Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Letters to the Churches

16:17,18). Immediately preceding this instruction, Paul urges the congregation to submit to all those who devote themselves to caring for the church: Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors (1 Cor. 16:15,16; italics added). The exhortation in 1 Corinthians 16216a, “be in subjection to such men,” appears to be a parallel statement to “acknowledge such men” in verse 18b.3 So although 1 Thessalonians 5: 12 doesn’t explicitly ex hort believers to submit to those who labor among them, the exhorta tion to acknowledge certain people as leaders certainly implies, as in 1 Corinthians 16:16,18, a submission to their leadership and instruc tion. In other words, the people are to respond appropriately to their leadership and position. To better appreciate Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonians to ac knowledge these church leaders, we must remember that there were at that time no distinctions between clergy and laity, there was no offi cialism, and there were no priestly garments to distinguish certain members. Furthermore, we should not assume that anyone from within the congregation was at this time financially supported full time in the service of the congregation. Therefore, these humble, servant brethren (or at least some of them) could easily be overlooked and their service underestimated. Furthermore, as the plural verbs indicate, a number of brothers provided leadership for the church. So the missionaries’ request is that all those who labor, not just one prominent person, be acknowledged. Those who deserve recognition are first described as “those who diligently labor among you.” The word “labor” (kopiao) is a term used to describe manual labor (Luke 525; 1 Cor. 4:12; Eph. 4:28). It is a strong word denoting toil and strenuous work that results in weariness and fatigue. It is a favorite Pauline word. The phrase “diligently labor” then, reveals a vitally important aspect of eldership: hard work. In assessing this phrase, John Calvin adds the pungent comment, “It fol lows from this that all idle bellies are excluded from the number of pastors.”4 Caring for people’s spiritual welfare is stressful work. It is

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