.
Elders are to receive respect and submission from church members
Elders are to receive respect and submission from church members
Heb 13:17 “leaders” is an alternative term for “elders”.
See also 1 Th 5:12; Heb 13:7
The twenty-four elders in heaven
The twenty-four elders in heaven
The elders are seated on thrones
The elders are seated on thrones
Re 4:4 These elders may be angelic beings corresponding to the 24 orders of Levites (1Chronicles chapters 24-25) or symbolise Israel and the church (compare Rev 21:12-14).
See also Re 5:5–6; Re 11:16; Re 14:3
The elders worship God and the Lamb
The elders worship God and the Lamb
the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
Our Lord and God,
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created.
See also Re 5:8–14; Re 7:11–13; Re 19:4