The Work of the Elder

Sermons by Bob Vincent and Others

If we carefully examine the New Testament, we must conclude that all elders are bishops, and all bishops are elders.--In Titus 1-5, Paul instructs Titus to ordain elders -------------, plural of -----------, presbuteros- in every town. These elders are all bishops according to Titus 1-7 ----------, singular of ---------, episkopos-.--In 1 Timothy 3-2 we see a fundamental requirement for an elder that is not required of a deacon- -Able to teach.- This ties back to Titus 1-9--In Acts 14-23, we read that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders -------------, plural of -----------, presbuteros- for them for EVERY church.--The Apostle Peter refers to himself as an elder in 1 Peter 5-1, -As your fellow elder ---------------, --------------, sumpresbuteros-,- and teaches that elders do the work of bishops --------------, participle of ---------, episkope-- and shepherds ----------, infinitive of --------, poimain-- -1 Peter 5-1-4-. We get the word pastor for the Latin word for a shepherd -pastor-.--In Acts 20-17 we read -Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church ----- ------------ --- ----------.---Notice in Acts 20-28, all these elders are called bishops- -Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers -----------, plural of----------, episkopos-.- --All these leaders are called pastors in the next sentence- -Be shepherds -----------, present infinitive of --------,-poimain-- of the church of God- -Acts 20-28-.--Acts 6-2 the Twelve state that they should not -neglect the word of God in order to serve tables- and so the congregation chose the Seven, so -We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word- -Acts 6-4-.