Elders, Pastors, Bishops
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
In the current cultural climate, the church is not a top priority. Current statistics reveal that, although 90% of Americans believe in God, only about 44% worship on a regular basis. Many no longer have any use for the church (except for weddings, funerals, and as a possible solution for their financial problems). Yet Jesus built (Matt. 16:18) and purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He is head over it (Eph. 1:22-23); He both nourishes it and cherishes it (Eph. 5:29). How utterly strange that Christians would not hold in high esteem the object of their Lord's affection!
If we truly love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength (Mark 12:30), we will love what He loves (the church, for instance), hate what He hates (sin), and joyfully obey Him in all things (worship, fellowship, church organization). If we appreciate the salvation that Jesus obtained for us (Heb. 9:12) and understand the cost of it (Isa. 53:12), then we must respect Him as the head of the body of the saved, as well as His arrangement for the governing of His church. If we have become Christians through obedience to the gospel, which was revealed through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then we should heartily accept any further instructions concerning Christian living, service, or church structure, which are revealed to us by that same Holy Spirit.
Elders, Pastors, Bishops
A study of the New Testament reveals that there are three words (and their cognate forms) which apply to the same group of men. The designation used most commonly is "elders,"1 which is used ten times in the book of Acts (11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4; 20: 17, and 21:18). There are six additional references in the New Testament translated "elders," (1 Tim. 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1, 5) and in one instance we find "presbytery." 2
The Greek noun translated "shepherd" or "pastors" is used only once to refer to these men (Eph. 4:11). Jesus is referred to as the smitten "shepherd" (Matt. 26:31; Mark 14:27), the "shepherd of the sheep" (John 10:2), the "good shepherd" (John 10:11-12, 14, 16), "that great shepherd of the sheep" (Heb. 13:20), "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25), and "the Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4).3 The verb form of this Greek word, when applied to these men, is translated "feed" (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).4
The third designation that the New Testament applies to these leaders in the church is translated "overseers" in Acts 20:28 and "bishop" in all other verses (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-2; Titus 1:7). The verb form is rendered "taking the oversight" (1 Peter 5:2). The chart at the top of the next page lists the Greek word (in Anglicized form), followed by the part of speech it is, Strong's number, it's appearances in the New Testament, and its translation with the number of times that rendering occurs.
Someone might wonder, "But how do you know that these various words are all referring to the same group of men—those to whom the leadership of a congregation has been entrusted?" There are two principal passages, in which these words are used interchangeably: Acts 20:17-32 and 1 Peter 5:1-4. But before we look at Acts 20, it might be helpful to see what information about elders exists in the book of Acts prior to that text.
These men are not introduced with great fanfare: no qualifications for them are listed in the book of Acts, and no complete job description is provided at their first mention. We simply note that the disciples in Antioch sent relief to the brethren at Judea, and it was taken by Paul and Barnabas "to the elders" (Acts 11:30). It is not until we read Acts 14:23 that we understand that these men are part of God's design for the church:
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Once again, when the Jerusalem conference occurs in Acts 15, both the apostles and elders meet together and take decisive action (2, 4, 6, 22, 23).
Because Paul did not want to spend time in Asia, from Miletus he sent to Ephesus "and called the elders of the church" (Acts 20:17). As his speech nears its climax, Paul admonishes these men:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter among you, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:28-29).
Notice first that the above words are spoken to elders (presbuteros). They are to take heed to the flock (poimnion), which is what shepherds tend and feed (poimaino), and which they also oversee (episkopos). All three words (either in noun or verb form) are thus tied to the same group of men.
The other passage which unites these terms together is 1 Peter 5:1-4.
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: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Once again, elders (presbuteros) are called upon to feed (poimaino) the flock (poimnion). They must take the oversight (episkopeo) of the church willingly. Those who do the work well shall be rewarded by the chief Shepherd (poimeen).
Although the above two passages use all three words to refer to the same men, there are other portions of the Scriptures which incorporate two of the three designations. Paul tells Titus (1:5) that he left him in Crete to ordain elders (presbuteros) in every city (reminiscent of Acts 14:23) and then (1:7) lists the qualifications of a bishop (episkopos). Elders and bishops are the same. In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul says that the one who desires "the office of a bishop" (episkopee) desires a good thing; then he gives the qualifications of a bishop (episkopos). Later, however, in the same book, Paul speaks of the elders (presbuteros) who rule well (1 Tim. 5:17). Of whom could he be speaking but those who oversee the church?
Plurality of Elders
Each congregation has its own elders. In Acts 14:23, for example, Paul appointed elders in every church. He did not appoint one pastor or one bishop over each congregation. Neither did he appoint one group of elders to oversee an entire region. The letter to the Galatians, which is the region in which these men were ordained, does not mention one man ruling one church or a group of men overseeing other congregations besides their own. All other verses are consistent with this arrangement. The letter to the church at Philippi is addressed to the saints, "with the bishops and deacons" (Phil. 1:1). Also Titus was authorized to "ordain elders in every city" (Titus 1:5).
The purpose for this system is not stated in the New Testament, but experience has shown the wisdom of it. A one-man rule, such as the denominational "pastor" system, cannot work. Even if his pride did not cause him to eventually want everything his own way, it would be unfair for all of the work to fall upon one individual. Even if he is an expert at delegating tasks to others, he would still have the burden of feeding the flock, visiting the sick, and overseeing the internal workings of the congregation all by himself. The pressure on such an individual would be overwhelming.
The dangers of one eldership taking the oversight over several congregations are equally obvious. If such men depart from the Word in one point (teaching premillennialism, for example), then every congregation following their lead would similarly believe that error and begin to emphasize the physical above the spiritual. Such an arrangement also squelches incentive for the men in these churches to be spiritually strong and independent.
In fact, it was the perversion of each congregation's autonomy that led eventually to full-blown apostasy. Following the historical record of the church after the first century, we discover that one man became a presiding elder when these pastors or bishops met to discuss the membership and their works. These "presidents" eventually began to assume more power as time passed until they ruled over the other men. These "exalted elders" then met with their counterparts in other churches, and a hierarchy (aided by the Emperor Constantine) was born. When this unauthorized infant cut his teeth on power, he grew up to dominate the parents who gave him life. Reformation availed nothing; only a restoration to the system set forth in the New Testament could set things right.5
Today, especially, God's wisdom is seen in that, in the course of our current apostasy, a great number of congregations are standing firm, as they always have. While several have compromised with worldliness so that one can no longer distinguish between "Christians" and sinners, and while many have been pressured into conforming to postmodern thinking of accepting contradictions, some few still contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). If there were a hierarchy, all the sound congregations would be at the mercy of the liberals who dominate a large portion of the church and would bring whatever pressures were necessary to coerce conservatives to conform.
Elders / pastors / bishops are needed today every bit as much as they were in the first century; they must remain committed to God's plan for the governing of the church and for the care of its members. They have a great work to perform—one with eternal consequences. They must walk humbly themselves before God, feed the flock with "a ready mind," and be subject always to the chief Shepherd, which includes respecting His organization for the church.
ENDNOTES
All Scripture quotations and translation information is based on the King James Version.
2 Of the other 53 usages of this word, the bulk of them refer to the elders who ruled over Israel. There are 12 times in the book of Revelation that the 24 elders are mentioned.
3 The remainder of the times the word is translated "shepherd" in the New Testament the reference is to a literal shepherd.
4 When used of Jesus, the same Greek word is also translated "rule" (Mat. 2:6; Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15).
5 For an excellent and thorough history about the church from the first century through the Middle Ages to the present, see the excellent book, Catholicism, published by Bible Resource Publications, 25403 Lancewood, Spring, Texas 77373.
[The above article was written initially for the original Gospel Journal; edited by Dub McClish it appeared in the February, 2000 issue and is reprinted here with a few minor edits.]