Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Letters to the Churches

diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another (1 Thess. 5212,13). Exactly who these laboring brethren were, the text does not re veal. It is possible that these laboring brethren were elders appointed by Paul and his fellow workers before they fled the city. It seems more likely, however, that they were Spirit-empowered volunteers who were able and willing to care for the church in the missionar ies’ absence. What is obvious is that some form of church leader ship was in place. One didn’t need apostolic appointment to love and sacrificially serve God’s people. In accordance with Paul’s prac tice (Acts 14:23), he, or one of his representatives, would return to Thessalonica to appoint from among such proven leaders official elders for the church. In verse 12, the missionaries appeal to their new brothers and sis ters in Christ to give proper recognition to those who lead and instruct the congregation: “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreci ate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction.” There is disagreement over the translation of the Greek verb eidenai, which usually means “to know” but in this case is rendered “appreciate” by the New American Stan dard Bible. “To know” is certainly a possible rendering for eidenai and is the choice of the Authorized (King James) Version. However, this meaning seems inadequate in the context. The people would surely know those who lead and instruct them, so the context demands a dif ferent verbal sense. Although it is difficult to be certain of the original intent, the renderings “to acknowledge” or “to give proper recogni tion” fit the context well. In a similar context (1 Cor. 16215-18), Paul uses another Greek verb for “know” (epiginosko) that conveys the sense of “recognize” or “ac knowledge.” He writes, “And I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus. . .. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge [epiginoskete] such men” (1 Cor. GIVE PROPER RECOGNITION TO YOUR LEADERS

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