Elders

[Monica02]

What are elders in the Baptist Church? Are they like pastors or deacons?

 

[JPPT1974]

They are like deacons. And that they also are like church greeters.
Also they can be in the ministry. Like laymen.
Not just in the pastorial way.

 

[FreeinChrist]

In the churches I have belonged to, the elders are involved in church administration and in guiding the church program, such as what mission ministries to get into.

 

[arunma]

At my church, the elders are the next level of leadership under the pastors. They affirm the most important of our doctrines, perform administrative tasks, and do certain religious duties. For example, when I decided to be baptized, a couple of elders helped me through the entire process. I'd say that the elders are somewhere between the pastors and the deacons. Also, we allow female deacons, but not female elders.

 

[DeaconDean]

As a Deacon in our Baptist church, elders are defined as: the most spiritual mature in the church. The word "elder" is sometimes substituted for bishop or pastor in the Bible. Elders are usually the ones whom have proven themselves as the most faithfull, most knowledgable men in the church. The Bible sometimes uses the word "elder" as interchangable with bishop. The Greek word is "presbyter." Once a person reaches a certain age, they can be classified as an elder. Which would in certain cases put them on the same level as pastors or "bishops." The reason I know this is because my grand-father was elected as a "ruling elder" in the Presbyterian church he attended. Elders are usually used in the church as "trustees." Meaning they have the power to back up the church in most finanical dealings. i.e.: acquiring loans for the church for building projects/loan co-signers. Elders often help in matters with Deacons. They usually help with the decision of electing Deacons. Elders are often the ones who "guide" the Deacon board. The duties of Elders can sometimes fall under the category of Lay Ministers, but not always. So it would be best to ask your Pastor or Deacons what are elder duties, and even if they employ elders in their church. The definition of "elders" varies from church to church. In my church, for example, when administering the Last Supper, or the laying on of hands, the Deacons are sometimes refered to as elders. Which to me is funny because I am the youngest Deacon on my board at 43. The Deacons I serve with range in age from 43 (me) to 81. So once again, ask the Pastor of your church whether or not they have "elders," as defined in the Bible, and if so, what are their specific duties within the church.

 

[BBAS 64]

Good Day, All

Kinda strange that here at CF issuses come up in a timly fashion. We had talked about this issue last Sunday in Sunday school. The church wich I attend has 3 deacons and 1 pastor. One of the deacons teaches the adult class that I attend. When asked this question most with in the class agreed that the "elder" is the pastor and the deacons serve under the "pastor".

Which for me raised a few questions that kind of went over like a brick.

The word elder is never used in the singular in the pages of scripture when it refers to the church leadership.. why?

If as was contended that elder means pastor, why is there only one pastor in most Baptist churches?

Well the answers I received were less than useful in answering these type of questions.

What say you?

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[If Not For Grace]

Deacon: Sounds more convoluted than the Alabama State Constitution.

 

[DeaconDean]

1Ti 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

1Ti 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

1Ti 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but * * before two or three witnesses.

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica] Strong's Number: 4245[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica] Browse Lexicon[/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica]Original Word[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Word Origin[/font]presbuvteroß[font=Arial, Helvetica]comparative of presbus (elderly)[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Transliterated Word[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]TDNT Entry[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Presbuteros[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]6:651,931[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Phonetic Spelling[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Parts of Speech[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]pres-boo'-ter-os [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Adjective [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Definition[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]

1. elder, of age,
   1. the elder of two people
   2. advanced in life, an elder, a senior
      1. forefathers
2. a term of rank or office
   
   1. among the Jews
      1. members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
      2. of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
   2. among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
   3. the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]King James Word Usage - Total: 67[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]elder 64, old man 1, eldest 1, elder woman 1[/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica]KJV Verse Count [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Matthew[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]13[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Mark[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]7[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Luke[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]5[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]John[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Acts[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]18[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1 Timothy[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]4[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Titus[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Hebrews[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]James[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1 Peter[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]2[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]2 John[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]3 John[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]1[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Revelation[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]12[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]Total[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica]67[/font]Continued in next post,

 

[DeaconDean]

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
of Biblical Theology

The New Testament. The office of elder in the New Testament church cannot be fully understood without the background of the Old Testament local elder, an office still functioning in New Testament Judaism with duties pertaining to discipline and leadership (cf. Luke 7:3; and the implications of Matt 10:17; and John 9:22). The first Christians were Jewish and the office was familiar to them. Thus Luke did not need to explain his first reference to Christian elders in Acts 11:30.

New Testament elders (presbyteroi [presbuvtero"]) are also called bishops (episkopoi [ejpivskopo"]) without implying any essential difference in the office referred to. In Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5, 7 the two names are used interchangeably. Also the requirements for the office of the elders and bishops are very similar (cf. Titus 1:5-9; and 1 Tim 3:1-7). The term "elder" stresses the connection with the age of the office bearer, while the term "bishop" emphasizes the nature of the task that is to be done. A distinction is made (in 1 Tim 5:17) between those elders who rule well, especially those who labor in the preaching and teaching (who are now called ministers), and others (who are now referred to as elders and whose full-time task is directing the affairs of the church).

With respect to the duties of an elder, there is a continuity with the basic tasks of the elder in the Old Testament. All elders have the task of oversight and discipline of the congregation (Acts 20:28) and all have the responsibility to rule and guide the people of God with the Word in a manner that is pleasing to God (Acts 20:29-31). Also elders in the new dispensation are to preserve and nurture life with God in the covenant community (1 Thess 2:11-12). In executing this task they are in the service of their risen Lord (to whom they will have to give account 1 Thess 5:12; Heb 13:17) and they are empowered by his Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Col 12:4-6).

The elders' task of oversight and discipline can be described in terms of keeping watch and shepherding on behalf of the great shepherd Jesus Christ. In Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders he said: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). The pastoral character of this task of oversight is also indicated when Peter writes: "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder… Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" (1 Peter 5:1-4).

With respect to the elder's task of ruling and guiding, he has been set over the congregation (1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 5:17). He is a steward of God (Titus 1:7), a manager of God's household who administers the spiritual treasures of the mysteries of God (1 Col 4:1; cf. Matt 13:11, 52). Of prime importance, therefore, is to be the administration of the glad tidings. False doctrine must be opposed and the true safeguarded (Acts 20:28, 31; Titus 1:9-11). Like their Old Testament counterparts, the elders are to see to it that the gospel and the demands of the Lord are imprinted in the hearts and lives of God's people (1 Thess 2:11-12; 2 Tim 2:24-26).

In light of the awesome responsibilities, it is not surprising that the prerequisites of the office are high (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). The elder must be a blameless and God-fearing man who shows the fruits of the Spirit in his walk of life. He must also be able to teach others the way of the Lord, and confute heretics (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 3:14-17; Titus 1:9), but not be quarrelsome (1 Tim 3:3) or enter into senseless controversies (1 Tim 1:3; 6:4-5). A good knowledge of the Word of God is therefore essential.

The necessary qualifications for the office suggest that elders must be chosen very carefully. They are not to be recent converts (1 Tim 3:6) and must have proven themselves (1 Tim 3:7). Elders could be simply appointed (Titus 1:5) although congregational participation may very well have been involved in at least some instances.

In Revelation 4:4 the twenty-four elders sitting on twenty-four thrones surrounding the throne of God probably represent the entire church (twenty-four for the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of the New Testament cf. Rev 21:12-14). These heavenly elders wear white garments, have crowns of gold, and worship God (4:4, 10-11; 5:7-10; 11:16-18; 19:4).

Cornelis Van Dam​

 

[Monica02]

Thanks so much for all of the replies.