What Is the Role of an Elder?
According to the New Testament, elders are responsible for the primary leadership and oversight of a church.
I.The function and role of an elder
ii.Titus 1:7-9 - “For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
iii.1 Peter 5:1–4 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
II.Teach and preach the Word
ii.V18 – The Elders followed the teaching and life of Paul
iii.V.19 Paul served others with humility and compassion
iv.V.20-21 Paul stayed faithful to the teachings of Jesus
v.V. 22-23 Paul was led and constrained by the Holy Spirit
vi.V 24 Paul died to self
vii.Vv. 25 – 27 Paul proclaimed the whole counsel of God.
IV.Exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine
[1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:13–17; Titus 1:9],
V.Visit the sick and pray [James 5:14; Acts 6:4],
VI.Judge doctrinal issues [Acts 15:6].
VII.In biblical terminology, elders shepherd, oversee, lead, and care for the local church” (Acts 15:16).
“Elder” and “pastor” are not two different offices.
Elder and Pastor are simply two different words for the same office.
Three reasons.
First, in Acts 20:28, elders are encouraged in the “pastoral” duties of overseeing and shepherding.
Second, in 1 Peter 5:1–2, elders are exhorted to “shepherd” the flock of God that is in their charge, which is the role of a pastor.
Third, in Ephesians 4:11, the one time that the word pastor occurs in the NT, pastors are treated as one group with teachers.
This suggests that the chief role of the pastor is to feed the flock through teaching, which is a primary role of elders (Titus 1:9). Hence, the NT seems to indicate that “pastor” is another name for “elder.” An elder is a pastor, and a pastor is an elder.
Some have thought that the Bible speaks of a category of church leaders above elders/pastors, called “overseers.” However, the biblical evidence indicates that “overseer” is simply another term for elder as well. Paul refers to the elders at Ephesus as “overseers” in his farewell sermon of Acts 20:17–35. Likewise, “overseer” in Titus 1:7 seems to be a synonym for the term “elder” used in verse 5. Most scholars now acknowledge this, as J.B. Lightfoot pointed out already in the 19th century: “It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the Church is called indifferently ‘bishop [overseer]’ (episkopos) and ‘elder’ or ‘presbyter’ (presbyteros)” (quoted in Strauch, 180).
The New Testament only refers to the office of pastor one time (Ephesians 4:11). It is a functional description of the role of elder stressing the care and feeding of the church as God’s flock, just as “bishop/overseer” is a functional description of the role of elder stressing the governing or oversight of the church. We may conclude therefore that “pastor” and “elder” and “bishop/overseer” refer in the New Testament to the same office. This office stands alongside “deacon” in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:1–13 in such a way as to show that the two abiding officers instituted by the New Testament are elder and deacon.
According to the New Testament, elders are responsible for the primary leadership and oversight of a church.
I.The function and role of an elder
- “Elders lead the church
ii.Titus 1:7-9 - “For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
iii.1 Peter 5:1–4 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
II.Teach and preach the Word
- 2 Timothy 4:2 - charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- Titus 1:9 - “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
- In Acts 20:17-31 The Apostle Paul speaks to the Elders at the church of Ephesus.
ii.V18 – The Elders followed the teaching and life of Paul
iii.V.19 Paul served others with humility and compassion
iv.V.20-21 Paul stayed faithful to the teachings of Jesus
v.V. 22-23 Paul was led and constrained by the Holy Spirit
vi.V 24 Paul died to self
vii.Vv. 25 – 27 Paul proclaimed the whole counsel of God.
IV.Exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine
[1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:13–17; Titus 1:9],
V.Visit the sick and pray [James 5:14; Acts 6:4],
VI.Judge doctrinal issues [Acts 15:6].
VII.In biblical terminology, elders shepherd, oversee, lead, and care for the local church” (Acts 15:16).
“Elder” and “pastor” are not two different offices.
Elder and Pastor are simply two different words for the same office.
Three reasons.
First, in Acts 20:28, elders are encouraged in the “pastoral” duties of overseeing and shepherding.
Second, in 1 Peter 5:1–2, elders are exhorted to “shepherd” the flock of God that is in their charge, which is the role of a pastor.
Third, in Ephesians 4:11, the one time that the word pastor occurs in the NT, pastors are treated as one group with teachers.
This suggests that the chief role of the pastor is to feed the flock through teaching, which is a primary role of elders (Titus 1:9). Hence, the NT seems to indicate that “pastor” is another name for “elder.” An elder is a pastor, and a pastor is an elder.
Some have thought that the Bible speaks of a category of church leaders above elders/pastors, called “overseers.” However, the biblical evidence indicates that “overseer” is simply another term for elder as well. Paul refers to the elders at Ephesus as “overseers” in his farewell sermon of Acts 20:17–35. Likewise, “overseer” in Titus 1:7 seems to be a synonym for the term “elder” used in verse 5. Most scholars now acknowledge this, as J.B. Lightfoot pointed out already in the 19th century: “It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the Church is called indifferently ‘bishop [overseer]’ (episkopos) and ‘elder’ or ‘presbyter’ (presbyteros)” (quoted in Strauch, 180).
The New Testament only refers to the office of pastor one time (Ephesians 4:11). It is a functional description of the role of elder stressing the care and feeding of the church as God’s flock, just as “bishop/overseer” is a functional description of the role of elder stressing the governing or oversight of the church. We may conclude therefore that “pastor” and “elder” and “bishop/overseer” refer in the New Testament to the same office. This office stands alongside “deacon” in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:1–13 in such a way as to show that the two abiding officers instituted by the New Testament are elder and deacon.