Greek words : ELDER: Presbuterov- presbuteros, (pres-boo'-ter-os) KJV - elder 64, old man 1, eldest 1, elder woman 1; 1) elder, of age, 1a) the elder of two people 1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior 1b1) forefathers2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably 2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God; (Thayer’s, Online Bible Electronic addition)

Greek words : ELDER: presbuterov- presbuteros; a cptv. of presbuv presbus (an old man); elder:-- NAS – elder (3), elders (57), men of old (1), old men (1), older (1), older man (1), older ones( 1), older women (1), women (1); (N.A.S.V., 1995, Online Bible Electronic addition) Presbuteros> an adjective, the comparative degree of presbus, "an old man, an elder," is used (a) of age, whether of the "elder" of two persons, Luke 15:25, or more, John 8:9, "the eldest;" or of a person advanced in life, a senior, Acts 2:17; in Heb. 11:2, the "elders" are the forefathers in Israel; so in Matt. 15:2; Mark 7:3,5; the feminine of the adjective is used of "elder" women in the churches, 1 Tim. 5:2, not in respect of position but in seniority of age;

Greek words : BISHOP: Episkoph- episkope (ep-is-kop-ay’) KJV - visitation 2, bishoprick 1, office of a bishop 1; 4 1) investigation, inspection, visitation 1a) that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad 1b) oversight 1b1) overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder 1b2) the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church; (Thayer’s, Online Bible Electronic addition) Note: Presbuteros, "an elder," is another term for the same person as bishop or overseer. See Acts 20:17 with verse Acts 20:28. The term "elder" indicates the mature spiritual experience and understanding of those so described; the term "bishop," or "overseer," indicates the character of the work undertaken.

Greek words : PASTOR: episkopov episkopos- (ep-is'-kop-os) KJV - bishop 6, overseer 1; 7 1) an overseer 1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent 1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church; (Thayer’s, Online Bible Electronic addition) Episkopov- episkopos "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks" (not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of Christian "pastors," Eph. 4:11. "Pastors" guide as well as feed the flock; cp. Acts 20:28

The importance of leadership: “Isa. 3:11-12 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” “Isa. 9: For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed. Therefore the LORD will have no joy in their young men, Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows; For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

The importance of leadership: Jer 14:14-15 And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’--‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed! Eze 13:3-9 Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! “O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. “You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. “They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. “Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have not spoken.” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord GOD. “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

“Tit 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.” Paul’s statement was needed then and is needed today. Lack of preparing young men to serve. Young ladies need to be taught to be elder’s wives. Godly women have a great influence on the home and the kind of children that are raised. There is a great need in the church for the influence of godly women. Elders must have good wives, but all members, including preachers, need godly women to help them in the service of the Lord..

The names used for elders in the New Testament define for us something of the work or duties of men who are elders: THE WORD ELDER: The word elder includes in it the idea of an older person. “1Cor 2:6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.” We normally identify wisdom with those who are old in age (elders) because of their experiences in life. “Job 12:12-13 Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding. “With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.”

THE WORD BISHOP: The word “bishop” carries with it the idea of the work undertaken. The work is that of oversight of the work of the local church. Overseeing the work of the church is taking the responsibility of seeing that the local church fulfills the work God intended. Overseeing the work of the church is serious business. Those who exercise oversight also have the responsibility of the souls they are overseeing.

THE WORD PASTOR: The word “shepherd” describes for us the kind of overseeing that is necessary for one to be a pastor. Sheep need to have water, food and protection from wolves. Souls need to drink from the fountain of eternal life, partake of the milk and meat of the word and be able to identify the evil one. Overseers have a grave responsibility to see that the sheep know what the Word of God says.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON ELDERS: Duties to God: The idea of taking heed is to realize the importance of this office. Elders must be men who are always willing to examine themselves, (2Cor. 13:5), according to the Bible to see if they are following the faith. Elders are to be guided by the Word. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified,” (Acts 20:32).

Examples of: Elders must be examples to the flock of God, of which they are overseers. Elders are examples of what fatherhood is. Elders are to be good examples of a husband. Elders must be able to teach to be effective (1Tim. 3:2). The duty of an eldership is to be found as a good example of faithfulness. When members see the elders being good workers in the Lord’s church they are willing to work, too. Another important example that elders need to set for the church is the example of being peacemakers.

SUMMARY: Being an elder is a high calling for a Christian man and one that should be received with all joy. It is an honor to be chosen to be an elder. Every male child needs to set this as his true goal in life, to serve with honor in the most important office a man could ever be called to serve in. Our Bibles tell us that those who serve as elders will receive double honor, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine,” (1Tim. 5:17).