Portland Biblical Community

How many elders/overseers “should” a church have?

Many of the church plants in Acts began without any elders/overseers (generally for 1-5 years).
The apostle John refers to himself as “the” elder (singular) in 2^nd and 3^rd John.
Jerusalem, Lystra, Derbe, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Ephesus, and Philippi had a plurality of elders.
Peter addresses the elders (plurality) among the believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia as a “fellow elder” (1 Peter 1:1; 5:1).

Role of Elders/Overseers
1 Timothy 3:4-5 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?)

1 Timothy 5:17-18 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching (emphasis on the spoken word) and teaching (emphasis on formal and informal instruction). ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward…

1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be… hospitable, able to teach…

Titus 1:9 able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict…

Acts 20:28-35 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. ³⁵ In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 11:29-30 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. ³⁰ And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

1 Peter 5:1-4 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, ² shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

James 5:13-20 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; ¹⁵ and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. ¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. ¹⁹ My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Role of Deacons
Deacons: serving assistants to the elders/overseers (Philippians 1:1)

diakonos “one who gets something done, at the behest of a superior, assistant to someone”

1 Timothy 3:10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

1 Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

written by Scott Olson \\ tags: deacons, elders, leadership, overseers, teaching, theology

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