Elders and their Work - Part 2
Elders and their Work • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 45:51
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· 8 viewsWhat is the job of an Elder, and who can serve as one?
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Elders and their Work
Elders and their Work
READING OTHER PEOPLES MAIL
Last week WHAT & HOW
This week: WHO & WHY
Understanding WHY helps us understand WHO.
Let’s begin with history of Elders.
Hebrew Scriptures: Zaqen
Hebrew Scriptures: Zaqen
Zaqen/Presbyteros
Zaqen: Someone who is not young (), or someone with authority in a household ().
Served local councils, meet at the gate of their city to settle disputes (; ; )
They even served as judges/trying judicial cases (, , )
They even advised King Saul, King David, and King Solomon (, , )
Elders in the Synagogue
Elders in the Synagogue
Elders played a crucial role in the synagogue.
A governing board of elders would oversee the congregations operations:
property
charity work
schooling
care of the sick
burials
gathering contributions for the Temple
They also conducted, or found people to conduct services.
The title was also used for distinguished members of the Sanhedrin. “Elders, chief priests and scribes” ()
New Testament: Presbyteros/Episkopos
New Testament: Presbyteros/Episkopos
A person with experience and authority.
Episkopos
Episkopos
The term comes to be applied to church leaders.
Paul and Barnabas appoint elders with prayer and fasting. ().
The Elders were largely responsible for pastoral care/shepherding of the congregation.
Lexham Bible Dictionary entry on “Elders”:
“The earliest churches apparently did not follow a fixed pattern of leadership. Paul and his churches looked for leadership qualities to emerge in a person and then urged the congregation to respect that person as a leader…The chief qualifications were a demonstrated readiness to serve others and a calling from the Holy Spirit.”
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
A clear example of elders being involved in pastoral ministry. Concerning themselves with the sick, anointing and praying over them, and receiving confessions of sin, and praying for forgiveness of those sins.
Early Church
Early Church
Clement’s First Letter to the Corinthians
Apostles appointed “approved men” (elders/shepherds) to continue their ministry “with consent of the whole church.”
This pattern repeated. Note the congregation didn’t select, the congregation’s consent was considered.
Shepherd of Hermas:
Elders direct the congregation.
People bring questions to the elders to seek insight.
The elders and deacons worked together in the care of widows, orphans, and poor.
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his 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.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Parallels
Parallels
Similarities
Similarities
The Lists
The Lists
These are not, and never were intended to be comprehensive checklists of qualifications for elders.
Where was the requirement to be a believer in Jesus Christ?
Where was the listing of the Fruits of the Spirit?
Where was any reference to loving others as Christ loved us?
IF YOU WANT TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE LIST, YOU COULD FIND AN ATHEIST THAT WOULD MEET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND JESUS WOULD NOT.
Since these qualities are slightly different in each account (containing some similar, identical, and unique qualities between the two lists - 8 differences that I can count), it is safe to conclude that Paul composed the lists under inspiration for the distinct needs of the individual churches.
The church at Ephesus () and the church at Crete () did not require the same exact type of servant-leaders; therefore, the qualities given in are not identical to .
Similarly, East Side is different from the churches at Crete and Ephesus, therefore, we should seek out men who represent the types of qualities most necessary for our particular context.
David Lipscomb, editor of GA, did not believe it necessary for men to be married or have children to be an elder, but rather viewed these lists not as a qualification, but as a way of describing the type of character of a person fit for leadership.
Early 1900s that our tribe adopted the position of reading this as a strict list.
Why this list?
Why this list?
3 Rules for reading the Bible: Context, Context, and Context.
Some context is cultural (time and place), other context is explicit within the text.
We’re going to go through some of these and look at what Paul meant by them.
Above Reproach
Above Reproach
Reproach - open to criticism, disgrace.
- This was a problem!
7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
- 11 and 12 encourage Timothy to live out Fruit of Spirit type of characteristics.
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Husband of One Wife
Husband of One Wife
Most translate: faithful to his wife (lit. 1 woman man)
Roman world adultery was a way of life. EXTREMELY COMMON.
10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
This isn’t at all about polygamy, and not so much divorce. It’s looking for a person who is faithful to their spouse, something extremely rare in the world Paul is writing to!
Children Submissive
Children Submissive
Patristic System, “Father’s House” was an extended family system that all lived together and was under the authority of the oldest male relative, “father.”
Think of the story of the Prodigal Son, who was the father?
Is God unfit to lead the church?
No stipulation on being a follower of Christ is mentioned in Ephesus.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
NIV uses word “kill”. The idea here is an extremely rebellious and violent child that has a father who will do nothing about it. That’s not what the church needs!
MUST AN ELDER BE MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN?
MUST AN ELDER BE MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN?
It seems Paul under the influence of the Holy Spirit wouldn’t contradict himself.
Read . Paul basically indicates that it’s best to be single. Having kids and a spouse is a distraction from following Christ, and that people should marry because they can’t control themselves.
IS THE FACT THAT SOMEONE COULDN’T CONTROL THEMSELVES AND STAY CELIBATE AND SINGLE A NEGATIVE OR A POSITIVE?
Tolbert Fanning - Married, no children, served as Elder of church in Nashville, started the Gospel Advocate to help keep churches united in belief and practice.
David Lipscomb, editor of GA, did not believe it necessary for men to be married or have children to be an elder, but rather viewed these lists not as a qualification, but as a way of describing the type of character of a person fit for leadership.
Early 1900s that our tribe adopted the position of reading this as a strict list.
It seems Paul under the influence of the Holy Spirit wouldn’t contradict himself.
Read . Paul basically indicates that it’s best to be single. Having kids and a spouse is a distraction from following Christ, and that people should marry because they can’t control themselves.
IS THE FACT THAT SOMEONE COULDN’T CONTROL THEMSELVES AND STAY CELIBATE AND SINGLE A NEGATIVE OR A POSITIVE?
The leaders of the early restoration movement, and most Christians until the last hundred years or so have read this as a list of qualities, not qualifications.
Able to Teach
Able to Teach
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
Patristic System, “Father’s House” was an extended family system that all lived together and was under the authority of the oldest male relative, “father.”
Think of the story of the Prodigal Son, who was the father?
Is God unfit to lead the church?
No stipulation on being a follower of Christ is mentioned in Ephesus.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
NIV uses word “kill”. The idea here is an extremely rebellious and violent child that has a father who will do nothing about it. That’s not what the church needs!
MUST AN ELDER HAVE CHILDREN?
Tolbert Fanning - Married, no children, served as Elder of church in Nashville, started the Gospel Advocate to help keep churches united in belief and practice.
David Lipscomb, editor of GA, did not believe it necessary for men to be married or have children to be an elder, but rather viewed these lists not as a qualification, but as a way of describing the type of character of a person fit for leadership.
Early 1900s that our tribe adopted the position of reading this as a strict list.
Not a Lover of Money
Not a Lover of Money
It seems Ephesus has some rotten elders (
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. - ELDERS DIVIDING THE BODY!
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
:17-20
The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Sounds like there were some rotten elders there that were after money, after power, teaching false things and dividing the church.
THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN THAT CONGREGATION!
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Titus 1:5-
WHY THIS LIST?
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
TITUS 1:10-
Crete was a rotten place with rotten people. Notice again how Paul starts:
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
Let’s look at some differences between the two.
CHILDREN ARE πιστά
CHILDREN ARE πιστά
πιστἀ has a variety of meanings, one of which is believe, or to have faith, or to be obedient.
Much debate has come from this verse by scholars, but I believe the best understanding of what Paul means is what Paul qualifies the statement with:
6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
Notice Paul’s focus on disobedience? Every one of these qualities is a quality of personal responsibility.
Who’s job is it to create belief in someone else? Who’s responsibility?
If we insist that a child’s salvation is fundamentally connected to the managerial skills of the father, we have inadvertently assigned an unbiblical role to human action.
& 2 allude to this. It’s the Spirit who convicts and sheds light, but ultimately it’s up to the individual.
I believe the best reading/understanding of this based on Paul’s own description, and Paul’s other writings is we are dealing with wild and unruly children who are belligerent and wildly sinful while under the parent’s roof.
NOT A RECENT CONVERT
NOT A RECENT CONVERT
-Timothy is not to appoint a recent convert as an elder. Makes sense, it’s a congregation that has been established for many years at that point.
Crete is a new congregation, thus this statement isn’t made by Paul.
Well thought of by outsiders
Well thought of by outsiders
-This was important in Ephesus because the influence of the elders might win outsiders to the faith.
-Crete was full of “liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons”. To be thought of well there would mean you probably weren’t following Christ.
Christians were at such odds with their culture in Crete, as well as many other places in the ancient world (and today I might add), that this wasn’t the most beneficial thing everywhere.
The Lists
The Lists
These are not, and never were intended to be comprehensive checklists of qualifications for elders.
For years churches have tried to mash these different lists together in order to find someone that meets the needs of Ephesus and Crete with little focus on the needs of their own congregation.
Where was the requirement to be a believer in Jesus Christ?
Where was the listing of the Fruits of the Spirit?
Where was any reference to loving others as Christ loved us?
IF YOU WANT TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE LIST, YOU COULD FIND AN ATHEIST THAT WOULD MEET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND JESUS WOULD NOT.
If you want to strictly follow the list, you could find many lousy leaders and unmotivated Christians that meet the qualifications and Jesus himself would not!
(8 differences that I can count), It is safe to conclude that Paul composed the lists knowing some things are absolutely necessary to being a faithful follower of Christ and should apply to everyone, some are for leaders in the church for all places, and some are for specific needs of the congregations they are addressed to.
Since these qualities are slightly different in each account (containing some similar, identical, and unique qualities between the two lists - 8 differences that I can count), it is safe to conclude that Paul composed the lists under inspiration for the distinct needs of the individual churches.
The church at Ephesus () and the church at Crete () did not require the same exact type of servant-leaders; therefore, the qualities given in are not identical to .
Similarly, East Side is different from the churches at Crete and Ephesus, therefore, we should seek out men who represent the types of qualities most necessary for our particular context.
We need committed faithful men of God with a track record of wisdom, leadership, and shepherding - even without the title.
These men have been put before you for consideration because the Elders know the character of these men and believe they match what God has said in the past, and that they are equipped to help lead this congregation toward where God is calling us in the future.