Articles
They Ordained Elders in Every Church - Acts 14
They Ordained Elders In Every Church (Acts 14:23)
Paul and Barnabas preached the word throughout the area of Galatia. With such preaching they made many believers who then were left in small groups called churches. Such groups of believers needed guidance and teaching in their living as Christians. Since Paul and Barnabas cannot stay with each group to instruct them, they go back through their cities they had preached and 'appointed elders in every church'. Paul later instructed Timothy and Titus to appoint such elders in the churches and gave the qualifications that men were to have in order to be appointed as elders (1Tim. 3 and Titus 1).
One doesn't read of 'arch-bishops', 'cardinals', 'presidents', or 'popes' in the Bible. What you see is a group of men that worked with a local group of believers. They were called elders (Acts 14:23, 1Peter 5:1-3, Titus 1:5). Their job was to 'shepherd' the flock (Acts 20:28 KJ, ASV, HCSB.) The ESV chose to translate this 'care for' which leaves no indication that the word originally came from the idea of shepherding. Our word 'pastor' comes from the Latin language thru French. It meant 'shepherd' in both. In doing this shepherding, they were 'overseeing' the church. The word 'oversee' is the word translated as 'bishop'. Hence an elder was a pastor /bishop who shepherded and oversaw the local church.
Each church had its own elders. In every statement about such elders it is always plural. They did not appoint 'a pastor' over a church but they appointed elders in every church. These elders were told to "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to 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). Peter instructs such elders to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2-3). These elders looked after the souls of those believers that they met with - the flock AMONG them (1Pet. 5:2). The writer of Hebrews says that such leaders "are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account" (Heb. 13:17).
The elders had a two-fold responsibility. In regard to false teachers, they were to be watch out for them, to be alert (Acts 20:31). They were given the responsibility of protecting the flock from such wolves. They were to be able to rebuke those who contradicted the 'trustworthy word' they had been taught (Titus 1:9). At times this would require such stern measures that would silence such false teachers (Titus 1:11).
Along with this job, God had appointed such elders, along with the apostles, prophets, evangelists for the purpose of 'equip the saints for the work of serving" (Eph. 4:11-12). When the saints are so equipped to serve, they will then build up the body of Christ. With the building of body in this manner the whole body (church) would be joined together and each part would be working to its full measure (Eph. 4:16). The elders build up the church by equipping the saints to do it!
The Lord planned that every church would have a good group of elders that would provide for that body of believers to accomplish the will of God in their lives. Pray for both the elders of our group and that we might fulfill our work of serving, having been equipped by them. Hugh DeLong
