Elders in the Bible

Biblical Requisites for Eldership

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ^NASB

Titus 1:6-9

6 If any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. ^NASB

Biblical Task of Elders

Acts 20:17, 28-30

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ^NASB

NOTE: Verse 17 gives these leaders the title of ELDER (presbuteros = presbytery or elder) and then in verse 28 they have the two duties of overseeing (episkopos = bishop) and shepherding (poimaino = pastor). So the two duties of the office of elder is to oversee and shepherd. It is interesting that many churches have such clear distinctions between an elder and a pastor when here in Acts 20, it calls these lay-elders shepherds (the word which is also translated, pastors). We believe that the elders are pastors and the professional, full-time pastor is one among the rest. The only distinction between a lay-elder and a professional pastor is the amount of time invested in church ministry and therefore the type of compensation rendered. For purely pragmatic reasons, the Church has seen the necessity to take at least one of their elders out of their secular employment in order to free them to study and minister to the congregation. They therefore pay this elder so that he can invest all of his time and energies and attention into the life of the church. Lay-elders are not lower in stature nor do they have less authority, nor are they held to a lower standard then the professional pastor.

1 Peter 5:1-5

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. ^NASB

NOTE: Again, as in Acts 20, we see the title of Elder and the two duties of shepherding (poimaino = pastor) and oversight (episkopeo = bishop).

1 Timothy 5:17

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ^NASB

NOTE: We see here a distinction between ruling elders and teaching elders. All elders serve both capacities, but each elder has an emphasis in his ministry. Some are called to emphasize the ruling aspect of the office, others are called to focus on the teaching aspect of the office.

BFC Faith and Order

204-2 Elders

204-2.1 In the New Testament church, Christ has provided men called elders, whom He has enabled and commissioned to govern with ministers in His church.

204-2.2 Men who bear this office share equally with the ministers the authority in and responsibility for the life of the church; but in contrast to ministers, whose primary authority and responsibility are in the Word and doctrine and secondarily in ruling, the primary authority and responsibility of elders are ruling and governing and secondarily in the Word and doctrine.

204-2.3 Those who fill this office should be examples to the flock of their sound faith, their blameless life and conduct, and their wisdom and discretion.

204-2.4 Elders, as leaders of the people, are chosen by the membership of the church on the basis of Scriptural qualifications.

204-2.5 Because of the qualifications and dignity of the office of Elder, each particular church shall give careful consideration to ensure that a man who has been divorced or who has married a divorced woman is presently characterized as above reproach, and if married, faithful to and exclusively committed to his wife.