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Elders

Elders. Definition. Bishop (overseer)

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Elders

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  1. Elders

  2. Definition Bishop (overseer) episkopos lit., "an overseer" (epi, "over," skopeo, "to look or watch"), whence Eng. "bishop," which has precisely the same meaning, is found in Acts_20:28; Php_1:1; 1_Tim_3:2; Titus_1:7; 1_Pet_2:25. See OVERSEER. Note: Presbuteros, "an elder," is another term for the same person as bishop or overseer. See Acts_20:17 with verse Acts_20:28.

  3. Definition Bishop (overseer) The term "elder" indicates the mature spiritual experience and understanding of those so described; the term "bishop," or "overseer," indicates the character of the work undertaken. According to the Divine will and appointment, as in the NT, there were to be "bishops" in every local church, Acts_14:23; Acts_20:17; Php_1:1; Titus_1:5; James_5:14. Where the singular is used, the passage is describing what a "bishop" should be, 1_Tim_3:2; Titus_1:7.

  4. Definition Pastor poimen "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks" (not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of Christian "pastors," Eph_4:11. "Pastors" guide as well as feed the flock; cp. Acts_20:28, which, with Acts_20:17, indicates that this was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops); so also in 1_Pet_5:1,2, "tend the flock ... exercising the oversight," RV; this involves tender care and vigilant superintendence.

  5. NT Church OrganizationLocal Church

  6. The Role of Elders Elders’ authority was limited to the local congregation. Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church… Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers… 1 Peter 5:1 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: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you…

  7. The Role of Elders Elders’ work was defined for them. 1 Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

  8. The Role of Elders Elders’ work was defined for them. 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.

  9. NT Church OrganizationLocal Church Elders’ work was defined for them. Titus 1:7-9 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful wordas he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

  10. The Role of Elders Some things elders do not have authority to do: • Take oversight of those not among them. • 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; • Create doctrine. • Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. • Sin. • 1 Timothy 5:17-20 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

  11. The Qualifications of Elders 1 Timothy 3:1-7  1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

  12. The Qualifications of Elders Blameless anepileptos lit., "that cannot be laid hold of," hence, "not open to censure, irreproachable" (from a, negative, n, euphonic, and epilambano, "to lay hold of"), is used in 1_Tim_3:2

  13. The Qualifications of Elders The husband of one wife • Cannot have more than one wife. • Cannot be divorced. • Must have been married. (v. 4)

  14. The Qualifications of Elders Temperate (sober-minded) sophron denotes "of sound mind" (sozo, "to save," phren, "the mind"); hence, "self-controlled, soberminded," always rendered "sober-minded" in the RV; in 1_Tim_3:2;

  15. The Qualifications of Elders Temperate, sober-minded nephalios for which see SOBER, is translated "temperate" in 1_Tim_3:2, sophron denotes "of sound mind" (sozo, "to save," phren, "the mind"); hence, "self-controlled, soberminded," always rendered "sober-minded" in the RV; in 1_Tim_3:2;

  16. The Qualifications of Elders Of good behavior Barnes – The most correct rendering, according to the modern use of language, would be, that he should be a gentleman. He should not be slovenly in his appearance, or rough and boorish in his manners.

  17. The Qualifications of Elders Hospitable philoxenos "hospitable," occurs in 1_Tim_3:2; "love of strangers" (philos, "loving," xenos, "a stranger“)

  18. The Qualifications of Elders Able to teach • Don’t have to be a public speaker • Don’t have to know it all Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

  19. The Qualifications of Elders Not given to wine Proverbs 23:29-35 1 Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

  20. The Qualifications of Elders Not violent (no striker) plektes "a striker, a brawler" (akin to plesso, "to strike," smite), occurs in 1_Tim_3:3 Not greedy for money (filthy lucre) aischrokerdes denotes "greedy of base gains"

  21. The Qualifications of Elders Gentle epieikes from epi, "unto," and eikos, "likely," denotes "seemly, fitting;" hence, "equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law;" it expresses that considerateness that looks "humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case;" it is rendered "gentle" in 1_Tim_3:3,

  22. The Qualifications of Elders Not quarrelsome (a brawler) amachos an adjective, lit., "not fighting" (a, negative, mache, "a fight"), came to denote, metaphorically, "not contentious," 1_Tim_3:3 Not covetous aphilargurosphilarguros, with negative prefix, is translated "without covetousness" in Heb_13:5, AV; RV, "free from the love of money." In 1_Tim_3:3, the AV has "not covetous," the RV, "no lover of money." Note: Trench, Syn. 24, points out the main distinction between pleonexia and philarguria as being that between "covetousness" and avarice, the former having a much wider and deeper sense, being "the genus of which philarguria is the species." The "covetous" man is often cruel as well as grasping, while the avaricious man is simply miserly and stinting.

  23. The Qualifications of Elders v. 4 One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); • The church is the house of God. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. • An elder needs to have displayed the ability to run a family.

  24. The Qualifications of Elders Not a novice neophutos an adjective, lit., "newly-planted" (from neos, "new," and phuo, "to bring forth, produce"), denotes "a new convert, neophyte, novice," 1_Tim_3:6, of one who by inexperience is unfitted to act as a bishop or overseer in a church.

  25. The Qualifications of Elders Good testimony among those who are outside Barnes The idea is, that he must have a fair reputation with them for integrity of character. His life must be in their view upright. He must not be addicted to anything which they regard as inconsistent with good morals. His deportment must be such that they shall regard it as not inconsistent with his profession.

  26. We NEED elders. Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

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