Elders oversee
and feed the flock.
The elders which are among you
I exhort…
Feed the flock of God
which is among you.
Elders are mature leaders in the local church who oversee and feed the flock of God. Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every church. Elders are to be blameless, apt to teach, and holding fast the faithful word. They are the same as overseers (bishops) in function. Pastors are elders who shepherd. Elders rule well and labor in the word and doctrine. They watch for souls as those who must give account.
- Elders feed the flock of God.
- They are ordained in every church.
- Elders are overseers of the flock.
- They must be blameless and apt to teach.
- They watch for souls.
The elders which are among you I exhort… Feed the flock of God which is among you.
The elders which are among you
I exhort…
Feed the flock of God
which is among you.
Ordain elders in every city,
as I had appointed thee.
- 1 Peter 5:1-2 addresses the elders as shepherds.
- Acts 14:23 records the ordaining of elders in every church.
- Titus 1:5-9 gives the qualifications.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 says elders that rule well are worthy of double honour.
- Elders and overseers refer to the same office.
- They are under the chief Shepherd.
- Oversee – Watch over the flock.
- Feed – Shepherd the people.
- Ordained – Appointed in every church.
- Qualified – Blameless, apt to teach.
- Accountable – Must give account.
- Plural – Elders in every church.
- 1 Peter 5:1-2 – “The elders which are among you I exhort… Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof.”
- Acts 14:23 – “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.”
- Titus 1:5-7 – “Ordain elders in every city… For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 – “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
- Acts 20:17, 28 – “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church… Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.”
- James 5:14 – “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him.”
- 1 Timothy 3:1-2 – “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless… apt to teach.”
- Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.”
- Acts 11:30 – “Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
- Acts 15:6 – “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.”
- 1 Peter 5:5 – “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.”
- Ephesians 4:11 – “And he gave some… pastors and teachers.”
The elders which are among you I exhort… Feed the flock of God which is among you.
Ordain elders in every city.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour.
Elders oversee and feed the flock of God. They are shepherds under the chief Shepherd.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.