Many people today do not understand what it means to be an elder in the Lord’s church. Many have heard how certain denominations use the terms bishop or elder, and suppose that this is the biblical usage of the terms. It may be the case also that some do not understand the full scope of the work of an elder or a bishop. Herein, we will clarify the Bible’s instruction on how to choose an elder, and once in office, what the elder’s responsibilities are. We must first make some important distinctions in the names given for elders in the New Testament. Presbuteros is translated “elder”64 times in the New Testament, “old man”once in Acts 2:17 and “eldest”once in John 8:9. This word basically refers to an older man. It is mainly used when age is under consideration for eligibility for the office. The word episkopos is translated “bishop”four times (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25) and “overseer” once (Acts 20:28) in the New Testament. This word denotes “a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, and curator, guardian, or superintendent” (Wharton 75). It is mainly used when work is to be considered for the office. Poimein is translated “shepherd”15 times in the Gospel records, twice as “Shepherd”(Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25), and once as “pastor”(Ephesians 4:11). This word when applied to the office of an elder basically comments on the serving nature of the elder to his flock of

The word diakonos is translated “minister” 20 times and “servant” 7 times in the New Testament. It is translated “deacon” 3 times, in Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8, 12. In the passages where it is translated “deacon” [e.g., KJV, ASV, NKJV but not RSV], it is speaking of the specific office in the church, not simply a servant. It is the purpose of this lesson to examine the passage of 1 Timothy 3:8-13 with respect to the qualifications of a deacon. Restrictions (v. 8-9) A deacon must be grave — he must be honorable and dignified. This word also implies that a deacon is worthy of the same honor and reverence that he exemplifies. He must not be double-tongued. This may be stating that to be a deacon, one must not be a gossip. More accurately, though, it disallows one who speaks one thing to one person and yet speaks the opposite to another person. He is not to be given to much wine. This statement does not allow for any consumption of alcohol, as some would say. Ecclesiastes 7:17a says, “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish.” This does not allow one to be a little wicked. The word here given is the Greek word prosecho, otherwise translated to give attention to something. It would be more accurate to say that the candidate for the office of deacon should not ever be attentive or desirous of wine. The text then continues by saying a deacon must not be greedy of filthy lucre. We know

Many people today do not understand what it means to be an elder in the Lord’s church. Many have heard how certain denominations use the terms bishop or elder, and suppose that this is the biblical usage of the terms. It may be the case also, that some do not understand the full scope of the work of an elder or bishop. The purpose of this article is to clarify the Bible’s instruction on how to choose an elder, and once in office, what the elder’s responsibilities are. We must first make some important distinctions in the names given for elders in the New Testament. Presbuteros is translated elder sixty-four times in the New Testament, old man once in Acts 2:17 and eldest once in John 8:9. This word basically refers to an older man. It is mainly used when age is under consideration for eligibility for the office. The word episkopos is translated bishop four times (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25) and overseer once (Acts 20:28) in the New Testament. This word denotes “a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, and curator, guardian, or superintendent” (Edward C. Wharton, The Church of Christ, 75). It is mainly used when work is to be considered for the office. Poimein is translated shepherd fifteen times in the Gospel records, twice as Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25) and once as pastor (Ephesians 4:11). This word when applied to the office of an elder basically comments on the serving nature of the elder to his flock