The Role of Elders

John 21:15-17

God has always intended elders/shepherds among His people.

Patriarchs before and after the Flood. Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:12-13

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

1 Timothy 2:12-13 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

Shepherds/Rulers over the flock of Israel. Exodus 18:21; Deut. 1:12-17; 17:14-20

Exodus 18:21 "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Deuteronomy 1:12-17 ‘How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints? 'Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.' "And you answered me and said, 'The thing which you have told us to do is good.' "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes. "Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 "When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' "you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. "But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, "that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

Elders in the New Testament Church. 1 Pet. 5:1-4

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Elder/Bishop/Shepherd?

Elder/Presbyter (presbuteros). (1 Tim. 4:14 kjv, nkjv)

Emphasizes age, experience, wisdom.

Non-technical and technical used of word (1 Tim. 5:1-2, 19-20)

Elder/Presbyter indicates the work of guidance by reason of maturity and experience.

Bishop/Overseer (episkopos) (Acts 20: 17, 28; Phil. 1:1).

Emphasizes rule and authority.

Same term applied to Jesus (1 Pet. 2:25)

Bishop/Overseer indicates the work of superintending – has authority.

Pastor/Shepherd (poimen) (Eph. 4:11)

Emphasizes care, direction, leadership, and authority.

Same term applied to Jesus (1 Pet. 2:25)

Pastor/Shepherd indicates the work of leading and tending a flock.

Note the interchangeability these terms. (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-2)

God intends His elders to WORK.

A work to be desired, not an honor to coveted (“a good work’ - 1 Timothy 3:1). 1 Thess. 5:12-13

Elders should be honored “for their works sake”, yet they must not desire it for honors sake.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

A Divine Office – Not a Political Office. Acts 20:28; 6:3

Elders are made by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).

How? The same way He makes Christians.

Holy Spirit gives the terms and conditions – we must follow instructions.

When church selects officers they must fit the terms laid down by inspired men. (cf. Acts 6:3)

Elders are not made by a political process.

Often men “run for elder” much like one runs for political office – back slapping and all.

Often men are appointed because of fleshly considerations.

Well educated.

Great personality.

Social Prestige.

Business success.

Family pedigree.

It Is a Local Office – Not Diocesan. Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Peter 5:2

Elders were only in local churches in the New Testament (Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Peter 5:2).

Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

Elders do not oversee the people for the work of sister congregations.

Elders do not meddle in internal affairs of sister congregations.

It Is an Administrative Office – Not Legislative. 1 Pet. 5:4

They are administrators under the “Chief Shepherd.” (1 Pet. 5:4).

They make no laws, bind no rules – simply carry out Christ’s law.

They rule not as Lords, but as leaders. 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 3:4-5; Jn. 13:12-15

They rule as a good husband and father rules his family. (1 Tim. 3:4-5)

1 Timothy 3:4–5 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

They rule by being like the Servant King.

John 13:12–15 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Warnings for those who abuse the Eldership.

God warns Christians to honor their shepherds. Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

God warns against shepherds who do not shepherd. Is. 56:8-12; Jer. 23:1-4; Jn. 21:15-17

Isaiah 56:8-12 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him." All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. "Come," one says, "I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant."

Jeremiah 23:1–6 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord. “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

John 21:15-17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.