Offices in the Local Church

Offices in the Local Church
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The Elder

In the local church there are many elders. James 5:14 indicates elders (plural) in the church (singular) can be called to minister to the sick. Acts 14:23 syas Paul and Barnabas "ordained elders in every church." Titus was told to "ordain elders in every city." It is interesting to note that pastors were not ordained in the New Testament. I am not saying they shouldn't be. It simply appears they were ordained when they were in the office of elder. Once they had proven themselves in that ministry, God promoted them into a higher office.

Acts 15 contains some of the most well-known verses concerning the relationship between elders and ministry offices.

Acts 15:1-2:

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

There were elders (plural) at Jerusalem. They were a group distinct from the apostles. Again the ministers and elders are seen working together in verses 22 and 23:

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Bamabas, namely Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

These apostles were in Jerusalem and worked together with the elders. During the dispute about whether to keep the law or not, Peter became the spokesman for the apostles (verse 7). Then in verse 13, James arose as the spokesman for the elders. Apparently, James was the chief elder, the pastor. The pastor of any congregation is the chief elder. From other historical facts surrounding the book of Acts, it was reported that James was the pastor at Jerusalem.

Acts 21:18 also seems to prove this.

And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

For this important meeting James had all his elders present. All the rest of the men are called elders, but James is distinguished from among them all by reason of his office. James is the chief elder or pastor. He ruled over many other elders in the church. The elders are to assist the pastor with the spiritual oversight of the church.

Let's look more closely at the function or responsibility of elders in the church.

Hebrews 13:7:

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

In this verse, the key words are "rule," "spoken," and "Word of God." These words indicate the function of the elder's office in the local church. Anyone who is mature in the Lord is an elder. However, the office of an elder is different. The main function of the elder's office is ruling and teaching. He shares the pastor's responsibility. He rules and teaches in the local church.

Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:12 for these same responsibilities:

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you...

In this verse, the words "over you" represent the ruling, and the words "admonish you" signify the teaching responsibility.

Another scripture expressing these responsibilities is 1 Timothy 3:1-5. Don't let the word "bishop" in verse one confuse you. A bishop is first an elder who gains responsibility. He must stand in the office of an elder to become a bishop. Notice his responsibilities:

1 Timothy 3:1-5:

This is a true saying. If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be ...apt to teach."

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

The word "bishop" refers to an elder who rules and teaches in the local church.

1 Timothy 5:17:

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

Again, ruling and teaching is specifically referring to the pastor as the chief elder. But the qualifications for a pastor also fit the qualifications for an elder. Do you remember when we spoke of a pastor being well paid? That is what "double honor" refers to. Some believe it means double reward in heaven or double respect, but it actually means double salary for those who labor in the Word and doctrine. Study is work.

How do I derive that? Well, look at verse 18:

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the laborer is worthy of his reward.

The word "labor" in verse 17 speaks not only of diligent effort, but also of an occupation. The pastor is the only individual in church whose full occupation is the labor of the Word. Being worthy of one's reward,(verse 18), refers to salary. The analogy of the ox relates to the pastor's work. He treads out the grain for the benefit of the people. The corn represents what they bring into the storehouse: their tithes and offerings. As he labors in the storehouse ruling and teaching, he has a right to draw his salary from the giving of the people. To be worthy of "double honor" means a pastor who feeds his people and tends them well should be paid well. He should receive double honor over other elders, and associates.

A pastor who works solely for the money won't fulfill what God has called him to do. The double honor shouldn't influence his decision whether to pastor or not. (1 Peter 5:2)

Titus 2:1-3:

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.

The phrase, "speaking the things of sound doctrine" refers to teaching. The Greek word for "aged men," is presbuteros, or "elder." In verse three, "aged women" is the same word only in the feminine gender. It is clear that a church is not out of scriptural order to have elderesses who rule and teach in the church. A church would be scriptural with all men elders, but it would be just as scriptural to have men and women serving as elders.

Some say, "But Paul says a woman isn't allowed to teach in the church." Let's examine that passage.

1 Timothy 2:12:

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

The word "over" is the key word here. The woman isn't allowed to over rule the man in teaching. Neither is she to usurp his authority. There are several possible meanings, but I personally interpret it to mean the "man" as referring to the pastor.

The pastor can allow a woman to teach, but she should not usurp his authority. Nowhere in the Word do I find a precedent for a woman to be a pastor. While many of us know women who have been successful pastors, I personally don't think they have stood in the office of the pastor. I think God used them in the office of elderess because He couldn't get a man to respond to the call. Every other ministry gift in the Word of God can be filled by women. There are scriptural examples of women apostles, prophetesses, evangelists, and teachers. God compares the pastor/congregation relationship to a marriage. The pastor is the head. He isn't setting precedent for a woman to be the head of a marriage or a church. Enough said.

The Deacon

The office of the deacon was established in Acts 6.

Acts 6:1-4:

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration (diakonos). Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said. It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve (diakonos) tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry (diakonos) of the word.

Because of spiritual immaturity, verse one indicates problems arose as soon as the church was formed. There was spiritual immaturity in the church. The Holy Spirit set the priorities for problem solving in the local congregation. In verse one the word "ministration" is the Greek word "diakonos" or "deaconing." The word "deacon" means "to minister or serve." There are spiritual qualifications for those who serve in the church. It isn't just a matter of waiting tables or serving in other capacities. To serve in the church is a spiritual service.

Notice how the word "deacon" is used in this passage. The apostles said it didn't make sense for them to leave the Word of God to "deacon" tables. On the contrary, they would give themselves continually to prayer and to the "deaconing" of the Word.

Anything that is of service to the people is deaconing. The pastor is the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, but he ministers or deacons to the people. What does he minister (deacon)? The Word of God. The obligation of the pastor is to continually give himself to prayer and the deaconing of the Word. The pastor is a combination of all the offices under him. The pastor has been called an elder, a bishop, and now a deacon.

Jesus Christ is top wrung of the ladder of authority. Below Him is the pastor. Below the pastor are the bishops and elders. Below them are the deacons. It is interesting that from the top down, each office is a combination of all the offices below. The Lord Jesus Christ is the summation of all the offices below Him. The pastor's office contains all the functions of the offices below him, and so on. This is a pattern of delegated authority. To be a good leader, you must know how to be a good follower.

The Bishop

In Titus 1:5-6, Paul instructed Titus to ordain elders in every city. In verses 7-9 though he began to give the qualifications for a bishop or overseer. Why? A bishop oversees other elders. He is an elder with added responsibility. You will see in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 that the bishop's qualifications are the same as the elder in Titus 1:5-9. Both are required to have the same qualities of maturity and knowledge of God's Word. They both rule and teach.

Typically, an assitant pastor in a church does not begin in that office. He may begin as a volunteer who is mature in the Word of God. Because of maturity, he may be asked to counsel. When he proves himself faithful, he may then be given more responsibility until he rules over others assigned to him. He may be given classes to teach and eventually is promoted to the office of a bishop. A bishop has more responsibility in the church than an elder.

Notice, the qualifications for the bishop include proven reliability and character. Titus 1:7 begins, "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God."

Timothy reiterates the same qualification.

1 Timothy 3:2: A bishop then must be blameless.

Whenever a congregation grows, the same needs arise for the pastor as arose for the apostles in Jerusalem. They are called to be continually before the Lord. Therefore, certain responsibilities must be taken up by mature believers in the congregation. The pastor is to deacon, or minister the Word of God to the believers. I'm sure all pastors feel like me; they want to present the very best to their people. To do this, they must be free from the responsibilities deacons and elders should carry. Church offices should give full allegiance to the pastor as long as he maintains his integrity and does not blatantly violate scriptural principles. How elders and deacons follow the vision and direction of the pastor is how they ultimately follow the Lord.

Elders and Bishops

A bishop must first be an elder. After proving himself in that office, more responsibility can be added until he stands as a bishop. The word presbuteros (elder) indicates someone who is mature in God's Word.

The qualifications for the offices of elders and bishops are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9. Following is a list of those qualifications taken from the New International Version of the Bible because this version presents a clearer description of the qualifications than some other versions.

All men and women chosen for the office of elder should be:

1. Above reproach

2. The husband (wife) of but one wife (husband)

3. Temperate

4. Self-controlled

5. Respectable

6. Given to hospitality

7. Able to teach

8. Not given to much wine

9. Not violent

10. Not a lover of money

11. Patient

12. Not quarrelsome

13. Not covetous

14. Able to manage his own family well

15. Not a recent convert

16. Having a good reputation in the community

17. A good steward

18. Not self-w illed, but submissive

19. A lover of what is good

20. Upright

21. Holy

22. Disciplined

These are the qualifications of godliness and ability required of elders in the church.

Bob Yandian

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