Elders & Deacons in the Church

1 Timothy 3

English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Qualifications for Overseers or Elders.

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5ff

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Elders

A list of duties for elders can be compiled from New Testament texts which refer directly to elders and the things for which they are said to be responsible. These observations can be organized in the following way.

Take the Oversight

Oversee the particular flock to which the Holy Spirit assigns them. (Acts 20:28)

Take the oversight of the flock willingly, and of a ready mind: not by constraint, for filthy lucre, or as being lords. (I Peter 5:2-3)

Take care of the church. (I Timothy 3:5)

Rule. (Hebrews 13:7)

Rule well. (I Timothy 5:17)

Consider matters – including doctrinal matters. (Acts 15:6)

Send chosen men to answer matters. (Acts 15:22)

Ordain decrees – establish policy. (Acts 16:4)

Be Available

Labor among the people. (I Thessalonians 5:12)

Take heed unto all the flock. (Acts 20:28)

Feed

Feed the flock of God. (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2)

Speak the word of God. (Hebrews 13:7)

Labor in the word and doctrine. (I Timothy 5:17)

Exhort

Watch for the souls of the people. (Hebrews 13:17)

Admonish the people. (I Thessalonians 5:12)

Warn the flock. (Acts 20:31)

Give account for the people either with joy or with grief. (Hebrews 13:17)

Hold fast the faithful word to exhort and to convince the gainsayers by sound doctrine. (Titus 1:9)

Minister

Support the weak. (Acts 20:34)

Pray over the sick when called. (James 5:14)

Direct the sick to proper medical treatment. (James 5:14)

Monitor Your Own Life

Take heed unto themselves. (Acts 20:28)

Watch for wolves and for perverse speakers among themselves. (Acts 20:31)

Labour, using their own hands to minister unto their own needs and the needs of those who are with them. (Acts 20:33,34)

Remember Jesus’ words, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:34)

Be an example. (I Peter 5:3)

Maintain a faith that can be followed, demonstrating the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7)

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Qualifications for Deacons

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own household.

Acts 6; 1-7 ESV 

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ³ Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷ And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priestsbecame obedient to the faith.

Deacons in the New Testament included Epaphrus (Colossians 1:7), Tychichus (Ephesians 6:21), Timothy (I Thessalonians 3:2), Mark (II Timothy 4:11), Stephanas (I Corinthians 16:15), Onesiphorous (II Timothy 1:18), Archippus (Colossians 4:17), among others. It is interesting to note also, that even though Paul had the authoritative position of Apostle, he identified himself as fulfilling the role of a deacon in many ministry contexts. The implication of this is that the role of primary leadership in the church includes many deacon type responsibilities. The basic distinction between the offices of elder and deacon is that elders rule and deacons do not. Otherwise there are many similarities between the two offices. A list of duties for deacons can be compiled by observing the biblical references to the things men did in the role of deaconing.

Labour in the Gospel, preaching Christ. (I Thessalonians 3:2; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23; II Corinthians 4:1,5)

Edify the saints. (II Corinthians 3:3; I Thessalonians 3:2)

Distribute financial aid (benevolence). (Romans 15:25; II Corinthians 8 and 9)

Carry messages of spiritual concern from one believer to another. (Colossians 1:8; Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:22)

Labour fervently in prayer for the spiritual welfare of other believers. (Colossians 4:12)

Be zealous toward other believers. (Colossians 4:13; II Timothy 1:17)

Comfort the hearts of believers. (Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 4:7)

Comfort believers concerning their faith. (I Thessalonians 3:2)

Help and labor. (I Corinthians 16:15-16; Hebrews 6:10)

Refresh the imprisoned. (II Timothy 1:16)

Seek to reconcile the lost. (II Corinthians 5:18)

Express spiritual gifts to one another. (I Peter 4:10)

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