Elders (Bishops): The Leaders of the Local Church

INTRODUCTION.

A.        Who are the leaders of the local church and what are their responsibilities?

1.         This question must only be answered from God’s word.

2.         We must not go beyond the borders of the Bible to establish leaders within the local church.

3.         As with all patterns established in God’s word, we must seek to understand and follow the pattern for local church leadership.

B.        It is the purpose of this lesson to examine the subject of who leads the local church.

I.         THE LEADERS OF A LOCAL CHURCH.

            A.        The leadership over a local church is limited to one particular office. In the New Testament, there are four Greek words which are used by the inspired writers to refer to this office.

                        1.         Elder - presbuteros {pres-boo’-ter-os} - “1) elder, of age, . . . 2) a term of rank or office . . . 2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) . . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

                        2.         Bishop - episkope {ep-is-kop-ay’} - “1) investigation, inspection, visitation . . . 1b) oversight 1b1) overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder . . .” (Ibid.)

                        3.         Overseer (NKJV) - episkopos {ep-is’-kop-os} - “1) an overseer 1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent 1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church” (Ibid.)

                        4.         Presbytery (KJV) Eldership (NKJV) - presbuterion {pres-boo-ter’-ee-on}- “1) body of elders, presbytery, senate, council . . . 1b) of the elders of any body (assembly) of Christians” (Ibid.)

            B.        Let us now consider the scriptures behind each of these terms which refer to the same office.

                        1.         Scriptures using this word “elders” in the context of men who lead the church.

                                    a.         Acts 11:30 - This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

                                    b.         Acts 14:23 - So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

                                    c.         Acts 15:2 - Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

                                    d.         Acts 15:4 - And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

                                    e.         Acts 15:6 - Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

                                    f.         Acts 15:22 - Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

                                    g.         Acts 15:23 - They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

                                    h.         Acts 16:4 - And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

                                    i.         Acts 20:17 - From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

                                    j.         Acts 21:18 - On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

                                    k.         1 Timothy 5:17 - Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

                                    l.         1 Timothy 5:19 - Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

                                    m.       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—

                                    n.         James 5:14 - Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

                                    o.         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.         Scriptures using this word “bishop” in the context of men who lead the church.

                                    a.         Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

                                    b.         1 Timothy 3:1 - This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

                                    c.         1 Timothy 3:2 - A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

                                    d.         Titus 1:7 - 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,

                        3.         Scriptures using this word “overseer” in the context of men who lead the church.

                                    a.         Acts 20:28 - 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.

                                    b.         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;

                        4.         Scripture using this word “presbytery” in the context of men who lead the church.

                                    a.         1 Timothy 4:14 - Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (KJV)

                                    b.         1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (NKJV)

            C.        The proof that all four terms refer to the same office.

                        1.         Elders and bishops rule. (1 Timothy 3:4-5; 5:17)

                        2.         Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city. Paul referred to these elders as bishops. (Titus 1:5-7)

                        3.         Elders are overseers. (1 Peter 5:1-2; Acts 20:17, 28)

                        4.         The presbytery (KJV) is referred to as the eldership in the New King James Version. As shown earlier, the definition of the word shows it to refer to the eldership.

                        5.         The New Testament contains no passage which refers to both bishops and elders in the same passage as being two different offices.

            D.        No where in the New Testament is there an example of a single man ruling the church. Anytime there is a reference to the elders of a church, it is always in the plural. (While the word bishop is used in a single fashion in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, in application, we see bishops referred to in a plural since. Consider Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. He addressed it to the bishops and deacons.) (Philippians 1:1)

II.       THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ELDERS (BISHOPS).

            A.        The elders (bishops) are to oversee the local congregation, teaching it and protecting it.

                        1.         Acts 20:28-31

                                    a.         “Therefore take heed (pay careful attention to, set mind towards) to yourselves and to all the flock, . . .” (v 28)

                                    b.         “. . . among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, (to watch over) . . .” (v 28)

                                    c.         “. . . to shepherd (feed, KJV) the church of God . . .” (v 28)

                                    d.         “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” (v 29)

                                    e.         “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (v 30)

                                    f.         “Therefore watch, (be alert) and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (v 31)

                        2.         1 Peter 5:1-4

                                    a.         “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, . . .” (v 2)

                                    b.         “. . . serving as overseers, (exercising oversight) . . .” (v 2)

                                    c.         “. . . not by compulsion but willingly, . . .” (v 2)

                                    d.         “. . . not for dishonest gain but eagerly;” (v 2)

                                    e.         “. . . nor as being lords (not being domineering) over those entrusted to you, . . .” (v 3)

                                    f.         “. . . but being examples to the flock” (v 3)

            B.        The leaders are to watch out for the souls of their fellow Christians. (Hebrews 13:17)

                        1.         “Obey those who rule over you, (lead) . . .” (v 17)

                        2.         “. . . for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account . . .” (v 17)

                        3.         “Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (v 17)

            C.        The leaders are to rule well. (1 Timothy 5:17)

            D.        The elders (bishops) of the local church are to make certain that the members of the local church are faithful and are following God's standard. The elders or bishops of a local church are to watch over the flock, protecting them from false doctrine, error, and sin. The elders or bishops watch over and tend to the spiritual needs of the flock.

CONCLUSION.

A.        The Lord’s desire is that the local congregation be lead, ruled, or directed by elders or bishops. This organization must not be avoided. Each and every congregation should be willing to be submit to the oversight of elders.

B.        In next week’s lesson, we will show that not just any man can serve as an elder or bishop. The apostle Paul, through inspiration, taught the qualifications the man desiring to serve as an elder must meet.

Elders (Bishops): The Leaders of the Local Church -- May 16, 2004 -- File # - 1502 - Elders

by John Duvall - Lawton, OK