Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’3 Letters to the Churches

is well documented, but they always address the entire congre gation, not just the officials (James 5214; 1 Peter 1:1; 521).

There are, therefore, no contradictions between Acts, 1 Timothy, Titus, and Paul’s letters to the churches. The differences noted in these accounts reflect three different recipients and approaches, all of which are essential to understanding Paul’s practices. Acts presents histori cal facts (what Paul did). First Timothy and Titus address Paul’s per sonal assistants (church leaders, colleagues) who must act on his be half to deal with various groups within the church and to order the life of the church. The letters to the churches teach and exhort the entire gathering of God’s congregation. It is to two of these letters that we now turn to study the doctrine of eldership.

PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS (5212,13)

Because elders aren’t mentioned by name in this passage, it is often overlooked in the study of eldership. Yet this passage is highly rel evant to the subject of biblical eldership. The exhortations contained in 1 Thessalonians 5212,13 most certainly apply to elders, or in the case of a new church, to potential elders. The arrival of Paul and his missionary colleagues in Thessalonica is recorded in Acts 1721-9. Because of fierce hostility to the gospel, how ever, Paul and his co-workers were able to stay in Thessalonica only a short period of time—one to three months. Several months after their hasty departure from Thessalonica, they wrote the letter of 1 Thessa lonians from Corinth. The letter begins, “Paul and Silvanus and Timo thy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (1 Thess. 121). Although the church in Thessalonica was but a few months old and lacked its founding fathers—Paul, Silas (probably an apostle, 1 Thess. 2:6), and Timothy (Paul’s personal assistant and special emissary)—a group of men from within the congregation was providing leadership. Paul exhorts the infant congregation to recognize and love these lead ers:

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who

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