The Church V

Foundations of Faith
THE CHURCH (V)

The Role of Bishops, Overseers, Elders, and Deacons

What is the difference between bishops, overseers, and elders? These three terms all apply to the same office in the local church. The apostle Paul called together the “elders” of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:17), and said to them:”Take heed … to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (20:28). The terms “elders” and “bishops” likewise refer to the same persons (Tit. 1:5,7). The Greek word translated “overseer” is the same as the one translated “bishop” in these and other passages. The word “overseer” describes the kind of work these men do in the local church, and the word “elder” describes the level of spiritual maturity required for such work. As we shall see later, the office of a deacon is distinct from that of the overseer or elder.

How are overseers and deacons appointed? The 12 apostles appointed deacons in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:3). The apostle Paul and Barnabas appointed “elders in every church” during their missionary journey (Acts 14:23). Paul authorized his co-worker Titus to appoint “elders in every city” (Tit. 1:5-8); he apparently gave Timothy the same authority to appoint overseers and deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-13). So in the early period of the Church, apostles and apostolic delegates (like Titus and Timothy), under the direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), appointed overseers and deacons in the various local churches. We see from these and other passages that each assembly had several overseers and deacons (Acts 11:30; 15:2-23; 21:18; Phil. 1:1; Jas. 5:14).

What are the qualifications of an overseer or a deacon? These are listed in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9). The qualifications primarily relate to moral character (“blameless … sober … not a brawler … not covetous”) and experience as a leader or ruler (“If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”).

What are the responsibilities of an overseer? The verse just quoted gives the answer:he takes care of and watches after the souls of the brothers and sisters in a local assembly (1 Tim. 3:5; Heb. 13:17). He exhorts and counsels the believers, warns the unruly, comforts the faint-hearted, and supports the weak (1 Thess. 5:12-14). By sound teaching he exhorts and convinces those who teach things contrary to the Word (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:9). The overseer may not have a gift for public speaking. There is no indication in the Bible that he is responsible for an assembly’s worship, preaching, teaching, or evangelizing. But he takes time getting to know the brothers and sisters in the assembly. He invites them to his home (1 Tim. 3:2). One-on-one, as he sees the need, he encourages, comforts, rebukes, corrects, instructs, and warns the believers in the local assembly. What a tremendously important role such a brother has to play in the assembly!

What are the responsibilities of a deacon? Perhaps the best description of his work is given in Acts 6. There were many poor believers in the church at Jerusalem, often due to persecution by Jews and pagans. The wealthy believers contributed money so that the local church could provide meals and other necessities to the poor among them (Acts 4:34-5:2). It was the deacons who were responsible for handling these funds and making sure that there was no favoritism and that everyone received a fair share. (See Assignment 14)

Can there be overseers and deacons today? This may seem like a strange question. Most local churches today appoint overseers and deacons. However, the Bible does not speak of churches appointing people to such offices, but only of apostles and apostolic delegates, neither of which have existed since the first century. On the other hand, the qualifications of overseers and deacons must have been given in Scripture for a reason.

A number of local churches today believe that Scripture does not give them authority to appoint individuals to the offices of overseer and deacon. However, they recognize the need for persons taking these responsibilities. Those who meet the qualifications and carry out the responsibilities are recognized and encouraged by the local church.

Running the Race
WHAT DO OVERSEERS AND DEACONS HAVE TO DO WITH
ME-A YOUNG CHRISTIAN?

The church at Thessalonica apparently did not have appointed overseers. So the apostle Paul pleaded with that assembly “to know those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (1 Thess. 5:12,13). This takes us back to what we discussed in Aug98. As part of “one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Rom. 12:5), you younger believers (as well as us older ones) should expect to find others in the assembly coming up to you and encouraging, exhorting, correcting, or warning you. Those who are filling the place of an overseer will be particularly prominent in this activity. So do not despise them or resent their intrusion into your personal life. It is for your greatest good and blessing that they do this as they “watch for your souls” in obedience to the Lord (Heb. 13:17). By coming into the fellowship of the local church, you have essentially agreed to be accountable in attitude and conduct to your brothers and sisters in the assembly. If no overseer or older brother (apart from your father) has ever talked to you with the purpose of encouraging, instructing, or correcting you, I suggest you bring this to the attention of one of the older brothers in the assembly.

Here is another thing for you young believers to think about: If you value the work of the overseers and deacons in your local assembly, begin studying the qualifications for overseers and deacons. Make sure you conduct your life in such a way that in due time you will qualify for such a role in the assembly. Most assemblies are in great need of persons who are both qualified and willing to carry out the responsibilities of an overseer or a deacon.Assignment 14: Read 1 Peter 5. List four things that the elders or overseers should do when carrying out their responsibilities in the local assembly. Then write out one thing the younger believers should do in response to the work of the elders.