052. Elders in Every Church
052. Elders in Every Church
52 ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH
INTRODUCTION Grammatical elder is the comparative of "old"; necessarily it means older or elder-old, older, oldest.
I. USES OF THE WORD "ELDER"
1. It denotes aged person (1 Peter 5:1-5.) (a) Peter applies the word to aged .
(b) Here "younger" is in comparison with "elder," denoting younger person .
(c) The "younger" are to submit to their seniors.
(d) John calls himself an elder . (II and Ill John.) 2. Official use of the word. (Acts 14:23.) II. ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM 1. The Scriptures. (Acts 11:30; Acts 15:2; Acts 15:6; Acts 15:22; Acts 16:4.) 2. No record when or how they were appointed.
3. Apostles in the church there, but also elders. (Acts 8:1; Acts 15:6 -- elders needed.) III. ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS (Acts 20:17-28) 1. Paul addressed them as shepherds of the flock.
2. They were considered as bishops.
3. They were to feed the flock.
4. They were made bishops by the Holy Spirit.
5. They were bishops IN the church, not lords OVER it.
IV. TITUS APPOINTED ELDERS IN EVERY CITY (Titus 1:5) 1. They were appointed elders.
2. It is assumed that men had the qualifications.
V. ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI 1. Paul included them in his letter. (Php 1:1.) 2. They were worthy of special mention.