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The failure of church elders to know and teach the Bible is one of the chief reasons doctrinal error floods churches today and drowns the power and life of the church.Biblical Eldership (24)
According to the New Testament concept of eldership, elders lead the church, teach and preach the Word, protect the church from false teachers, exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine, visit the sick and pray, and judge doctrinal issues.Biblical Eldership (16)
Elder Led: a strong emphasis on the responsibilities and duties of the congregation is maintained. While the team of elders has its specific responsibilities, the members of the church have their specific responsibilities as well, and these are fairly substantial; indeed, all major decisions (e.g., electing church officers, hiring pastoral staff, budget, property purchases and sales, church disciplinary matters) are brought by the elders to the members of the church for approval, modification, or dissaproval. The leadership of the elders in their sphere of authority interfaces with congregational responsibilities; accordingly, this model could best be termed 'elder-led congregationalism.'Sojourners and Strangers, 294
We, then, must also view apostolic, Christianized elders to be primarily pastors of a flock, not corporate executives, CEOs, or advisers to the pastor.Biblical Eldership (17)
In the New Testament the words "elder," "shepherd" or "pastor," and "bishop" or "overseer" are used interchangeably in the context of the local church office.The Church: The Gospel Made Visible (Kindle Locations 1386-1387). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
When Paul lists the qualifications for elders, it is significant that he combines requirements concerning character traits and heart attitudes with requirements that cannot be fulfilled in a short time but will only become evident over a period of several years of faithful Christian living.Systematic Theology, 916
there is quite a consistent pattern of plural elders as the main governing group in New Testament churchesSystematic Theology, 912
These officers clearly had the oversight of the flock that was entrusted to their care. They had to provide for it, govern it, and protect it, as the very household of God.Systematic Theology 500
teaching, leading, praying, and shepherding are the responsibilities of the elders of the Church.Sojourners and Strangers, 243
when the overall spiritual tenor of the church is increased, more men will be raised up to be above reproach and, as they express the desire, will be qualified for the office of elder. Perfection in each of these areas is not possible, but men who exhibit these characteristics in high and increasing measure should be the leaders who fill the office of elder.Sojourners and Strangers, 218
Elders were of course both well known and well respected in the Jewish community as the leaders of the community itself, and later when there came to be synagogues, leaders within the synagogue. They were the guardians of the ethic of the community, and they were held responsible for maintaining good moral order and exercising good moral judgement - Suffice it to say that the notion of Christian elders owes something to Judaism.
Depending on the context, then, presbyteros can mean: (1) "older man" or "old man," as in 1 Timothy 5:1 "Do not sharply rebuke an older man [presbyteros]." (2) a title for a community official, an "elder," as in 1 Timothy 5:17: "Let the elders [presbyteroi] who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.".. the strict sense of advanced age is eliminated from the meaning of elder when referring to a community leader certain connotations such as maturity, experience, dignity, authority, and honor are retainedEldership, 125
shared leadership is often more trying than unitary leadership. It exposes our impatience with one another, our stubborn pride, our bull-headedness, our selfish immaturity, our domineering disposition, our lack of love and understanding of one another, and our prayerlessness. It also shows how underdeveloped and immature we really are in humility, brotherly love, and the true servant spirit.Eldership, 114
Biblical eldership cannot exist in an environment of clericalism.Eldership, 113
Better have no elders than the wrong ones.Searching Together
Within an eldership extreme ideas are tempered, harsh judgments moderated and doctrinal imbalances corrected. If one elder shows prejudice toward, or personal dislike for any person, in or outside the church, the others can correct that and insist on fair play and justice. If one elder is in a fierce mood over some offender, that offender has others to whom he can appeal.Reformation Today magazine
It reminds me of the behavior of a band of sheep under attack from dogs, cougars, bears, or even wolves. Often in blind fear or stupid unawareness they will stand rooted to the spot watching their companions being cut to shreds. The predator will pounce upon one then another of the flock raking and tearing them with tooth and claw. Meanwhile, the other sheep may act as if they did not even hear or recognize the carnage going on around them. It is as though they were totally oblivious to the peril of their own precarious position.shepherd looks at The Great Shepherd, p25
According to Paul's required qualifications for eldership, a prospective elder must have enough knowledge of the Bible to be able to refute false teachers.Eldership, 17
[For Officers] three things: (a) the consciousness of being impelled to some special task in the Kingdom of God, by love to God and His cause; (b) the conviction that one is at least in a measure intellectually and spiritually qualified for the office sought; and (c) the experience that God is clearly paving the way to the goalSystematic Theology, 587
If there is a religion in the world which exalts the office of teaching, it is safe to say that it is the religion of Jesus Christ.The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
The final responsibility of the congregation does not contradict or undermine the elders' general leadership, but it provides an opportunity to confirm it when it is right and to constrain it when it is in error. This position is called elder led...The Church: The Gospel Made Visible (Kindle Locations 1474-1476). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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2. J.C. Ryle (108)
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5. John Calvin (79)
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7. George Swinnock (68)
8. Louis Berkhof (62)
9. A.W. Pink (60)
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11. Francis Schaeffer (47)
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