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 1:9
The apostles told all Christians to watch over each other with loving care and prayer (Gal. 6:1-2; 1 John 3:16-18; 5:16; Heb. 12:15-16), but they also appointed in each congregation guardians, called �elders� (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), who would look after the people as shepherds look after sheep (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:1-4), leading them by example (1 Pet. 5:3) away from all that is harmful into all that is good. In virtue of their role, the elders (presbyters: Greek: presbuteroi) are also called �shepherds� (Greek: poimenes, or �pastors,� Eph. 4:11) and overseers (Greek:episkopoi, or �bishops,� Acts 20:28, cf. v. 17; Titus 1:5, cf. v. 7; 1 Pet. 5:1-2), and are spoken of in other terms that express leadership (Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24). The congregation, for its part, is to acknowledge the God-given authority of its leaders and follow the lead they give (Heb. 13:17).
This pattern is already present in the Old Testament, where God is the shepherd of Israel (Ps. 80:1) and kings, prophets, priests, and elders (local rulers) are called to act as his agents in an under-shepherd role (Num. 11:24-30; Deut. 27:1; Ezra 5:5; 6:14; 10:8; Ps. 77:20; Jer. 23:1-4; Ezek. 34; Zech. 11:16-17). In the New Testament, Jesus the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-30) is also the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4), and the elders are his subordinates. The apostle Peter calls himself an �elder� under Christ (1 Pet. 5:1), remembering perhaps that spiritual shepherding was the specific task that Jesus gave him when restoring him to ministry (John 21:15-17).
Some though not all elders teach (1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:7), and Ephesians 4:11-16 says that Christ gave the church �pastor-teachers� (one class of persons with a dual role) to equip everyone for service through the discovery and development of each person�s spiritual gifts (vv. 12-16). In the congregational leadership groups envisaged by the apostles, there may have been teachers who were not elders (2 Tim. 2:2) as well as elders who did not teach and elders who both ruled and taught.
The pastoral role of elders demands mature and stable Christian character and a well-ordered personal life (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Wholeheartedness and fidelity in eldership ministry will be rewarded (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:4; cf. 1 Tim. 4:7-8).
The pastoral responsibilities of the apostles and their deputies, like Timothy and Titus, were wider than those of congregational elders (2 Cor. 11:28; Titus 1:5), while those of congregational deacons (Greek: diakonoi, or �servants,� perhaps elders� assistants, 1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1) were narrower, with particular responsibility for the ministry of mercy (Acts 6:2-6; Rom. 16:1-2).
Every church needs ministerial functionaries to fulfill the eldership role, and should set in place a wise method of selecting and appointing them.
Title: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs
Section: God Revealed as Lord of Grace
Author: Packer, J.I. (James Innell)
Index: Concise Theology index � CLICK HERE