There are six names applied to the elders in the Lord's church. They are: elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, shepherds. These six names are all descriptive of the position of those who, being raised up and qualified by the work of the Holy Spirit, were appointed to have the spiritual care of, and exercise oversight over, the churches. God's divine arrangement seen throughout the New Testament was for there to be a plurality (more than one) of elders to be appointed in each church. Acts 14:23: "Paul and Barnabas appointed eldersfor them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in Whom they had put their trust."; Acts 20:17: "From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church."; Philippians 1:1: "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:"; 1 Timothy 5:17: "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching."; Titus 1:5: "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you."
Below is a brief summary of the meanings of the six names applied to the elders in the Lord's church. I have quoted from several sources, but one in particular: Scriptural Organization of the Churches of Christ by Jim Massey.
Elders: From the Greek word presbuteros. It is an adjective and is used to describe a person who is older. Quoting from Jim Massey: "Elders in the Lord's church have six names. Each has an important meaning. By studying the meaning of each name, much can be learned about these officers. The most common name is ‘elders.' The word ‘elder' means ‘an older person.' This refers to a person older in faith as well as older in years. Elders are the most mature and experienced Christians in the church. They cannot be novices, (1 Timothy 3:6: ‘He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.'). Just because a man is an elder in his village [or community, or town, or city, etc.] does not mean that he will qualify as an elder in the church. He might even be the oldest member of the church and still not be qualified as a spiritual elder. He could even be the first member of a congregation without being a Scriptural elder. The Bible says that Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Acts 20:17). In several cities elders were appointed in every church, (Acts 14:23). Titus was left in Crete to ordain elders in every city, (Titus 1:5). The name ‘elders' shows that these men are older and more mature in the faith. They have the respect which years of faithfulness bring."
Presbyters: From Jim Massey: "Another name meaning exactly the same as elders is ‘presbyters.' This is just another word meaning ‘older.' It is found in the Bible only one time, (1 Timothy. 4:14--King James Version of the Bible: ‘Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.' [The New International Version of the Bible translates this word ‘elders': ‘Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.']). It has the same significance as the word ‘elders' and should be understood clearly from the above definition."
Bishops: From the Greek word episkopos. It means an "overseer" (epi, over, skopeo, to look or watch), from which comes the English word "bishop," which as precisely the same meaning. It is found in Acts 20:28, being translated "overseers" in both KJV and NIV; Philippians 1:1, being translated "bishops" in the KJV and "overseers" in the NIV; 1 Timothy 3:2, being translated "bishop" in the KJV and "overseer" in the NIV; Titus 1:7, being translated "bishop" in the KJV and "overseer" in the NIV; 1 Peter 2:25, being translated "Bishop" in the KJV and "Overseer" in the NIV. The term "bishop," or "overseer," indicates the character of the work undertaken. These elders, men mature in spiritual experience and understanding, are to oversee the church--to look out for, to watch out for, to watch over--very close to the meaning of the shepherd always vigilantly watching out for the flock of sheep, being alert to dangers to the flock and being watchful of the best places to feed and water the flock. These elders are to emulate Christ, "the Shepherd and Bishop" (KJV) of our souls, 1 Peter 2:25. (NIV translates this as "the Shepherd and Overseer" of our souls.) From Jim Massey: "Another name for elders is ‘bishops' meaning ‘overseers.' It is found in 1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:7; Philippians 1:1. It is elsewhere used to refer to Jesus as the Overseer of our souls, (1 Peter 2:25), and to the place of oversight from which Judas Iscariot fell, (Acts 1:20, KJV: ‘For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.' Acts 1:20, NIV: ‘ "For," ' said Peter, ‘ "it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, ‘May another take his place of leadership.' " '). This name for elders shows the work of overseeing which elders must do. 1 Peter 5:2 says that they are to have oversight [from the Greek word episkopeo, ‘exercising the oversight,' ‘taking the oversight,' ‘serving as overseers']. This emphasizes that elders themselves do not necessarily do all the work of teaching and leading. But they do oversee all such work. They must superintend or administer the work of the local church. As all organizations must have overseers the Lord's church has bishops or overseers."
Overseers: From Jim Massey: "As seen above, this word means exactly the same as bishops. It is made of two words: ‘see' and ‘over.' An overseer looks out over the church. He is a watchman over the welfare and business of the congregation. Acts 20:28 says that the Holy Ghost had made the Ephesian elders overseers of the flock. They were to take heed to themselves ‘and to all the flock.' It was their responsibility to keep out false teachers who would come, (Acts 20:29-30). The name ‘overseers' tells of the important work of oversight which is so necessary in the Lord's church."
Pastors: From the Greek word poimen, meaning "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks (not merely one who feeds them)". It is used metaphorically (in comparison) of Christian "pastors," in Ephesians 4:11 (in both the KJV and the NIV). Pastors guide as well as feed the flock. In Acts 20:17, Paul is in Miletus. He sends to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrive, one of the things he admonishes them is to "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His Own blood." Therefore, tending the flock--exercising the oversight--was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops). This service to the Lord involves tender care and vigilant superintendence. From Jim Massey: "This name for elders is found only once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11). It is another word meaning shepherds. Spiritual leaders over the people of Israel were called ‘pastors' (Jeremiah 2:8). Woes and curses were pronounced upon those pastors who destroyed and scattered the Lord's sheep (Jeremiah 23:1-7). The word ‘pastor' is similar to the word ‘pasture.' This further shows the meaning of a shepherd and sheep. Denominational pastors differ from Scriptural pastors. Pastors were elders in the Bible, and there were always more than one in each church."
Shepherds: From Jim Massey: "In writing to elders the apostle Peter tells them to feed the flock among them. He then says that when the chief Shepherd shall appear (Christ), they would receive a fadeless crown, (1 Peter 5:1-4). This shows that elders are shepherds in the congregation under Christ the chief Shepherd. This comparison of elders to shepherds is meaningful. Shepherds in Bible lands were very interested in their sheep. They loved them and nurtured them, (see Psalm 23). They always led ahead of them, never driving them from behind. They knew each problem of each animal and loved them every one. They protected them, fed them, and watered them. Shepherds would suffer great hardships to find a lost sheep or to keep their flocks from harm. This is the kind of officers the Lord wants as elders. The name ‘shepherd' and all other names for elders in the church help to give us a good understanding of these men. Elders are presbyters, bishops overseers, pastors, or shepherds."
"Eternal" comes from the Greek words, aion, meaning "an age," and aionios, describing duration, either undefined, but not endless, as in Romans 16:25, 2 Timothy 1:9 and Titus 1:2, or undefined because it is endless, as in Romans 16:26, and the other sixty-six places in the New Testament.
"Eternal" is used of "life"--"eternal life"--to mean "an age that one cannot define because it is endless." "Eternal life" is life in and with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit without end. When the saved--those who believe and obey God's commands and are justified (made right) in His sight--have the "hope of eternal life," (Titus 3:1-8), they have a firm and confident expectation of the certainty and the reality of that life in eternity with God, which they now already possess here on earth as servants and children of God. They are "dearly loved" children of God, (Ephesians 5:1; Colossians 3:12-14).
Jesus says that whoever believes in the Son HAS eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life at all, (John 3:36). For the saved, this is a confident expectation, and not vague and wishful thinking--something they KNOW will happen because it is promised by the One Who IS eternal life, (1 John 5:20). For those who will not see life at all, eternal death is a surety in this age, as well as in the age to come. Believers live in eternal life now, having crossed over from death to life, just as those who reject Christ live in eternal death now, (John 5:24). Jesus says that the Father's Will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall HAVE eternal life, and that they will be raised up by Christ at the last day, (John 6:40). And there it is--that "hope of eternal life"--a confident expectation that what a child of God already lives in (eternal life) in the mortal body is of a SURITY to be realized in the immortal body.
God has given believers eternal life, and that life is IN His Son. We can KNOW that we have this eternal life. It is not wishful thinking or a vague longing for something we think we cannot have. 1 John 5:11-13 says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
If we are IN Christ, then we are IN eternal life because Christ IS eternal life. 1 John 5:20 says, "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him Who is true. And we are in Him Who is true--even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
Eternal redemption came by Christ, (Hebrews 9:12), and because of this, He is now the source of eternal salvation (eternal life) for all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9). Eternal life is received by those who believe in Christ, (John 3:16). Christ gives eternal life to His "sheep," and they shall never perish. In John 10:27-30, Jesus says, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are One."
From the Greek word huperupsoo. It means "to lift up" or "to be highly above." After Jesus' total and complete humiliation--His death on the cross, God lifted up, or raised up, Jesus to the highest place above all others. Because Jesus was humble, not thinking that being equal with God was something He should hold on to, because He willingly gave up the glory that He had with the Father and because of His total and willing obedience to God in all things, God exalted Jesus to His right hand, the position of total authority, (Acts 2:32-33; Acts 5:31; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 7:26-28). God's "called out" (God's children, God's people, God's "elect") are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. We are to become humble and give total and willing obedience to God in all things. By doing so, God's children will also be exalted. In Matthew 23:8-12, Jesus says, "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (See also Luke 14:11; Luke 18:9-14; Philippians 1:20-21.) God, through the writings of Paul, describes what His children are to be like, and what the attitude of Christ is that we are to copy. When the child of God does this, he brings glory to God the Father, just as Jesus did. Philippians 2:1-13 says, "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature [or form] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
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