ELDERS

Old Testament (zaqen)

They were appointed by Moses to help him rule the people: The Spirit was poured out on them (Numbers 11:25).

After the wilderness period, elders handled legal matters in each city (Deuteronomy 19-22).

Elders are mentioned throughout the period of kings, the Exile, and through the Hellenistic period in Israel.

Classical Greek (presbyter)

The word first had the meaning of comparative old age (probably over 46-50). It then took on the meaning of importance, and later of honor. The combined idea is one who possesses the wisdom that comes from experience.

New Testament (presbyter)

The early church modeled its practices after those in the synagogues, where a council of elders governed under the ruler of the synagogue. Interestingly, there is now strong archeological evidence that some women in the Jewish synagogues in Jesus' time held the office of elder. Perhaps these were being referred to by Luke in Acts 17:4. (Dictionary of NT Background, pp. 1232-3)

New duties not associated with Jewish elders included visitation of the sick (James 5:14) and perhaps preaching or teaching (I Timothy 5:17).

Elders are always always referred to in the plural, even within a single congregation (Acts 11:30, 14:23; and Titus 1:5).

They commissioned special offices by the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14).

Their primary task, however, was general oversight of the congregation. The verb episkopein describes this function (I Peter 5:2). The root verb in classical Greek meant to observe, review, superintend, watch over, inspect or examine. The elders at Ephesus are also called episkopoi or overseers (often translated “bishops”) (compare Acts 20:17 and 28).

The Apostle John calls himself a presbyter in the openings of 2 and 3 John, probably in the sense of one honored and respected by the Christian community.A group of 24 elders appears 12 times in the Book of Revelation, probably representing symbolically the combined leadership of the Old and New Testament people.

NT (episkopos)

In I Peter 2:25, Jesus is called the shepherd and guardian (episkopos) of your souls.

Pastoral oversight was binding on all members at first (Hebrews 12:15) but soon became the task of a special office in the church, as seen in Acts 20:28.

One duty was to encourage others and refute opponents of the faith (Titus 1:9)

Multiple bishops are present in a single congregation (Philippians 1:1).

The terms elder and bishop appear to be synonymous in the Bible. “Elder” speaks more to the qualifications of the position while “bishop” deals more with the duties of the position.

Early Church

St. Jerome: The supremacy of a single bishop arose “by custom rather than by the Lord's actual appointment,” as a means of preventing schisms in the Church.

Clement and the Didache (early church documents) state that bishops were appointed by popular election. The latter source indicates that they may have received monetary support from the congregation.

Qualifications of an elder/bishop

Compare lists. One can rightly assume that elders must also meet the qualifications listed for deacons.

I Timothy 3:1-7 (bishops): blameless, husband of one wife, manage their family well, children show respect, hospitality, vigilant, sober, good behavior, patient, teach, good reputation with outsiders.

Not a drunkard, violent, quarrelsome, lover of money, or recent convert

I Timothy 3:8-13 (deacons): husband of one wife, manage their household including their children, worthy of respect, keep hold of the faith, sincere, wives also have qualifications.

Not a drunkard, pursuing dishonest gain, recent convert (must first be tested).

Notes:

I Timothy 3

v. 1 May indicate that many were desiring the "charismatic" gifts rather than the administrative ones.

v. 2 Husband of one wife may either mean: no polygamy, no keeping of mistresses, faithful to one's wife, no remarriage after death of spouse, or no remarriage after divorce. This last possibility fits Jesus' teaching, the next to last has good cultural evidence, and the first two are probably givens for all Christians.

v. 6 “puffed up” is a mistranslation; should be “beclouded or blinded.”

v. 11 May refer either to deacons' wives or to deaconesses.

Titus 1:7 “greedy for gain” may indicate that the bishops had charge of church funds.

Titus 1:5-9 (bishops): blameless, husband of one wife, children are believers, hospitable, loves what is good, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined, holding firmly to the faith.

Not a drunkard, violent, or pursuing dishonest gain