Church Organization – Gifted Leaders (Part Three)

Paul mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists in Ephesians 4:11-13, and pastors and teachers. Many consider “pastors and teachers” to describe one person, though it is entirely possible that he has in mind two distinct roles. In terms of organizational leaders, we will view them as one.

Elders/Pastors/Overseers

Israel recognized elders as leaders in their nation, people who were mature and competent leaders in their communities (Exodus 3:16; 4:29; 12:21, etc.). The apostles made this an office in the church, a public position of authority and service. They referred to these elders also as pastors (shepherds) and overseers.

When Paul visits the elders of church of Ephesus (made up, undoubtedly of multiple house churches), he addresses them this way,

²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. ³⁰ Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! (Acts 20:28-31)

Paul calls the elders “overseers,” that is, those who watch over their people, and “shepherds” (Greek, poimen, the Latin word for shepherd being pastor). He says one of their main responsibilities is to guard the flock from false teachers, teaching the whole counsel of God to thwart enemies. That is why one of the qualifications for an elder is “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

Peter, when he instructs the elders, says this:

¹ To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Peter also refers to the elders as shepherds or pastors, who must watch over the flock (from Greek episkopeō, to oversee, an overseer, the episcopal function ascribed to the role of bishops in later church history).

There are always, seemingly, a plurality of elders/pastors/overseers in the local church, rather than just one (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; 11:30; 15:2,4,6,22,23; 16:4; 20:17; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:17,20; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1,5). One person leading the church is considered dangerous (3 John 1:9,10). There are elders who rule well, preaching and teaching, whom Paul says should be rewarded double honor, that is, paid (1 Timothy 5:17,18). This is the origin of paid “clergy,” though the New Testament knows nothing of a clergy, ordained leaders who alone can baptize or offer the Lord’s supper, perform weddings and preside at funerals, as opposed to the laity or regular Christians.

The qualifications for elders are given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:

¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

⁶ An elder must be blameless, husband of one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:6-9)

Most of the qualifications emphasize good moral character, effective leadership, and knowledge of the truth and aptitude in teaching it. But there is one kind of hidden in 1 Timothy 3:1, the elder must truly desire to lead, a quality also emphasized in Peter’s address to the elders (“not because you must, but because you are willing” 1 Peter 5:2). And the elder must not be power hungry (1 Peter 5:3; Titus 1:7) or greedy for money.

Peter only gives us a very general description of how they should lead, by example, he says, not lording it over the flock (1 Peter 5:3). Paul says this is a noble task.