Sermon Tone Analysis

*ELDERS AND DEACONS*

 

ELDER Prominent member of both Jewish and early Christian communities.

In the Old Testament, "elder" usually translates the *Hebrew word zaqen from a root which means "beard" or "chin."*

In the New Testament, the Greek word is presbuteros, which is transliterated in English as "presbyter" and from which the word "priest" was derived.

*Elders in the Old Testament From the beginning of Israelite history, the elders were the leaders of the various clans and tribes*.

Moses was commanded to inform the "elders of Israel" of the Lord's intention to deliver Israel from Egypt and to take the elders with him to confront the pharaoh (Ex.

3:16,18).

In the New Testament, frequent reference is made to the elders of the Jews, usually in conjunction with the chief priests or scribes (for example, Matt.

21:23; Mark 14:43)

 

Elders in the Jewish Christian churches, at least the church in Jerusalem, the position of "elder" was almost certainly modeled after the synagogue pattern.

Other churches also had elders.

Acts 14:23 reports that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in churches on their missionary journey.

One of the most debated questions concerning the pattern of early Christian ministry is the relationship between bishops and elders.

Some scholars believe the two terms are interchangeable; others argue that they refer to distinct offices.

The qualifications in Titus 1:6-9 and in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 apparently apply to elders.

It becomes apparent that the elders were the spiritual leaders of the churches.

Taken as a whole, the qualifications describe one who is a mature Christian of good repute, with gifts for teaching, management, and pastoral ministry.

The only specific reference to the ministry of elders is the description (Jas.

5:14-15) of elders praying for and anointing a sick person.

(James 5:14-16)  Is any one of you sick?

He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Although some translations use the term "ordain" in reporting the appointment of elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), there is little evidence concerning the church's practice of commissioning elders.

The reference to laying on of hands in 1 Timothy 4:14, as well as the analogous ceremony in commissioning the seven (Acts 6:6), seems to indicate that the church did make formal recognition of their function, or office.

After the New Testament period, the structure of the ministry became more formalized.

By the early second century, many churches were governed by one ruling bishop, assisted by presbyters (elders).

These presbyters performed pastoral tasks, preached sermons, and conducted worship services.

Often, perhaps usually, bishops were chosen from the ranks of the presbyters, thus making the bishops the "chief presbyters."

By the third century, as the Lord's Supper was increasingly conceived as a reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ, the priestly function became more central to the presbyter's role.

Thus, the English word "priest" was derived from "presbyter."

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ELDER QUALIFICAIONS

*1 Tim 3:1-3:7*

    One of the five usages of episkopos in the New Testament was as a title applied to Jesus: "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet.

2:25).

* *

*(1 Peter 2:25)  For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.*

* *

(1) above reproach

(2) Husband of One Wife (The elder should have been married only once)

(3) temperate (nēphalion, “well-balanced”; used elsewhere only in 3:11; Titus 2:2)

(4) self-controlled (sōphrona, also used in Titus 1:8; 2:5)

(5) respectable

(6) hospitable

(7) Able to Teach

(8) not given to much wine (cf.

Titus 1:7)

(9) not violent

(10) gentle, or forbearing, making room for others.

(This word epieikē is also used in Phil.

4:5; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 2:18)

(11) not quarrelsome (cf. 1 Tim.

6:4)

(12) not a lover of money (cf.

6:5; Titus 1:11)

(13) manage his own family well

(14) not be a recent convert (neophyton, “neophyte”)

(15) have a good reputation with outsiders (cf.

Col. 4:5; 1 Thes.

4:12).

* *

*Titus 1:5-9*

(1) blameless (anenklētos, “unreprovable”)

(2) Husband of but one wife (The elder should have been married only once)

(3) The elder must have his own household under control.

This involves not only the matter of discipline (1 Tim.

3:4-5), but also positive spiritual influence as well.

His children must be believers who are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

The apostle had explained why this requirement is important (1 Tim.

3:5).

(4) not overbearing, not arrogant and self-willed

(5) not quick-tempered (cf.

James 1:19-20)

(6) not given to much wine

(7) not violent (cf. 1 Tim.

3:3 for this and the previous vice)

(8) not pursuing dishonest gain (cf. 1 Tim.

6:5).

(9) hospitable (cf. 1 Tim.

3:2)

(10) one who loves what is good (cf.

Ps. 15)

(11) self-controlled, or temperate and sensible (sōphrona; cf.

Gal.

5:23; 1 Tim.

3:2; Titus 2:2, 4)

(12) upright (dikaion, “just”)

(13) holy (these last two are, with blamelessness) - [cf. 1 Thes.

2:10] - neither is mentioned in 1 Tim. 3

(14) disciplined (in contrast to the vices of Titus 1:7; cf. 1 Tim.

4:7-8).

\\ *DEACON QUALIFICATIONS- *1 Tim 3:8-3:12

 

The qualifications for the office of deacon are almost as stringent as for elder because of their public profile in the church and because the servant nature of their work requires strong qualities of maturity and piety.

(1) be men worthy of respect (The same Gr.

word is used of women in 1 Tim.

3:11.)

(2) sincere (mē dilogous, lit., “not double-tongued”) in the sense of being honest and not hypocritical.

(3) must not be heavy wine drinkers

(3)greedy chasers after dishonest gain.

(4) must be men of spiritual depth (cf.

Acts 6:3)

(5) hold fast the deep truths of the faith.

By the phrase with a clear conscience Paul (cf. “good conscience” in 1 Tim.

1:5) meant that there must be nothing in the conduct of these men that was glaringly inconsistent with their professed beliefs.

(6) must also first be tested - if there is nothing against them translate two Greek words, anenklētoi ontes, “being free from accusation.”

(7) Similarly the gynaikas (“women” or wives) are to be worthy of respect, that is, dignified (the same word, semnas, is used of deacons in v. 8), not slanderers (diabolous, from diaballō “to slander”; from this verb comes the noun “devil,” the chief slanderer) of others, but temperate (nēphalious, “well-balanced;” cf.

v. 2; Titus 2:2), and trustworthy (lit., “faithful”) in everything.

Who are these gynaikas Paul addressed?

They were almost certainly not the women of the congregation generally.

They were most likely either the wives of the deacons or a group of female deacons (cf.