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. Besides the fact that there is no church office as there is no church organization, the argument from the singular and plural use of the words prove nothing. An excellent summary can be gained by Gehring, who presents the strength and weaknesses of different views taken over the plural “elders” and the singular “overseer” in the pastoral epistles.[1] The assumption from those who emphasize the singular “overseer” and the plural “elders” is that the primitive church made no distinction until the late sixties of the first century when the two letters were written. It is further assumed that Ignatius’ second-century model adopted the teaching of the pastoral epistles in which there is a distinction between the elders, the overseer, and the deacons.[2]
However, the difference in the use of the singular and plural is due to the structure of the sentences. When Paul speaks of “overseers,” he begins by introducing the possibility of a man who desires that work. Since he is discussing a man’s desire for the work, he uses the singular “overseer.” Such a man/overseer must have certain qualifications and skills. This doesn’t mean that there can only be one man given that task. Although there may only be one man who qualifies for it, Paul is not limiting the role to one man that has authority over a plurality of elders. As already pointed out in the use of these terms, they are used interchangeably to describe the same work.
Furthermore, we must not assume that we are discussing one man per church or area-wide churches. In the first place, Paul is not talking about these men overseeing a local church institution, anyway. They are overseeing individual souls. Some who look at this topic with those colored glasses see Paul alluding to a hierarchy that includes a plurality of elders, but only one overseer. Removing the local church from the equation leaves us with an overseer(s) of souls living in a town where other fellow saints live. Second, the elders from Ephesus were called “overseers” (plural, Acts 20:17, 28) by Luke, and Paul uses the plural overseers (plural) in Philippians 1:1. The Bible uses both the singular and plural use of the word, all of whom were identified to a town, not a diocese. There is no development of a hierarchy in as much as there is no institution over which one rules. Rather than seeing Ignatius following suit by maintaining apostolic traditions, he authored a new and different model of leadership that fits an institutional view. This departure that produced the church concept was promoted by the church fathers and, eventually, led to the establishment of the Roman Catholic church.
[1] Gering, House Church and Mission, 269-274.
[2] Ignatius, Smyrna 8.1-9.1