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Transcript of Acts 20:17-36. elders bishops pastors Acts 20:27-36 elders bishops pastors elders Acts 20:17-36 -...
Acts 20:17-36
Acts 20:17-36
elders “bishops” “pastors”
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders Acts 20:17-36- Paul called for the “elders” from Ephesus [v. 17]- Paul said that the Holy Spirit had made them “overseers” (bishops) of the flock of God [v. 28]- Paul said that God had given them a task: to “shepherd” (pastor) the church of God [v. 28]Paul is clearly speaking to the same men he called from Ephesus:elders, bishops, and pastors are the same according to the Bible
Each term describes a different aspect of their roles
Today’sFocus
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- primarily a comparative description of
age:• Lk 15:25; Ac 2:17; Hb 11:2 (ancestors); 1 Tm 5:2; etc. - not necessarily “ancient”, but older
by comparison
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- primarily a comparative description of
age• from the O. T. -- “presbuteros” translates “zaqen”
- secondarily describes “position” of responsibility: among Gentiles: Gn 50:7; Nm 22:7 among the Jews: Nm 11:16-17 (God-ordained); Dt 27:1
Elder
roles
represent the nation – Ex 3:16-18; 19:7-8; 24:9; Lv 4:15 serve as “officers” – Dt 19:11-12; 22:13-21; etc. aid in judgments – Nm 11:16-17; Dt 21:18-21; Pr 31:23
The“seventy” were the basis for the
Sanhedrin later in Israel
1 Tm 4:14; 5:17; Tt 1:5; Ja 5:14; 1 Pt 5:1
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- primarily a comparative description of
age• from the O. T. -- “presbuteros” translates “zaqen”
- secondarily describes “position” of responsibility:• New Testament use stems from Old Testament basis: among the Jews: Mt 16:21; Ac 4:5, 8 (incl. Sanhedrin) among Christians: Ac 11:27; 14:23; 15 & 16:4; 20:17; 21:18
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- primarily a comparative description of
age- secondarily describes “position” of responsibility- Vine’s N.T. Greek: “…presbuteroi [describes] their maturity of spiritual experience.” [Lv 19:32; Dn 7:9]
A Biblical Elder:Mature spiritually, not just physicallyExperienced spiritually, not just in life
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30
• administrators of the funds received from Antioch on behalf of the needs of the church among them • cp. Acts 4:32-37; no longer using the apostles for this• some early Christians now mature enough to do this• who better to know the needs of each congregation?
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23
• a plurality of elders in each local church [cp. Tt 1:5]• follows the pattern of Israel; many elders appointed• elders are “commended…to the Lord in whom they have believed.” [they are entrusted to the Lord with the weight and responsibility of their task; stewards]
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5 • considered and involved in dispute over circumcision• corrected error that had proceeded from people of their congregation – they had not taught this error!• helped choose local men to go and deliver the letter
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17 • Paul called for these men specifically; the mature• these had labored closely with him; he now warned them to use that experience to ward off “wolves” • the spiritually mature and experienced are those to whom it is given to “support the weak” [v. 35]
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • context of 21:17-25 is important: elders called to help• because of their spiritual maturity and experience, these men suggest that the apostle Paul participate in this Jewish rite, and he respects their suggestion!
• maturely, wisely, they sought a teaching opportunity
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • similar to Ac 15:25 – involved in the choosing of local men for involvement in the spread of the gospel
- 1 Tm 4:14
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • expected to “rule” (govern), laboring in word (study) and doctrine (teaching); if done well, doubly honor• by virtue of respect: no hasty accusations [Lv 19:32]
- 1 Tm 4:14; 5:17-20
• by virtue of position: if guilty, stern public rebuke
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • “elder” here first is “blameless”; by pattern of life he has shown correction of error [tested; cp. 1 Tm 3:6-7]• “elder” also used here in the context of family; has experience with leadership and teaching discipline
- 1 Tm 4:14; 5:17-20; Tt 1:5-6
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • in context, is experienced to comfort those who are ill (both spiritually and physically) [L.C. and M.L. ex.] • from context, is a spiritually-minded, prayerful man, whose righteousness is known and trusted
- 1 Tm 4:14; 5:17-20; Tt 1:5-6; Ja 5:14-16
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
elders “elders” is from Greek “presbuteros”- Mature and experienced in spiritual
matters Christian “elders” further defined by context:- Ac 11:27-30; 14:23; Ac 15:2, 4, 6-29;
16:4-5; 20:17; 21:18 • exhorted not to serve as “lords over those entrusted to you”; the temptation is to delegate all to others• the mature and experienced elder knows that true leaders both serve and delegate, leading by example
- 1 Tm 4:14; 5:17-20; Tt 1:5-6; Ja 5:14-16; 1 Pt 5:1-4
elders
Acts 20:27-36 elders “bishops”
“pastors”
The “Chief Shepherd” is Jesus Himself
Matt 18:11-13He is seeking for
those sheep which are lost
Rev 1:8, 12-14, 18
He is “elder of elders”
the “Ancient of Days”
He alone has the wisdom and
experience to save us; He has the words of lifeWould YOU submit to His rule
today?