Correct.  Good Job!

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." ²³ When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.  Acts 14:21-23 (NAS)

As the church continued to grow, the need grew for people to encourage them to continue in the faith and to prepare them for the tribulations, persecution and troubles to come.

Titus 1:5 says "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you," (NAS)

What is an Elder?

The English word "elder" is from the Greek word "presbuteros" meaning "old in age."

It is important that we understand from scripture the importance and the role of these men described as "elders" in the Lord's church.  We will also look at the limits that the scriptures put on the elder's role in the church:

The Role of an Elder In Jesus' church:

The elders were charged with the responsibility of overseeing (also called "bishoping" -- the word "bishop" means to oversee) and shepherding (also called "pastoring" -- the word "pastor" means to shepherd) the flock in their town.

Peter was a fellow elder with other elders and wrote in 1 Peter 5:1-2 about the requirements. Additional information is given in Acts 20:28:

The men who are qualified to be elders (overseers) must:

• Shepherd the flock (the church)
• Exercise oversight voluntarily
• Shepherd eagerly...not under compulsion and not for sordid gain
• Be on guard for themsselves and for all the flock (the church)

Peter said in 1 Peter 5:1-2: Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd₍₁₎ the flock of God among you, exercising oversight₍₂₎ not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;" (NAS)

Acts 20:28 says: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers₍₂₎, to shepherd₍₁₎ the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (NAS)

⁽¹⁾ The English word "shepherd" is translated from the Greek word "poimaino" which means to "to tend as a shepherd of." Some versions translate the Greek word "poimaino" or "poimen" into the English word "pastor", which also means "shepherd". Note that these verses are talking of the responsibility of an elder (to oversee and shepherd the flock), not separate offices.

⁽²⁾ The English word "oversight" or "overseers" comes from the Greek word "episkopeo" which means "to oversee" or "episkopos" which means "one that oversees." The American Standard version and the King James Version translates the same Greek word "episkopos" as "overseer" in some places and "bishop" in other places, but the same definition applies. Note that these verses are talking of the responsibility of an elder (to oversee, bishop and shepherd the flock).

Qualifications to be an elder (also called overseer, bishop, pastor, shepherd):

1 Timothy 3:1-7 says: "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer₍₃₎, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer₍₃₎, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NAS)

⁽³⁾ The Greek word used in 1Timothy 3:1 is "episkope." The Greek word used in verse 2 is "episkopos." Both refer to a person that is an "overseer." Some translate these into the English word "bishop", which also means an "overseer." Again, these verses are describing the qualifications for the elders of the church, whose responsibilities are to shepherd and oversee--or bishop-- the flock.

Titus 1:5-9 says: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer₍₄₎ must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:5-9(NAS)

⁽⁴⁾ The Greek word used in this verse is "episkopos" meaning one that is an "overseer." Some translate these into the English word "bishop", which also means an "overseer." Again, these verses are describing the qualifications for the elders of the church, whose responsibilities are to shepherd and oversee--or bishop-- the flock.

Peter An Example:

The apostle Peter (called Cephas or Simon Peter), as an example, was one of many elders of Jesus' church at that time. Peter was married, the husband of one wife:

"Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?" 1 Corinthians 9:5 (NAS) "And when Jesus had come to Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever." Matthew 8:14 (NAS)

What would you think if a group of people decided to appoint elders (whose job is to oversee or bishop, and to shepherd or pastor) who didn't meet these scriptural qualifications?

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