The following material complements yesterday’s post – Biblical Leadership Functions in Plurality

Quoted from BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP by Alexander Strauch

Examples of Eldership: Consider, as recorded in the New Testament, the consistent pattern of plural leadership by elders that existed among the first Christian churches.

• Elders are found in the churches of Judea and the surrounding area (Acts 11:30; James 5:14, 15).
• Elders governed the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15, 21).
• Among the Pauline churches, leadership by the plurality of elders was established in the churches in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Acts 14:20-23); in the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17-25); in the church in Philippi (Phil. 1:1); and in the churches on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5).
• According to the well-traveled letter of 1 Peter, elders existed in churches throughout northwestern Asia Minor: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1; 5:1).
• There are strong indications that elders existed in churches in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:12) and Rome (Heb. 13:17).

Instruction About Elders: Not only does the New Testament provide examples of elder-led churches, it includes explicit instructions to churches about how to care for, protect, discipline, select, restore, and call the elders. The apostles intended these instructions to be obeyed, and they should be regarded as normative teaching for all Christian churches at all times.

• James instructs those who are sick to call for the elders of the church (James 5:14).
• Paul instructs the Ephesian church to financially support elders who labor “at preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17, 18).
• Paul instructs the local church about protecting elders from false accusation, disciplining elders who sin, and restoring fallen elders (1 Tim. 5:19-22).
• Paul instructs the church regarding the proper qualifications for eldership (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
• To the church in Ephesus, Paul states that anyone who desires to be an elder desires a “fine work” (1 Tim. 3:1).
• Paul instructs the church to examine the qualifications of prospective elders (1 Tim. 3:10; 5:24, 25).
• Peter instructs the young men of the church to submit to church elders (1 Peter 5:5).
• Paul teaches that elders are the household stewards, leaders, instructors, and teachers of the local church (Titus 1:7, 9; 1 Thess. 5:12;).

Instruction and Exhortation to Elders: Besides giving instruction to churches about elders, Paul, Peter, and James give these instructions directly to elders:

• James tells elders to pray for the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:14).
• Peter directly charges elders to willingly pastor and oversee the local congregation (1 Peter 5:1, 2).
• Peter warns elders not to be too domineering (1 Peter 5:3).
• Peter promises elders that when the Lord Jesus returns they will receive “the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4).
• Peter exhorts elders to be clothed in humility (1 Peter 5:5).
• Paul reminds the Ephesians elders that the Holy Spirit placed them in the church to be overseers and pastor the church of God (Acts 20:28).
• Paul exhorts elders to guard the church from false teachers (Acts 20:28) and to be alert to the constant threat of false doctrine (Acts 20:31).
• Paul reminds elders to work hard, help the needy, and be generous like the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:35).

Sourced by Dr Wilson Lim

Biblical Leadership Functions in Plurality continues next week ……