Thus far in our study of the New Testament Christian elder we have limited our search to passages which explicitly include the English translated word “elder” (using the NIV 2011 edition). While the word “elder” itself does come up frequently, the concept of this role within the church is spoken of using a host of various other descriptive words.

Today we will consider the first of the synonyms for Christian elders in the New Testament (there are more than this one, but in attempting to keep this a more digestible read I’m limiting today’s discussion to one): Overseer. In future discussions we will examine other synonymous words and concepts for the elder (such as shepherd, and pastor).

Overseer

The first time we see this word used in the New Testament is in Paul’s speech to the gathered group of Christian elders from the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:28):

20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

We can make a few initial observations here about Christian elders. (1) the Holy Spirit is the one who has made the elders to be “overseers”. The Holy Spirit of God is intensely involved in the work of the church. One of those very tangible ways the Holy Spirit is involved is through elders/overseers. (2) The position of “overseer” is akin to one watching over, providing oversight. One of the tasks of elders is observational in nature. They are to “keep their eyes peeled” as it were with special focus on the special people of God. Christian elders should provide accountability in a Godly manner for the church. (3) The elders not only keep watch over the flock, but also themselves! This is sequentially the first thing Paul brings to the attention of the Ephesian elders. Not only is there an exercise of oversight from the Elders over the church, but there is also a duty of watching over themselves. Conceptually we see some overlap with Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:42 and the parable of the plank and the eye. Before exercising another’s speck of a problem, one must deal with the plank of a problem in themselves. Christian elders are not free from oversight, they are established by the Holy Spirit and are held to a lofty standard (more on this later).

The second time we see the word “overseer” used in the New Testament is in the opening words of the letter to the Philippians:

1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 

We see Paul and Timothy address two major groups, with one group having two subgroups. The first major group are “all God’s Holy People in Christ Jesus at Philippi”. The second major group we may call church servants, or church officers. This second major group is composed of both the overseers and the deacons. We’re left wondering at this point if “overseer” is truly synonymous with elders. Yet as we will see throughout our study, the work of elders is often described with words like “overseer”, and “shepherd”. There is no third group which is singled out or differentiated from elders. There is however a group differentiated from deacons. Therefore, we can conclude that throughout the New Testament there are at minimum two groups identified in church service – elders (frequently called overseers or other titles in connection with their responsibilities) and deacons.

The third instance of “Overseer” in the New Testament is found in Paul’s first letter to Timothy in chapter 3:

3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

We can make a few observations here. (1) The work of the Christian overseer/elder is something noble. This work is something which may be aspired to, desired, or hoped for. When I think of a “noble task” I think of one particular young man who I’m praying for at the moment. He’s someone I’ve gotten to know a little bit over the last year, and he’s generously signed up to serve in the armed forces as a marine. He’s dedicated himself to all sorts of various tasks and made himself subject to others in authority over him for the sake of serving millions who he will never meet and who will never know his name. That’s certainly a noble task! Paul says to Timothy that this work of the overseer is also a “noble task”! (2) The overseer/elder is a matter of “being”. It is not merely duties attached to a title, a role associated with responsibilities, but is also a matter of existing. It is not merely something to “do”, but rather the New Testament Christian elder is to “be” something. (3) In addition to “being” something, the Christian overseer/elder is also to “do” something as there is a task. We should not reduce the role and work of overseers/elders to only their tasks. Yet we should also not absolve or ourselves neglect the call to action in New Testament instructions for elders. There are things for the Christian elders to “do”.

Paul continues his discussion on elders with a lengthy standard and set of qualities for Timothy to put to use in the church (3:2-7):

3:2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.