Elders and Deacons
Elders and Deacons
Verse by verse study of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. In this lesson we examine chapter 3 verses 1-13, looking at bishops and deacons. Paul describes the kind of man who is suitable to appoint to the office of an elder or deacon.
First lets take a brief look at the terms Paul uses here in 1Timothy 3 when referring to the congregation's leaders.
Before we comment in particular on the terms in 1Timothy 3, here for your reference, is a table of New Testament terms for elders and deacons:
| Table of terms for elders and deacons | ||
| GREEK | ENGLISH | EXAMPLES |
episkopos 1985 cf 1983-4 |
overseer (bishop) |
1Tm 3:1, Tit 1:7, Php 1:1, Acts 20:28 |
poimeen 4166 cf 4165-8 |
shepherd (pastor) |
Eph 4:11, 1Pe 2:25, 1Pe 5:1-4, Acts 20:28 |
presbuteros 4245 cf 4243-7 |
elder (presbyter) |
1Pe 5:1, Tit 1:5, Acts 20:17, 1Tm 4:14 |
proisteemi 4291 |
VERB to rule |
1Th 5:12, 1Tm 5:17 |
diakonos 1249 cf 1247-8 |
servant minister (deacon) |
1Tm 3:8, Php 1:1 |
Bishop: 1Tm 3:1-2 Paul uses the term "overseer", or in some translations "bishop" in 1Tm 3:1-2. This is one of four terms used to describe elders or shepherds in the congregation. The term "bishop" is not self-explanatory and is for that reason perhaps not as good a translation as "overseer" which well describes the work and purpose of an elder.
Deacon: 1Tm 3:12-13 The term "deacon" is also arcane, and the translation "servant" is probably much clearer and better because it describes the work and purpose of a deacon. He is a servant of the church who is put in charge of some activity or responsibility that needs special attention and leadership. There is a good example in Acts 6:1-7.
1Tm 3:1-13
When we compare the instructions given here to Timothy, and the instructions about elders given to Titus (Titus 1:5-9), we apparently find something in Titus that is missing here in First Timothy, and something in Timothy that is missing there in Titus.
Paul told Titus that an elder must have "children who believe" or in some translations "faithful children"(Titus 1:6) and these terms are usually taken, with good reason, to mean children who are baptized believers and members of the church. This requirement for an elder's children does not occur in the instructions to Timothy.
Paul gives Timothy instructions about both elders and deacons, but we do not find any mention of deacons in the instructions to Titus.
Some see it as a problem that Timothy (in Ephesus 1Tm 1:3) on his instructions from Paul, would be implementing something different to Titus (in Crete Tit 1:5). Attempts are made to “reconcile” both passages. It should be noted that this perceived “problem” assumes that Timothy and Titus had never discussed the qualifications of elders and deacons with Paul, and that all they knew about the matter was what Paul wrote to them individually in the letters we have. That is not a natural assumption and is rather unlikely.
The 