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This article is an extract from my short book, Jesus, Disciple, Mission, Church (JDMC). The bite-sized piece below is roughly three percent of the book.
Why do we need to consider other leaders?
We have already seen in part Four – Gifts for building, that the original pattern of church leadership springs from the apostolic gift (JDMC, page 41). We also saw that four further gifts are released to operate where there is an apostolic foundation, and we looked at these in more detail in the previous part, The APEST gifts (page 41-44). But the New Testament also mentions bishops (or overseers), elders and deacons, and today we use the terms pastor and priest quite widely. We need to briefly examine these too and understand how they fit into the overall picture. Before we do this, let’s consider the New Testament principles around authority – particularly what Jesus himself said and modelled.
It’s easy to think of the Greek words and their English translations as positions in a hierarchical authority structure, each with defined powers and roles. But as we have seen in Five – A living organism, church is much more a life form than an organisation. The six forgotten ways are not the only things that have been mislaid during the two millennia since Jesus’ time. Our understanding of the functions of bishops, elders and deacons has changed, and very dramatically so. We need to understand them again as they were understood by those early believers, just as recorded in the New Testament.
Perhaps the first thing to say is that as with the APEST gifts, bishops, elders and deacons are not positions of authority in the sense of ruling over other believers. Jesus explicitly told his disciples that they were to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34-35). If he came to serve, so also should we. And he also told them that they were not to rule over one another as the gentiles do (Matthew 20:25-28). Paul writes that we should submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). This much is very clear. So whatever else we may say about bishops, elders and deacons, we can be quite certain at the outset that they are not about enforcing rules, governing people’s behaviour or managing an organisation.
Bishops, elders and deacons don’t seem to chime with the idea of
the APEST gifts of service or with church as a living organism. Is this a
problem? If so, how can we resolve it? Consider this carefully before
moving on.
Bishops
The Greek word here is ‘episkopos’ and it means, literally, ‘overseer’, someone who keeps watch, someone who keeps an eye on things. Another word we could use is ‘lookout’. It need not be understood to mean an official who makes sure everyone follows orders, although it might seem to imply control because that is the sense of the English word ‘overseer’ in everyday usage.
We need to check the New Testament to understand how the word is used there. Here are some wise words from JP Louw and EA Nida writing in Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, ‘Though in some contexts [episkopos] has been regarded traditionally as a position of authority, in reality the focus is upon the responsibility for caring for others’. This is a responsibility we all share, we must all look out for one another.
‘Episkopos’ is not always used in a positive way; just take a look at 1 Peter 4:15. Which word in this verse contains the Greek ‘episkopos’ do you think? There’s another Greek word ‘allotri’ which means ‘other people’s business’ and ‘meddler’ (NIV) is ‘allotriepiskopos’, an ‘episkopos’ who meddles in other people’s business.
When Paul writes ‘episkopos’ it’s clear he is referring to particular people he regards as effective at keeping watch to detect – and respond to – error. But this doesn’t mean that the other believers were free to relax. If any of us sees error, or somebody promoting it, we must question it and, if necessary, alert others. Might it be that Paul is simply saying that we need people among us who will be alert and willing to respond? Perhaps he is just saying that some are better at this than others and it’s useful to identify them, recognise them, and pay attention to what they say. Indeed, the work of keeping watch is one of the things shepherds need to do , something they are gifted at. (See The shepherding gift, JDMC page 42)
Jesus himself can be regarded as an ‘episkopos’. In 1 Peter 2:25 we read that Jesus is ‘the shepherd and guardian of your souls’. Some versions translate this as guardian (NASB, TLB), some as overseer (ESV, NIV), and some as bishop (ASV, KJV). Once again, the sense is not of ruling but of taking care, keeping watch (part of what a shepherd does as noted above).
Look up ‘overseer’ in a concordance or search function and draw
your own conclusions about the work of an overseer or lookout. Try to get
a feeling for what these people were expected to do. Did they have
authority over other believers?
Elders
Paul made a habit of identifying elders in the churches he planted (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5). It’s worth mentioning that the word translated ‘appointed’ might equally well mean ‘pointed out’ or ‘identified’. But in English, the idea that Paul ‘pointed out’ elders is very different from the idea that he ‘appointed’ them. In everyday life, people who are appointed to a position are given authority to make decisions and to act in a particular role. But let’s remember that the New Testament and the words of Jesus himself suggest love, humility and submitting to one another as the primary focus.
The word ‘elder’ is from the Greek ‘presbuteros’ and it does literally mean an older person. But it is also used to signify someone who is wise, and this is probably the sense in which Paul uses it. Eldership is not a role involving the giving of instructions or the making of decisions on behalf of others. Rather, elders are those people in the church who have more experience and wisdom. They are people we would naturally turn to when we are confused or anxious or when conflict arises. Pointing such people out in new and inexperienced gatherings of believers was a wise precaution taken by Paul and those he coached.
Bear in mind that the word ‘authority’ has two rather different meanings. The police have authority and you do what they tell you or face the consequences; this is command authority. Plumbers have a different kind of authority and you do what they tell you because you have a problem they know how to fix; this is knowledge and wisdom authority. Which kind of authority do you suppose elders should exercise?
Did Jesus exercise command authority or knowledge and wisdom
authority? (Trick question – you should be able to find examples of both.)
What kind of authority does he want us to exercise over demons? What kind
does he want us to exercise with one another?
PS – I liked this post by Christopher Dryden. It’s very much about the subject of elders, but written as a story from his own experience: Fun to read but gentle, kind and definitely not judgemental. He very clearly explains the difference between elders as often found in church life, and elders as Jesus intended them to be. He says what I wanted to say in the section on elders, but he says it more eloquently.
While you’re on his website, have a look around to see what else might grab your attention.
More sections of JDMC
Introduction – JDMC, what does it contain? – Using JDMC – how to approach it
Working together in six ways – Intro and Way 1 – Ways 2, 3 and 4 – Ways 5 and 6, six ways
Way One, Jesus at the centre – Jesus at centre 1 – Jesus at centre 2 – Jesus at centre 3
Way Two, Becoming disciples – Disciples 1 – Disciples 2 – Disciples 3
Way Three, Outward and integrated – OutAndInt1, OutAndInt2
Way Four, Gifts for building – GiftsForBuilding1, GiftsForBuilding2
Way Five, A living organism – LivingOrg1, LivingOrg2
More sections will appear here…
The work of the Spirit – Intro – Jesus, disciples, outward – Gifts, living, community, help
Other church leaders – Intro, bishops, elders – Deacons, pastors, priests
Last words – The end can also be the beginning
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This was extracted from Jesus, Disciple, Mission, Church (JDMC), pages 45 to 47. Download the whole thing or read it online – GetJDMC.scilla.org.uk
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