Expert: Tom Smith - 7/30/2008

Question
Hi,

Could you highlight any roles and responsibilities for Elders,  as well as warnings regarding poor or unScriptural leadership?
Would you apply the warning given in 1 Peter 5:8 for the elders or for the "young men?"

Answer
Here is a brief overview of an elder from a Biblical perspective.

Acts 20:17-21
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
NKJV

Acts 6:1-5
6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
NKJV

We find the definition of an elder described in 1 Tim 3:1-1 and Titus 1:6-9

1 Tim 3:1-7
3:1 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.
NKJV

Titus 1:5-9
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-- 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 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 word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
NKJV

What do we see here?

Elders are to be

- Men of Good reputation, good behaviour, Good testimony, lover of what is good
- Full of Holy Spirit (and thereby saved)
- Full of wisdom, Holding fast to the Word of God and Sound doctrine and able to exhort and convict those who contradict sound doctrine
- Blameless
- Husband of one wife
- Temperate, Sober-minded, not violent
- Not given to wine (in context of scripture, this does not appear to mean total abstinence, but rather not drinking too much)
- Properly manages his house
- Mature in the faith

This is a description of a man of exemplary, Christ-like character.

In addition to the above which in part describe also the role of the elder, we also have these passages to draw upon:

Acts 20:28-29
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
NKJV

These passages also speak to some of the roles of the Elder:

- Need to teach sound doctrine (also 1 Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:9)
- Ability to exhort and convict those who contradict sound doctrine
- "overseer" in the church. This does not mean "dictator" as some churches seem to have interpreted it. This is also clear from the requirements for being good manager of their house and their family.
- Shepherd the flock and protect them from those who would come in amongst them to draw them away from the truth.

There is typically one Elder who has a special role as a teaching elder often referred to as a pastor. We again do not find that these elders are with unquestioned authority, but rather they are subject to
being accountable to the church just as Paul was accountable to the men of Berea who studied his teachings but checking them out against what the word of God says. They are moreover, and moreso to be subject to and submitted to God and to his word.

As for 1 Peter 5:8, I think that it is something that all believers should take to heart. But in the context of 1 Peter 5, it appears that the reference to humility at the start of that passage is a follow-on from the warnings to the younger men. Probably this is focused on younger men because when we are younger we often do things more rashly, without necessarily thinking things through as much as we ought to.



Tom
http://discern.ca