ELDER/PASTOR/BISHOP/OVERSEERS
Elders, who by their office do especially feed the flock concerning their souls,
Acts 20:28 “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.”
-Paul is talking to the elders at Ephesus
Acts 20:17, “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.”
1 Peter 5:1-3 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as {your} fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to {the will of} God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
-This is Peter talking to all believers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
Acts 6:1-4
Now at this time while the disciples were increasing {in number,} a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic {Jews} against the {native} Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving {of food.} So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Phil. 1:1
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
-Two offices in the Church…
-Elders
-Deacons
1 Tim. 3:1-7
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires {to do.}
An overseer, then,
-Must be above reproach,
-The husband of one wife,
-Temperate,
-Prudent,
-Respectable,
-Hospitable,
-Able to teach,
-Not addicted to wine or pugnacious
-Gentle
-Peaceable,
-Free from the love of money.
-He must be one who manages his own household well
-Keeping his children under control with all dignity
(But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
-Not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and
Fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
-And he must have a good reputation with those outside {the church,} so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
II. References to Elders in the New Testament
Acts 14:23
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
Acts 20:17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching;
Titus 1:5
This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
James 5:14
Is any among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:1
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.
III. Reasons to View the Terms “Bishop/Overseer” and “Pastor” as Referring to the Office of Elder
Bishop/Overseer
Four reasons to consider bishop/overseer as equivalent to elder in the New Testament church:
1. Compare Titus 1:5 with 1:7 where bishop/overseer and elder are apparently interchangeable terms.
2. In Acts 20 Paul calls the “elders” to come down from Ephesus. Then he says to them in verse 28 that God has made them “overseers/bishops” among the flock. So the elders are the bishops/overseers in Ephesus
3. In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul says, “If any one aspires to the office of bishop/overseer, he desires a noble task.” Then he gives the qualifications for the overseer/bishop in verses 2-7. Unlike the deacons, the overseer must be “able to teach” (v. 2) and in v. 5 he is said to be one whose management of his own household fits him to care for God’s church. These two functions are ascribed to elders in 1 Timothy 5:17—teaching and governing. So it is very likely that in Paul’s mind the bishops/overseers of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 are the same as the elders of 5:17.
4. In Philippians 1:1 Paul writes “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops/overseers and deacons.” These then seem to be the two offices of the church just as in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. But Paul appointed elders in all the churches (Acts 14:23) and so it is very likely that the elders of the church at Philippi were the bishops/overseers referred to in Philippians 1:1.
DEACON
Deacons, Men and Women who by their office relieve the necessities of the poor and impotent brethren concerning their bodies,
Acts 6:1-4
The Job of a deacon was to serve, while the job of a elder was to be devoted to the Word of God and prayer
1 Tim. 3
Deacons likewise {must be}
-Men of dignity,
-Not double-tongued,
-Or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
-{But} holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear
conscience.
-These men must also first be tested;
-Then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
Deaconess
Whether a wife of a deacon was automatically a deaconess is not certain – the qualifications applied equally to a deaconess as a deacon (see 1 Timothy 3:8-13 above). It is known from the writings of early church history after the close of the New Testament time that deaconesses served prominently by caring for needy fellow believers, visiting the sick, and assisting in the baptism of female converts. Phoebe is perhaps the best-known deaconess in the Bible record.
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well” (Romans 16:1-2 RSV)
“Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Philippians 4:1-3 RSV)
