An elder is a mature man appointed to shepherd the church.
Appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
Elder is the older man, and then the office. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church on the first journey. Titus is told to appoint elders in every town, and the next line calls that man an overseer. Peter exhorts the elders to shepherd the flock, not domineering, and the chief Shepherd will give the unfading crown. James says to call the elders to pray over the sick and anoint with oil. The presbyter is this word in Greek. The bishop is the same office. The church appoints a plurality in a town, not a lone rank invented later.
- They labor in preaching and teaching, and are worthy of double honor.
- A charge against an elder needs two or three witnesses.
- They are examples to the flock, not lords over it.
Appoint elders in every town.
Shepherd the flock of God.
The chief Shepherd will appear.
- Elder is the shepherding office in each church.
- Paul uses elder and overseer in one paragraph.
- Towns had elders, plural.
- Peter forbids domineering.
- James has the elders pray and anoint the sick.
- Presbyter is the same word. Bishop is the same work.
- The Word – Elder, presbyter.
- The Work – Shepherd and teach.
- The Same – Overseer, bishop.
- The Number – Elders in every town.
- The Manner – Not domineering.
- The Sick – Call the elders.
- Titus 1:5-7 – “Appoint elders in every town… For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach.”
- Acts 14:23 – “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord.”
- 1 Peter 5:1-4 – “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight… the chief Shepherd.”
- James 5:14 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 – “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
- 1 Timothy 5:19 – “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
- Acts 20:17, 28 – “He sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church… the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.”
- Titus 1:9 – “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.”
- 1 Peter 5:3 – “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
- Acts 15:6 – “The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.”
Appoint elders in every town.
An overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach.
Shepherd the flock of God, not domineering over those in your charge.
Elder, presbyter, and overseer are one office here. Appoint them. Do not lord it.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.