Understanding the Role of Elders in the Church

Introduction

Since last fall, we’ve been slowly working through a part of the Bible called 1 Timothy. And as you perhaps remember, in this letter, a key leader commissioned by Jesus named Paul has been used by God to record some important instructions. These instructions were originally written for one of Paul’s co-workers, a younger man named Timothy. But God also intended these instructions to be for us – to benefit Christians throughout history.

We’ve been moving through this letter pretty slowly – so it might be easy to forget the big picture of what’s been said so far. But essentially, Paul has been encouraging Timothy in how to live well, both as a sinner saved by God’s mercy and kindness, and as a leader in the Church. And Paul has been giving a number of instructions about how a Christian church should be organized, and what our relationships with other Christians should look like.

A couple months ago, you might remember when we worked through 1 Timothy 3, Paul identified two official leadership roles for churches. He listed out key qualifications for overseers (also called elders) and qualifications for deacons. But when Paul talked about elders – even though he explained the qualities someone should have in order to be an elder – he didn’t spend time talking about what an elder does, or how people should relate to elders in the church.

But that’s what Paul does in our text tonight. So if you haven’t already, please turn with me to 1 Timothy 5. I’ll be reading verses 17 through 25. But before I do, please pray with me:

[Pray and Read Text]

Introduction 2.0

When a military unit is sent out on a mission, I think we’d all recognize that there are a number of things that are important for making sure that the mission is successful. For one thing, the military unit needs to have right information about the enemy, and the types of obstacles they might encounter. The soldiers need to have the right supplies. They need to have the right strategy. But beyond all these things – one of the most important things for the success of the mission is the relationship between the captain of the military unit and the soldiers. It needs to be a tight bond, both ways – a bond of loyalty and trust. The captain has a responsibility to do his part, to care for his men, and to be wise in the instructions he gives. And the soldiers have a responsibility to respect his lead. Because if the relationship breaks down – on either side – the mission is compromised. In order for the special operations to be successful, it requires both good leaders, and it also requires good followers.

And that’s why, in our text tonight, Paul takes time to explain how healthy leadership should function in the Church, and how Christians should interact with their elders. These things will either help the mission of the church, or hinder it.

As so as we work through our text, I want to point out from our text five key things related to the role of elders, and why these matters are good and practical for the well-being of the Church. Give things: first, the rule exercised by an elder (the oversight he gives). Second, the respect owed to an elder. Third, the right accountability for an elder. Fourth, the raising up of elders. And then fifth and finally, the required integrity of elders. Let’s consider each of these things.

The Rule Exercised by an Elder

So first, the rule (or the authority) exercised by an elder. In verse 1, we’re told, “Let elders who rule well, be considered worthy of double honor.” You’ll see that this initial comment makes it clear that a key part of an elder’s work involves ruling in the church.

Now, for some of us, the idea of ruling might carry some baggage with it. It might sound like elders are being described here as kings or dictators, who use their power to steamroll over people to get what they want. But the Greek word that’s used here doesn’t carry that sort of idea at all. Instead, the original Greek word for ruling, here, could be translated in other ways – to preside over the affairs of the church, to lead people toward what’s good, to provide governance and direction – those are the sorts of things that are in view here. The role that elders have to oversee the church involves a real exercise of authority, but it’s an authority that’s given for building others up – not beating them into submission. It’s an authority God has given for strengthening the Church, rather than subjugating the church.

And interestingly, this word that describes how elders rule in the church – this same word is used in 1 Timothy 3, to describe the qualifications for elders and deacons. They must manage (or rule) their own households well. It’s the same word. One of the minor themes that runs through this letter, is that Paul views the church in terms that are very familial. You might remember, he explicitly referred to the church as the household of God, back in 1 Timothy 3:15. And in our text last week, Pastor Josh pointed out that Timothy is instructed to view others in the church as fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers in the faith. So when we think about elders managing the Church, the guiding principles for how to do this shouldn’t come from mass marketing or business administration. Instead, elders are supposed to care for the Church as their own family – as the household of God.

And so as we think about the sort of responsibilities that come with managing a home, it can help us understand what it means for elders to rule well in the local church. In the same way that fathers have a key role in providing for the household, protecting it, handling disputes, giving direction, and managing household resources – elders are intended to do a lot of the same things.

Elders should be providers for the church – not just in physical or financial ways, although that’s valuable, too. But elders should provide for the church relationally, to build trust and good communication. They should provide spiritually, by setting a godly example and by training people to understand and apply the Scriptures. Eldering also involves protecting. Elders have an important role to develop and defend the church, so that together, we’ll be able to stand firmly against fear, and temptation, and false teaching. Ruling as an elder also involves handling disputes and discipline cases. Just as good fathers will step in to firmly and lovingly correct wayward children in their home, faithful elders are called to similar expressions of love and leadership. And elders also have a responsibility to give direction to the Church body, and to wisely engage church resources in the mission to make disciples of Christ.

These are the kinds of responsibilities that are in view, when it comes to elders ruling, and exercising oversight in the church.

The Respect Owed to an Elder

But in addition to describing the work of an elder like this, Paul also takes times here to remind Timothy about the respect owed to an elder. We see this in the rest of 1 Timothy 5:17: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

Now, when Paul says that elders should be considered worthy of “double honor,” he isn’t just saying that elders should get two scoops of ice cream instead of one, whenever the church has an ice cream social. But he’s instead explaining that elders in the church should receive two distinct forms of honor.

The first way that faithful elders should be honored is with humble respect and submission from the church that they’re serving. And Paul understands that encouragements like this are important, because even when elders are ruling well, they might still be clumsy with their words, or they may make decisions that people disapprove of. And the temptation for us can be to keep score – to tally up every little mistake our elders make – and to let those things get in the way of our respect and gratitude for them.

But Paul urges us to set aside that critical spirit. He urges us to put aside that arrogant desire to evaluate the performance of other people by our personal standards. And instead, he encourages people in the church to be thankful for the labor of the elders, and to follow their lead as they serve for the spiritual good of others.

But there’s a second dimension of this honor that we should give to elders. Paul says that elders, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, should receive a reward – some sort of material repayment for their work.

You’ll notice, this is where the Bible makes a clear distinction between two classes of elders in the Church. All elders rule – and so there’s a general designation of ruling elders that’s appropriate. But then there are also some elders – not all, but some – who are distinctly set apart to labor in preaching and teaching. And these elders who labor in preaching and teaching are what we generally refer to as pastors, or ministers. In our denomination – the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) – they’re often called teaching elders, just to make it clear that they hold the same office as other elders, but have a specialized function in preaching and teaching.

And Paul wants to make it very clear to Timothy and to the Church at large, that elders – especially (particularly) those who labor in preaching and teaching, should be given both forms of honor – both faithful respect and also financial repayment. And Paul defends his point, here, by quoting the Scriptures.

He first quotes from the Old Testament law, Deuteronomy 25, verse 4: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” The idea here is that even an ox – an animal – has a right to enjoy the fruits of its labor. And so teaching elders in the church have just as much, if not more of a right, to be compensated and supported in their labor.

And Paul reiterates the same thing by quoting from another part of Scripture. But interestingly, this time, it’s actually a New Testament text that he quotes from – the gospel of Luke. (As a cool sidenote, this gives us evidence that already, here in the days of Paul, the New Testament Scriptures were already being clearly formulated and recognized as Scripture, on the same level as the Old Testament). And in the book of Luke, as Jesus sends out his disciples two by two, he encourages them to receive hospitality with a clear conscience, because – he declares – “the laborer deserves his wages.” So the overall point that’s made by this is that teaching elders should be provided for and paid by the church, as a way of us showing them double honor for their labor.

For much of Paul’s ministry, he hadn’t accepted payment like this, for his ministry work. But here he wants to make sure that it’s clear to Christians that paying their preachers is part of what it means to honor them rightly. This is an important part of God’s long-term plan to ensure the healthy functioning of the Church.

The Right Accountability for an Elder (Discipline Path)

But even though Paul wants to make sure elders are treated well, like this, Paul also recognizes that being an elder in the church doesn’t make someone immune from temptation. The church needs to be prepared to handle accusations and occasions of moral failures among elders. And so from here, Paul goes on to describe the right accountability that’s needed for an elder. This is my third main point. (The right accountability for an elder).

Now, as the backdrop to this, other parts of Scripture make it clear that there should already be some accountability for elders built in by having multiple elders, a plurality of elders, who are overseeing each local church. And these elders should be truly equal in their authority – often referred to as parity among the elders – such that they’re accountable to each other’s’ oversight.

But in addition to all that, Paul identifies three other important principles to make sure that elders are being held accountable in a right way. First, Paul gives standards for admitting charges against elders. In verse 19, he says, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” And this first principle is designed to protect elders against false charges, and to protect the ministry of elders from being ruined by empty rumors. Before a verdict is rendered on someone’s character or conduct, we need to make sure that the information is verified by a second or third witness.

This’ll protect us from jumping to conclusions about other people, based on gossip we hear. It’ll shield the Church against a lot of emotional upheaval and drama. And it’ll greatly reduce the likelihood of faithful elders being disgraced for no cause.

The second aspect of accountability that Paul explains, though, is he gives standards for addressing sin, when an elder is charged by multiple witnesses. In verse 20, he says, “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all so that the rest may stand in fear.” In other words, since elders hold a publicly visible leadership position in the church, if it turns out that they have a pernicious or persistent sin issue, they need to be rebuked (and potentially removed from office!) in a way that’s proportionately public and visible. This helps the fallen elder to see the seriousness of his sin. This helps the other elders, by making them more vigilant to resist temptation and walk daily with Christ. And this helps the Church, by warning the whole Church of the dangers of sin, and by reassuring them that the elders are truly serious about seeking the peace, purity, and health of Christ’s body.

But the last principle that Paul mentions here, about accountability for elders, appears in verse 21. He charges Timothy in the presence of God to administer justice in the accountability process. He urges Timothy, “to keep these rules without prejudging, and doing nothing from partiality.” In other words, Timothy, and other elders like him – they shouldn’t jump to conclusions, or pick sides just based on their instincts or biases. Instead, accountability should be provided in a way that’s impartial and equitable to all the parties involved.

The Raising up of Elders

But Paul doesn’t just recognize the importance of giving right accountability for those who are already elders. He also urges Timothy to give careful thought on the front end – to be careful in the raising up of elders. This is my fourth main point: The raising up of elders.

In verse 22, Paul tells Timothy, “do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” And this reference to “the laying on of hands,” is a clear reference to setting a man apart for ministry – to be an office-bearer in the church. On a couple different occasions, Paul reminds Timothy of when the council of elders – the Presbytery – laid hands on him, to ordain him to office, back in Chapter 4, verse 14. And now Paul urges Timothy, here – before other men are set apart to be elders, make sure you slow down. Be selective. Know these men, and their convictions, and the content of what they’ll teach, to see if it fits with the Scriptures.

In a church plant like ours, there can sometimes be a desire to just hurry up and take the step to have our own elders. And it’s not a wrong desire. Lord willing, we’ll get through the Leadership class and it we’ll have two or three men put forward by the congregation to serve as elders. But if we get through the class and it seems wise to wait, to and to discern a bit longer – that’s better than going too fast. That’s better than putting a mantle of responsibility on people who aren’t up for it yet. It’s much easier to postpone the day that a teenager gets her driver’s license than it is to clean up the wreckage of a car crash. That’s why Paul says “don’t be hasty in the laying on of hands.”

The Required Integrity of Elders

But in the last few verses of our text, Paul then makes a few more comments, relating to the required integrity of elders. This is my fifth and final point. In the second half of verse 22, Paul commands, that Timothy shouldn’t “take part in the sins of others” but instead he says, “keep yourself pure.” Timothy likely won’t be able to control the attitudes or actions of other elders. And he may serve in churches where there’s pressure placed on him, to speak a certain way, or to do certain things to meet their standards. But Paul insists to Timothy here – elders can’t be like that. They can’t be driven by a desire to fit in, or to be popular, or to seem normal. Instead, an elder’s chief concern is to make sure that his actions are faithful to Christ and the Scriptures. Elders can’t just float down the river. They need to be prepared to swim upstream.

Interestingly, Paul also mentions here a personal word of instruction to Timothy regarding his physical integrity. Timothy has apparently been having stomach ailments of some sort. And so Paul encourages him to drink a modest amount of wine – possibly as an antiseptic or something – to help provide some medicinal relief. Though it’s not exactly clear what Timothy’s specific problem was, here, the overarching idea is that elders have physical limitations. And it’s not only permissible, but it’s also highly desirable that part of an elder’s work would be to exercise some physical stewardship over his body, to make sure that he’s in good shape to care for the needs of others.

But the last thing Paul mentions about the required integrity of elders, is how you can discern that integrity. Of course, we don’t have the ability to see the condition of someone’s heart. And yet Paul reassures timothy that the character of a man will ultimately be seen in the fruits of his life. Paul describes this in verses 24 and 25.

But Paul helps Timothy to understand that there’s some nuance here. Sometimes the sins of a man are immediately obvious, but other times it takes time before the bad fruits show up. Similarly, Paul says that good fruits are usually pretty visible in a person’s life, and yet sometimes less visible things don’t come out into the open until later. And as we consider this comment, it just underscores how wise and beneficial it can be sometimes, to form our opinions slowly – to take actions, patiently. Though it’s good for elders to know when action needs to be taken promptly, and decisively – it’s more often the case that elders need to know the value of patience – patience in reaching conclusions, patience in caring for people in the Church, patience in speaking, and patience in moving forward. Because sometimes, for the true colors of a person to be seen, or for the real issues in a situation to become clear – it just takes time.

Now, as we wrap up this section of text, dealing with elders in the Church, the details here may seem more relevant to some of us more than others. But for all of us, we should be reminded here of how much Christ cares for his household. Christ laid down his life, to rescue sinners like us from the death sentence we deserved. And he’s raised up elders in the Church, to care for all those who trust him – to provide for us, to protect us, to coordinate, and to correct us. We aren’t intended to hobble through the Christian life alone. But Christ has established guidance and governance and goodness for his people, through the care of faithful elders. So as we close, let’s pray that Christ’s care for his people would be seen here at our church in Mt Pleasant in the years to come. Let’s pray: