Elders in the church (2)
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· 6 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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When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and 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 rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
See also 1 Ti 3:5
As teachers
As teachers
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, 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, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 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 from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
“Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one 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? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
The remuneration and correction of elders
The remuneration and correction of elders
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.
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 twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
See also Re 5:8–14; Re 7:11–13; Re 19:4