Church Governance in the Message: Difference between revisions

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 If it is suggested that the elder is something other than the highest ecclesiastical office in the local church (such as one who would say a singular pastor would stand over a board of elders, the pastoral position being “other than” one of the elders, or that a “bishop” is something other than a “presbyter” or “elder” in office), we are left with no record of the apostolic establishment of these offices as part of their organization and equipping of the church! It should strike us as strange that entire offices of the church could be established without even so much as a notice in the inspired record.
-We must remember that Paul instructed Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2 NASB). There is little reason to question, in light of Paul’s listing the ability to teach as one of the qualifications of the elder (1 Tim. 3:2), that Paul has elders in mind when exhorting Timothy to entrust the things he had heard from Paul to “faithful men.”
+We must remember that Paul instructed Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). There is little reason to question, in light of Paul’s listing the ability to teach as one of the qualifications of the elder (1 Tim. 3:2), that Paul has elders in mind when exhorting Timothy to entrust the things he had heard from Paul to “faithful men.”
-One of the most compelling biblical examples of the plurality of elders is found in Acts 20:17: “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church” (NASB).
+One of the most compelling biblical examples of the plurality of elders is found in Acts 20:17: “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him '''the elders of the church'''”.
-When Paul wishes to meet with the leaders of the church, he does not call for a single pastor, but for the elders (plural) of the church. This means the church at Ephesus was identifiable, and so was the body of elders. The very same truth is found in Paul’s greeting to the church at Philippi: “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (Phil. 1:1 NASB). Here both the overseers (plural) and deacons are noted. Both of these churches were founded by Paul, and both had functioning elderships from the beginning. The elders of the church at Ephesus responded to Paul’s call, and in his farewell address to them, he refers to them as overseers (episkopoi) and shepherds of the flock of God:
+When Paul wishes to meet with the leaders of the church, he does not call for a single pastor, but for the elders (plural) of the church. This means the church at Ephesus was identifiable, and so was the body of elders. The very same truth is found in Paul’s greeting to the church at Philippi: “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, '''including the overseers and deacons'''” (Phil. 1:1). Here both the overseers (plural) and deacons are noted. Both of these churches were founded by Paul, and both had functioning elderships from the beginning. The elders of the church at Ephesus responded to Paul’s call, and in his farewell address to them, he refers to them as overseers (episkopoi) and shepherds of the flock of God:
 :''Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 20:28.</ref>
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 Further, Peter speaks to the manner of their exercise of oversight, and we have found no evidence of a role for elders to exercise oversight over anything other than the local assembly. Peter speaks of “those allotted to your charge,” which limits the scope of the ministry of the elder. He commands elders to be an example to the flock, which requires observation of one’s life and character. All of these considerations fit perfectly within the model of the independent, elder-led local church.
-What of the phrase “pastors and teachers” at Ephesians 4:11? Instead of two separate and distinct concepts, the use of the article in the Greek suggests a composite whole, “pastors/teachers.” It is impossible to pastor the sheep without teaching, both overtly and by example, just as it is impossible to teach God’s truth aright without application and exhortation. We have already seen that teaching and exhortation in sound doctrine are the requisite abilities of the elder.
+'''What of the phrase “pastors and teachers” at Ephesians 4:11?''' Instead of two separate and distinct concepts, the use of the article in the Greek suggests a composite whole, “pastors/teachers.” It is impossible to pastor the sheep without teaching, both overtly and by example, just as it is impossible to teach God’s truth aright without application and exhortation. We have already seen that teaching and exhortation in sound doctrine are the requisite abilities of the elder.
-Further testimony to the plurality of elders is found in James 5:14: “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”. It required no explanation on James’s part to speak of the elders (plural) of the church (singular). The sick did not have to wonder who these elders were or “which church” they would be contacting.
+Further testimony to the plurality of elders is found in James 5:14: “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for '''the elders of the church''' and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”. It required no explanation on James’s part to speak of the elders (plural) of the church (singular). The sick did not have to wonder who these elders were or “which church” they would be contacting.
-The same kind of situation is found in the exhortation to the Hebrews: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17. Again, the local churches, with a body of discernable elders, is clearly in view. The elders are the leaders, and believers are exhorted to submit to them. Keeping watch over their souls is directly parallel to the duties already enunciated by Paul and Peter in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5. Their responsibility as leaders to whom believers submit is clearly seen in the fact that they will give an account for the souls entrusted to them. Believers are given a duty to make the ministry of those leaders a joyous one, not a grievous one. Obviously, all of this assumes discernible leaders, a discernible fellowship that involves interaction and discipleship, etc.
+The same kind of situation is found in the exhortation to the Hebrews: “'''Obey your leaders''' and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). Again, the local churches, with a body of discernable elders, is clearly in view. The elders are the leaders, and believers are exhorted to submit to them. Keeping watch over their souls is directly parallel to the duties already enunciated by Paul and Peter in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5. Their responsibility as leaders to whom believers submit is clearly seen in the fact that they will give an account for the souls entrusted to them. Believers are given a duty to make the ministry of those leaders a joyous one, not a grievous one. Obviously, all of this assumes discernible leaders, a discernible fellowship that involves interaction and discipleship, etc.
 All of these passages collectively make clear that the church as founded by the apostles expressed itself in local assemblies that included the offices of elder/overseer and deacon. These offices are established by the apostles for the equipping of the body, and no other office is provided with lists of qualifications for its continuation in the church over the generations. It is natural and easy for the New Testament authors to refer to elders (plural) in the church (singular), and the readers of those documents evidently needed no extended explanation to understand since this was the form in which the apostles founded the local churches.