Regarding their role as “rulers”, they “rule” by teaching and setting themselves forth as an example. Taken in the negative, anyone who does not labor in word and teaching does not rule well. Paul is commending and recognizing real excellence among elders who rule well as opposed to those who merely do the least amount of work possible or teach by proxy. According to Meyer, those who rule well “does not denote a special distinction, but conduct worthy of the office.”[1] While Meyer still recognizes officers in the church, he treats the application of their “rule” in the correct way. In addition, the “double honor” is that which comes to one on account of filling that role well. The emphasis is clear. The work involved is teaching! They rule, comfort, and encourage by teaching. They guide, feed, and protect by teaching.
When Paul gives their qualifications to Titus (Tit. 1:9), he writes,
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convict the gainsayers.
A gainsayer is one who speaks against something. Paul further explains that there are unruly, vain talkers and deceivers “whose mouths must be stopped”. The shepherds are expected to have the ability to silence such unruly men through teaching (not physical force) and such teaching as is needed to convict the gainsayers. Once again, the role is descriptive of one who is skilled in the Word (Titus 1:9-10). This silencing is not done by closing the gates to the coral (church building) or positioning oneself as a spiritual policeman by cutting off further open Bible discussion. That describes the control of some elders over a church organization. It is not descriptive of their work in any text of Scripture.
Consider this “rule” of a true shepherd by comparing the teaching of Jesus in response to the Jewish leadership. They, too, were unruly, vain talkers and deceivers “whose mouths must be stopped.” When Jesus was finished teaching, no man asked him any more questions (Mark 12:34, Matthew 22:46). It is not required that he preach a sermon but it may require some public response to convict gainsayers and lead the flock away from the influence of ungodly men.
[1]Meyer, H.A.W. Meyers Commentary on the New Testament, Vol. 9, pg. 171.