Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Hebrews: Obey Your Leaders

and the leader [hegoumenos] as the servant” (Luke 22:26). The writer’s use of the word he’goumenoi in Hebrews 1327, 17,24 may serve to cover a broad spectrum of leaders from apostles to elders. The work of the leaders in verse 17, which is described as keeping “watch over your souls,” certainly sounds like the work of local church elders (Acts 1 1230; 1526,22; James 5214,15). Although the term elder does not appear here, the exhortation to obey and submit to church leaders would certainly include elders who keep watch over the church.7

THEY KEEP WATCH OVER YOUR SOULS

Knowing that submission to authority is often resisted or resented, even by God’s children, the writer bolsters his exhortation by adding important reasons for submission and obedience. Spiritual leaders should be obeyed because “they keep watch over [for] your souls.” The verb “keep watch” (agrypneo') literally means “keep oneself awake,” but here it is used metaphorically for watching, guarding, or caring for pe0ple. Like the ancient city watchmen or shepherds of a flock, spiritual leaders must always be keenly alert, conscientious, and diligent. Watchfulness demands tireless effort, self-discipline, and self less concern for the safety of others. These leaders are involved in spiritual care. They are keeping watch for “your souls.” The Greek term for soul is psyche'. In many instances, psyche’ is used as the equivalent of “person” or “oneself,” thus we could render psyche" by the personal pronoun you, which some translations do: “They keep watch over you” (er). However, in this context, psyche seems to have a deeper meaning that relates to the inward, spiritual dimension of life (cf. Heb.10239; 3 John 2). Above all else, these lead ers keep watch for the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Their task, if taken lightly, could result in serious harm to the spiritual lives of God’s children. Bible commentator R.C.H. Lenski points out that keeping watch implies potential danger: “Watching implies keeping oneself and others safe where danger is known to exist or where one fears its existence. Where no danger exists watching is not needed.... All this applies to the church in the highest degree where the safety of souls is to be guarded.”8 Since false teachers and spiritual pitfalls abound, since all Christians start out as newborn babes in Christ,

270