Church Elders

The New Testament is clear. The leadership of individual churches is supposed to be in the hands of "elders." Sure, there are multiple names, too. In Paul's letter to Timothy he uses the word "overseer" (or bishop in King James English) (or "supervisor" in Latin). The Greek is ἐπισκοπή -- episkopē -- which means to superintend, inspect, oversee. (And, I hope, you see where we get "Episcopalian.") In his letter to Titus with the same office in view he used the term "elder." That Greek is πρεσβύτερος -- presbuteros -- which means "elder" (go figure) in reference to age or maturity. Senior. (And, again, I hope you see where we get "Persbyterian.") In Ephesians Paul refers to "pastors and teachers" (Eph 4:11) (where the term appears to be a single thought, like "pastor/teacher" as opposed to two different ideas). In Peter's first epistle he intermingles the "elder" concept with "overseer" concept and the "pastor" concept (except that no one appears to translate it "pastor" in this passage), so we have "elders" (1 Peter 5:1) who are exercising "oversight" (1 Peter 5:2) as shepherds (1 Peter 5:2) (as the "Chief Shepherd" does (1 Peter 5:4)). (Note: that "pastor" in Eph 4:11 is the same word translated "shepherd" here.) So leadership consists of this role which may referred to as "elder" or "overseer" or "bishop" or "shepherd" or "pastor." (Interestingly, although we generally think of church leadership as "pastor," the only place that word is translated in any English translations is that single Ephesians 4:11 verse. Still, "pastor" is predominate in our minds.)

We can discuss the role of this office -- what is it, what do they do, and how it is different than "deacon" -- and we can discuss the qualifications of this office (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), and we can recognize that it is always a plurality -- never a single "pastor" in charge -- but I'm not going there. What I want to know is "Why elders?" Multiple places refers to these leaders as "elders" which can only be translated "elders" because that's all that the word means -- people who, in some sense, are older. Why?

It's really a question we have to ask due to our modern culture because no one else seemed to ask it. Throughout the Old Testament the leadership of towns and villages was always a group of "elders" (e.g., Gen 50:7; Exo 3:16; Exo 19:7; Exo 24:9; Num 11:16; Deut 21:18-21; Josh 7:6; Josh 20:4; Judg 8:14; 1 Kings 8:1 ad infinitum). Why elders? Today "Boomer" is a derogatory term ... for "elders." Today, a overwhelmingly common theme in shows and movies is how young people are the hope for wisdom and guidance while older people are just ... well ... losers. Today it is folly to trust yourself to old people. We all know this. So why do the Scriptures specify elders as leadership for churches?

I don't think that "elder" is intended to convey "old person" in a chronological sense. I think that it is intended to convey maturity in a spiritual sense. You see this in the requirement that he be "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim 3:2), "manage his household well" (1 Tim 3:4), and not "a recent convert" (1 Tim 3:6). You see this when Paul tells Timothy "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands." (1 Tim 5:22) Indeed, if you look over the qualifications for this role, it's hard to imagine being able to determine qualification in someone who hasn't lived some years and gained some maturity. I think there is also a sense of continuity in mind here. Our world likes new ideas, novelty, innovation. But the church is looking at "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3) There isn't really much room for innovation there; continuity of that faith is really what's needed, and that's best accomplished by those who have continued in the faith awhile.

I think these are some good answers to the question, "Why elders?" At the end of it, though, I think the starting answer should be "Because it says so." It is undeniable that Scripture views leadership as best accomplished by elders, men of maturity who have lived long enough to gain wisdom and insight and can use it and share it. I know, I know ... that's not the popular perspective. I wonder, given our popular headlong rush away from godly living and thinking, if the fact that it's not a popular perspective isn't another reason to think it's a good perspective.