Another word that merges the two words “elders” and “deacons” into one and the same role is the word, “steward” used in Titus 1:7. A steward was a household manager who had the responsibility of managing and directing the servants, property, and finances of the owner/master. Skillful management of people and problems with people requires…
Another unfortunate translation is found in 1Timothy 3:1 where Paul speaks of one “desiring the office of a bishop.” The Greek word, translated elsewhere is “overseer.” There is no “office” in the text. This word and the few examples we have of an elder’s benevolent care is often confused with an administrative office. Campbell writes,…
One of the words is the Greek noun “poimen” which is a “shepherd, one who tends or herds a flock” (Vine). Shepherds or pastors (cf. Luke 2:8) is an excellent metaphor for those who have charge of others in a specific community (cf. Ezek. 34:2, 9, 10, 23, Jno. 10:16, 1 Pet. 2:25, Heb. 13:20:…
The fourth gift listed in Ephesians 4:11 is that of pastors and teachers. The text reveals that in all of these gifts listed in Ephesians 4, an article is placed before them except before the word “teachers”. It reads in Greek, “τοὺς δὲ, ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους.” Therefore, it has been argued that pastors and teachers…
An element of an overseer/shepherd is that of a “rule.” Paul speaks of those “who rule well” in 1 Tim. 5:17. We broke this down in an earlier section of this chapter.[1] The Greek words translated “rule” will be introduced here to gain an understanding of its meaning. W.E. Vine gives six verbs that translate…
Another description of the same role of a shepherd is the word, “overseer”. The word means “a watchman over or upon.” The word “superintend” is often used to describe it. It describes a responsible task. The word itself does not specify the particular task for which one is responsible. But, its use in our context,…
Someone may present the work in Antioch of Syria (Acts 13) wherein there were no elders mentioned. The fact that shepherds are not mentioned in the church at Antioch does not mean that they did not have them. The mention of “teachers” may have included them and others, but where there are prophets and apostles…
Consider the following passage as the existing pattern of their selection. (1) Acts 14:23 “And when they had ordained them elders in every church (ekklesia) and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed..” When the Apostle Paul began his return home from his first journey, he and Barnabas…
The word “elder” is translated from the Greek presbuteros, meaning an older man comparable to our word “senior”. The term is a designation that implies rank due to age, i.e., experience. In other words, he is an older man of experience who is held in honor. Campbell’s work concludes that in both Jewish and Graeco-Roman…
Paul used the word “overseer” in 1 Timothy 3 and the word “elders” in Titus 1:7 when giving a very comparable list of qualifications. Some argue from the Pastoral epistles that “elders” are in the plural and “overseer” is in the singular. Therefore, it is argued that these refer to two different church offices. …