Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’3 Letters to the Churches

leaders. The term was a well-known designation of office equivalent to our word superintendent. In the Greek New Testament, episkopos appears four times to describe local church officials: 0 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the el ders of the church. . .. “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [episkopoi], to shepherd [pastor] the church of God” (Acts 20:17,28a).

0 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers [episkopoi] and deacons (Phil. 1:1).

0 An overseer [episkopos], then, must be above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2a).

0 For the overseer [episkopos] must be above reproach as God’s steward (Titus 127a).

So who are the church overseers? It is evident from the rest of the New Testament that the individuals referred to as overseers are the same as those called elders. Although both terms apply to the same body of men, elder reflects the Jewish heritage that stresses dignity, maturity, honor, and wisdom, while overseer reflects a Greek-speak ing origin that stresses the work of oversight. The following Scrip tures confirm that the terms overseer and elder were used interchange ably in New Testament times: 0 Acts 20:17,28. Luke writes that Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus. But in the sermon to the same elders, Paul says that the Holy Spirit made them—the elders—“overseers.” This plainly indicates that elders and overseers represent the same group of leaders. 0 Titus 125-7. In verse 5, Paul mentions his previous directive that Titus appoint elders in every city. In verse 6, Paul begins to list the elders’ qualifications and interjects the word “overseer” in verse 7. Since there is no clear indication that Paul has changed

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