Elders in the Bible

God’ chosen people have always needed leaders. Jewish synagogues were first established when the Jews were exiled to Babylon. By the first century these synagogues were led by a group of elders and the early churches followed this model.

In the early church, elders were selected by an apostle, such as Paul, or more usually by an apostolic delegate such as Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete. These apostolic delegates were usually elders within their own churches who had a wider role. In the generation after the apostles these regional overseers became known as ‘bishops’, a title that had originally been used of all local church elders. The elders were commissioned or ordained either by an apostle or by an apostolic delegate or by a council of elders. Thus Timothy was told,

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands upon you.” 1 Timothy 4:14

“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” 1 Timothy 5:22

The involvement of the apostles and elders from other churches had the benefit of preventing isolated churches going their own way, out of harmony with other churches. This lack of unity has been a major problem in many non-conformist denominations. It also means that these elders can be recognised and serve in various churches.

Role of Elders

At the end of John’s gospel, Peter was commissioned by the Lord Jesus to shepherd God’s people. He was charged,

“Feed my lambs” John 21:15

“Take care of my sheep” John 21:16

“Feed my sheep” John 21:17

The word ‘pastor’ is the same ‘shepherd’.

Many years later, at the end of his first letter he passes on this obligation,

“So I exhort eh elders among you as a fellow elder . . . shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight . . . being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:1-4

Paul used a similar analogy when speaking to the Ephesian church elders,

“ . . . pay careful attention to yourselves and all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God which he obtained with his own blood.” Acts 20:28

This shepherding language clearly comes from the Old Testament.

Old Testament leaders

The ancient Greek author Homer once said,

“All kings are shepherds of the people.”

There are however good and bad shepherds.

Many of the heroes in the Old testament had been real shepherds before being called to lead God’s people. Moses had spent many years as a shepherd, as had King David and the prophet Amos. Many of the nations in the ancient Near East used the idea of shepherding as a metaphor for leadership. In Psalm 23 David describes the Lord God as his shepherd,

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters., he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3

Kenneth Bailey made a telling point about the way a good shepherd leads his flock.

“The good shepherd “leads me”; he does not “drive me.” There is a marked difference. In Egypt where there is little open pasture land I have often seen shepherds driving their sheep from behind with sticks. But in the open wilderness of the Holy Land the shepherd walks slowly ahead of his sheep and either plays his own ten-second tune on a pipe or (more often) sings his own unique “call.”

The sheep appear to be attracted primarily by the voice of the shepherd, which they know and are eager to follow. It is common practice for a number of shepherds to gather at midday around a spring or well, where the sheep mingle, drink and rest. At any time one of the shepherds can decide to leave, and on giving his call all his sheep will immediately separate themselves from the mixed flocks and follow their shepherd wherever he leads them.”i

Ezekiel had some strong words to say about the leaders of the remnant of Israel who had failed to lead God’s people as God required. They had failed to teach people the word of God, that is always how God’s people are fed. They used their status for their own benefit but failed to care for the people for whom they were responsible. They had not cared for the less fortunate or brought those who were lost back into their family, instead they had ruled selfishly.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock (ESV feed the sheep)? You eat the curds clothe yourselves with the wool, and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the sheep.” Ezekiel 34:2-3

“You have not strengthened the weak, or healed the sick, or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.” Ezekiel 34:4

On the other hand, weak leadership will result in a failure to draw people together as an effective team. Ezekiel continued,

“So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.” Ezekiel 34:5

A good shepherd will always be concerned to enlarge the part of God’s kingdom that he is responsible for,

“ . . . the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought . . . my sheep were scattered over the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.” Ezekiel 34:4,6

Dietrich Bonhoeffer referred to Adolf Hitler and leaders like him as bad shepherds or “mis-leaders.” Bonhoeffer gave a speech just two days after Hitler’s election that proved prophetic. He said that if a leader did not understand that his authority was derived from God, and did not use his position and power to serve the people, then “the image of the leader will pass over into the image of the mis-leader, and he will be acting in a criminal way not only towards those he leads, but also towards himself. . . . He has to lead the individual into his own maturity.” Bonhoeffer proclaimed Hitler a mis-leader before his regime had even been fully formed. But one does not have to be a Hitler, or one of Ezekiel’s blatantly evil shepherds, to be a “mis-leader.”

New Testament leaders

Teachers

Paul recognised that church elders feed their flock by teaching. He introduced the term pastor-teacher to designate this role,

“ . . . some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.” Ephesians 4:11-12

This verse has been translated in the ESV,

“ . . . some to be pastor-teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry.” Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV

The only gift that is essential in an elder is that they are “able to teach’’ (1 Timothy 3:2). This does not mean that all elders must have ‘up-front’ preaching gifts as later in the same letter Paul writes,

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy 5:17

It has been a widespread tradition in most Christian denominations that the elders should preside at Communion services as they are the ones who are responsible for leading God’s church. It should be stressed that this eldership is not the same as being ordained into a particular denomination. There have been many problems in denominations where only one pastor has been recognised by the denomination to lead a church and they do not have all the gifts needed to do this. A plurality of elders does help to prevent such problems.

Carers

Just as Ezekiel berated the elders of his day for not caring for those facing difficult times. It is so easy for church elders to focus on pleasing the affluent, healthy and socially powerful. Paul charges the Ephesian elders,

“ . . . pay careful attention . . . to all the flock of God.” Acts 20:28

In particular, Paul said,

“ . . . help the weak.” Acts 20:35

This doesn’t mean that the elders should do this all themselves but it does mean they are responsible for ensuring that it does happen. They are the leaders of a church of ministers.

Warners

Just as in Ezekiel’s time, weak leaders fail to warn people of very real dangers. Jesus was forthright in warning his followers that false teachers will infiltrate into churches and mislead God’s people.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15

Later he again emphasised this danger of false church leaders,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” John 10:10

“The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.” John 10:12

Paul set an example to the Ephesian church elders by warning them what would happen in the future,

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth . . .”Acts 20:29-30

This is not easy as weak leaders will find it hard to confront false or poor teachers. It is all too easy to want to be accepted by everybody and so fail to confront what is unhelpful for the flock. So many false teachers are terribly pleasant. Paul emphasised this need to stand up against those who do not emphasise the message of the apostles when he write to Titus about the qualities of an elder,

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:9

In Psalm 23 the Good Shepherd has two tools, one for the forcible defence of his sheep and the other to guide them.

“Your rod and your staff comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

The scholar Ken Bailey has explained what these implements mean:

“The Hebrew word here translated “rod” (shbt) has a long history. Its meanings include rod, sceptre and weapon. It does not refer to a “walking stick.” Rather it is the shepherd’s primary offensive weapon for protecting the flock from enemies, be they wild animals or human thieves. The instrument itself is about two and a half feet long with a mace-like end into which heavy pieces of iron are often embedded. It becomes a formidable weapon.

…… The shepherd’s staff is not for defending the flock from any external threat, but for caring for the sheep as he leads them daily in search of food, drink, tranquility and rest. These two instruments are a pair. The first (the rod) is used to protect the flock from external threats. The second (the staff) serves to gently assist the flock in its daily grazing. The sight of these two instruments comfort the sheep.” ii

Good shepherds today must also be willing and able to stand up against the enemies of God’s people.

Searchers

Ezekiel had taught that bad shepherds,

“ . . . have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost,” Ezekiel 34:4

So today there are far too many who call themselves elders who seem to have no interest in winning people for Christ and his kingdom. Good shepherds are not satisfied with just the sheep in their fold, they are also concerned for the ‘lost sheep,’ just as Jesus was. Evangelism matters very much to the Lord.

iKenneth E. Bailey, ‘The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament’ InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 2014, pp.41-42

iiKenneth E. Bailey, ‘The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament’ InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. 2014, pp.50, 53