NEW TESTAMENT ELDERS
One of the greatest responsibilities of all is to provide the kingdom of Christ with a body of brethren (called an eldership) to oversee its work and to insure that its affairs are faithfully and efficiently administered (Acts 20:28; 1st Peter 5:1-4). Leadership is not optional, it is an absolute necessity whether it comes in the form of knowledgeable brethren or a qualified eldership. Hopefully the latter, because it is God’s plan,
Acts 11:30 ASV - which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The first mention of elders in the New Testament is in Acts 11:30. It had to do with the reception and distribution of funds sent by the disciples to be used in the ministry or relief of those Judean brethren who were victimized by the famine which came to pass in the days of Claudius (vss. 28-29). To what church or congregation these elders belonged has not been revealed by the Holy Spirit, but they could have been overseers of the church which was at Jerusalem. The church where these bishops served has not been disclosed, but neither have the details of their specific appointment, which no doubt was affected by the apostles of Christ. Because we are contemplating the church in its infant stage, there is no real need to be overly concerned with what qualifications these first century pastors had due to the fact that they were obviously “set in the church” to help accomplish certain tasks, like the perfection of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ which would otherwise have been impossible (cf. 1st Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-12). However, the “office” (work) of elders, unlike that of the apostles, was originally designed to be perpetuated, because their work demands it due to the very nature of the case.
Acts 14:23 ASV And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. This is the statement of Luke(the writer of Acts) in his record of the happening on Paul’s first preaching mission. The Holy Spirit had authorized the separation of Barnabus and Saul for the work whereunto they had been called (Acts 13:1). Leaving Antioch of Syria these two brethren preached the gospel in Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe. Subsequent to the establishment of these churches, a plurality of elders were appointed in each of them to superintend all affairs, spiritual and physical.
Acts 15:1-4 ASV - And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (2) And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (3) They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. (4) And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (2) And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question (vss. 1-2). In this text it will be seen that the Jerusalem church was one of the churches that had elders, and that they participated in the decision made by the apostles regarding attempts to bind circumcision on Gentile churches. A great work incumbent upon elders is to be concerned about matters which will cause souls to be lost, especially false teachings.
Acts 20:17-28 ASV And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. (18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time, (19) serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews; (20) how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, (21) testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (22) And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: (23) save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (24) But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (25) And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. (26) Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. (27) For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. (28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
Paul the apostle was putting forth considerable effort to be at Jerusalem at Pentecost (vs. 16). From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, about thirty miles away, and called for the elders to come to him. When they arrived, the apostle set forth a number of important things to be considered, among which was the fact that “from among your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (vs. 30). The emotional aspect of this meeting was accelerated by the fact that this was probably the last time Paul would be seen by these brethren. To them he said, “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood” (vs. 28). From this encounter it is abundantly clear that elders are responsible to the Lord for their own conduct, then for the oversight of congregational affairs. The safety of a congregation can be secured only when elders are awake and watchful. Churches throughout the country have been divided because elders have not properly handled false teachers.
Philippians 1:1 GW - From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To God's people in the city of Philippi and their bishops and deacons- to everyone who is united with Christ Jesus. One of the greater churches of Christ in the apostolic age was the good church in Philippi (established by Paul on his second missionary journey, (Acts 16:11) with its band of elders. The absence of any real criticisism of this church is conspicuous. The activities of the Philippian eldership are not described, but we are confident that their responsibilities were being discharged in harmony with the will of God. There certainly no evidence to the contrary.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 - But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake.
The instructions given by Paul to the Thessalonians were “to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake.” There is no valid reason to believe that there were no elders in this number (this writer believes the reference here speaking about elders) even though they are not specifically mentioned, because the “oversight” furnished by elders is within the congregation they serve, and they are responsible for consistent admonition of the membership. F. C. Cook correctly observes in “The Bible Commentary,” Vol. 9, P. 727, “But, at all events, at this early period, St. Paul distinctly recognizes a teaching ministry, an order of men separated from the rest of the congregation. The kind of work by the body of brethren precisely conforms to that which is done by the shepherds of God’s flock
To be continued *
*This is a series of lessons posted here as they are presented. The Intro has been included only once in this posting.
Acts 11:30 ASV - which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The first mention of elders in the New Testament is in Acts 11:30. It had to do with the reception and distribution of funds sent by the disciples to be used in the ministry or relief of those Judean brethren who were victimized by the famine which came to pass in the days of Claudius (vss. 28-29). To what church or congregation these elders belonged has not been revealed by the Holy Spirit, but they could have been overseers of the church which was at Jerusalem. The church where these bishops served has not been disclosed, but neither have the details of their specific appointment, which no doubt was affected by the apostles of Christ. Because we are contemplating the church in its infant stage, there is no real need to be overly concerned with what qualifications these first century pastors had due to the fact that they were obviously “set in the church” to help accomplish certain tasks, like the perfection of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ which would otherwise have been impossible (cf. 1st Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-12). However, the “office” (work) of elders, unlike that of the apostles, was originally designed to be perpetuated, because their work demands it due to the very nature of the case.
Acts 14:23 ASV And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. This is the statement of Luke(the writer of Acts) in his record of the happening on Paul’s first preaching mission. The Holy Spirit had authorized the separation of Barnabus and Saul for the work whereunto they had been called (Acts 13:1). Leaving Antioch of Syria these two brethren preached the gospel in Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe. Subsequent to the establishment of these churches, a plurality of elders were appointed in each of them to superintend all affairs, spiritual and physical.
Acts 15:1-4 ASV - And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (2) And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (3) They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. (4) And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (2) And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question (vss. 1-2). In this text it will be seen that the Jerusalem church was one of the churches that had elders, and that they participated in the decision made by the apostles regarding attempts to bind circumcision on Gentile churches. A great work incumbent upon elders is to be concerned about matters which will cause souls to be lost, especially false teachings.
Acts 20:17-28 ASV And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. (18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time, (19) serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews; (20) how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, (21) testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (22) And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: (23) save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (24) But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (25) And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. (26) Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. (27) For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. (28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
Paul the apostle was putting forth considerable effort to be at Jerusalem at Pentecost (vs. 16). From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, about thirty miles away, and called for the elders to come to him. When they arrived, the apostle set forth a number of important things to be considered, among which was the fact that “from among your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (vs. 30). The emotional aspect of this meeting was accelerated by the fact that this was probably the last time Paul would be seen by these brethren. To them he said, “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood” (vs. 28). From this encounter it is abundantly clear that elders are responsible to the Lord for their own conduct, then for the oversight of congregational affairs. The safety of a congregation can be secured only when elders are awake and watchful. Churches throughout the country have been divided because elders have not properly handled false teachers.
Philippians 1:1 GW - From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To God's people in the city of Philippi and their bishops and deacons- to everyone who is united with Christ Jesus. One of the greater churches of Christ in the apostolic age was the good church in Philippi (established by Paul on his second missionary journey, (Acts 16:11) with its band of elders. The absence of any real criticisism of this church is conspicuous. The activities of the Philippian eldership are not described, but we are confident that their responsibilities were being discharged in harmony with the will of God. There certainly no evidence to the contrary.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 - But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake.
The instructions given by Paul to the Thessalonians were “to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake.” There is no valid reason to believe that there were no elders in this number (this writer believes the reference here speaking about elders) even though they are not specifically mentioned, because the “oversight” furnished by elders is within the congregation they serve, and they are responsible for consistent admonition of the membership. F. C. Cook correctly observes in “The Bible Commentary,” Vol. 9, P. 727, “But, at all events, at this early period, St. Paul distinctly recognizes a teaching ministry, an order of men separated from the rest of the congregation. The kind of work by the body of brethren precisely conforms to that which is done by the shepherds of God’s flock
To be continued *
*This is a series of lessons posted here as they are presented. The Intro has been included only once in this posting.