Leaders in God’s Flock

BishopOverseer

ElderPastor

Christ

Elders

Deacons

Ministers

The Church

Christ

The Church

Elders

Deacons

Ephesians 4:15-16 “head of the church”John 15:5 “nothing without me”Matthew 16:18 “my church”Ephesians 5:22-23 “Christ is the head”

lover, sanctifier

The Church’s “Board of Directors”

The Words: OVERSEER, BISHOP

OVERSEER (ἐπίσκοπος)BDAG1. one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it

that something is done in the correct way, guardian2. In the Gr-Rom. World, refers to one who has a definite

function or fixed office of guardianship and related activity within a group. Overseer; supervisor.

TDNTAn onlooker, watcher, protector, patron; outside of scripture used as a secular word for those who have technical and financial responsibilities.Moses had “commanders” (e) of thousands, etc. (Numbers 31:14)

OVERSEER (ἐπίσκοπος) (episkopos)Acts 20:28

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.

Philippians 1:1To the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers (bishops – KJV) and deacons.

1 Timothy 3:2Therefore, an overseer (bishop – KJV) must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled…

Titus 1:7For an overseer (bishop – KJV), as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered…

1 Peter 2:25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (Guardian – NASB, Bishop - KJV) of your souls.

The Words: ELDERELDER (πρεσβύτερος)BDAG1. Being relatively advanced in age: older, old.2. An official: elder, presbyter.

1. Officer of the synagogue; member of local council in an individual city (Joshua 20:4, Ruth 4:2)

2. Member of the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem (Matthew 21:23, 26:3, 4:23)3. Church official under consideration today (1 Peter 5:1-5)4. John’s letters (“The elder to the elect lady…” 2 John 1)5. Heavenly council of 24 elders around the throne (Revelation 4:4, 7:11, 14:3, 19:4,

etc. Prophesied in Isaiah 24:23)

TDNTA designation of age: (Proverbs 20:29, Leviticus 19:32, Genesis 18:11, John 8:9, Acts 2:17, etc.)A title of office: (Luke 22:66, Acts 22:5, etc.)Ambiguous: 1 Peter 5:5 “You who are younger, be subject to the elders…”

The Words: PASTOR, SHEPHERDSHEPHERD, PASTOR, MINISTER (ποιμήν)BDAG1. One who herds sheep: shepherd, sheep-herder2. One who serves as a guardian or leader: shepherd (fig.)TDNTLiterally: an tender of flocksFiguratively:

-a nickname for honored kings.-a designation of God’s care. (Psalm 23)-a description of Jesus-The good shepherd (John 10:11)-The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)-a congregational leader (Eph. 4:11, John 21:15-17, 1 Pet. 5:3)

SHEPHERD (ποιμήν) (poi-MEIN)John 10:11, 14

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep…I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.

Ephesians 4:11He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers.

Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood…

1 Peter 2:25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (Guardian – NASB, Bishop - KJV) of your souls.

Overseer, Bishop, Caretaker, WatchmanElder, Wise Man, Experienced Man

Shepherd, Pastor, Protector

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 1

Tim

othy

3:1

-7 E

SV

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Titu

s 1:

5-9

ESV

1 Timothy 3:1-7 Above Reproach Husband of one wife Sober-minded Self-controlled Respectable Hospitable Able to teach Not a drunkard Not violent, but gentle Not quarrelsome Not a lover of money Manage household well;

With dignity, keeping children submissive

Not a recent convert (no pride!) Thought well of by outsiders (not

disgraced)

Titus 1:5-9 Above reproach Husband of one wife Children are believers (no debauchery

or insubordination) Above reproach (!) Not arrogant Not quick-tempered Not a drunkard Not violent Not greedy for gain Hospitable A lover of good Self-controlled Upright Holy Disciplined Holding firm; able to instruct Able to rebuke the contradictors

The Duties of Elders

• Shepherd the flock as an example (1 Peter 5:1-3)• Feed and care for the church (Acts 20:28, 1 Thess. 5:12)• Teach and preach sound teachings (1 Tim, 5:17, Titus 1:9)• Rule and lead (1 Timothy 5:17, Hebrews 13:17)• Train and appoint others (Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22)• Rebuke and refute the false teachers (Titus 1:9, 13)• Keep watch over and give account for the well-being of the

church (Hebrews 13:17)• Serve like Christ – in humility (1 Peter 5:3-4)