I believe I Corinthians and Colossians are teaching that
leaders are misleading. Not because they are not godly
men but because the teaching that Paul prescribed had
more facets than is usually encompassed in an
organized worship service. I certainly want to give
honor to hard working elders, especially those who are
diligent to teach and preach, but I also want to
remember that Christ told us not to have leaders! Do
not be called leaders; for One is your leader, that is Christ.
Matthew 23:10.
So, is the office of elder a governing position?
That is what the Colossian Church thought. The
Presbyterian Book of Church Order or a local church as
at Colossae may give elders certain governmental
authority. But let’s consider whether the New
Testament gives elders governing authority by
examining the Greek passages which discuss a
religious ‘office’ in regards to elders.
Oh, there are none.
Eldership is not an office in the sense of a governing
authority in the Greek New Testament.
The English word translated ‘office’ is from the Greek
word episkope #1984 which has the general meaning of
overseeing or visitation. It occurs one time in the New
Testament as the office of an apostle in Acts 1:20.
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Apostles had authority. They gave us the very words
of Scripture which were canonized. Episkope in the
context of elders is simply not in the New Testament.
Some translations of the New Testament called elder or
overseer an office in one verse, I Timothy 3:1. But in
Interlinear NIV Parallel New Testament the
transliteration says, If anyone aspires to oversight a good
work he desires. That is all. No ‘office.’ In Greek to
English Interlinear of the New King James Version
New Testament it states, if any stretches forward to
overseership a good work he is desirous. Again, no office.
To recap, though the New Testament refers to Roman
offices and Levitical offices it does not refer to an office
of elder in the Greek manuscripts.
Are there Greek texts which mention the authority of
elders? No.
We are not speaking of apostles. Christ was an apostle,
Hebrews 3:1. Apostles had authority as well as an
office, Acts 1:20. They could raise the dead and were
charged to proclaim the gospel directly by Christ. We
are not discussing a believer’s authority over sin or
spirits, or authority of parents in their family. We are
speaking of New Testament elders and whether God
ordained elders to have governmental authority over
His children in the local church.
A few English versions of the New Testament mention
elder authority one time in Hebrews 13:17 Obey your
leaders and submit to their authority. The English
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translation to ‘their authority’ is in neither interlinear
Greek text. Look it up. If ‘to their authority’ was in the
Greek text then Hebrews 13:17 would contradict Luke
22:25-26 where Jesus says, The Kings of the Gentiles lord
it over them; and those who have authority over them are
called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the
one who is the greatest among you must become like the
youngest, and the leader like the servant.
Wait, why should we obey elders if they have no
authority?
The word for ‘obey’ as to a military command as
children be obedient to your parents in Colossians 3:20, in
the Greek New Testament is hupakouo, Greek word
#5219. The word translated ‘obey’ in Hebrews 13:17 is
peitho, Greek word #3982 with the general meaning of
trust, be persuaded by or yield to. This is not the same
as to obey an authority. There is no other instance in
the New Testament that asserts we should obey elders.
We should submit to or be subject to elders, but that is
quite different than an elder wielding authority. We
are taught to yield to or be persuaded by them, but not
as to a military command.
In I Peter 5:5 Peter says, younger men, likewise, be subject
to your elders. This is important because by contrasting
‘elder’ with ‘younger’ elder is not an office but rather a
season of the believer’s life. This is not necessarily a
season of physical age, I Timothy 4:12, but a season in
his spiritual life.
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Even though we should be subject to elders we do not
have a ruling class or caste in the church. This can be
seen because we are all commanded to yield to each
other, be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, in
Ephesians 5:21 which completes the cycle of
submission in the church. Certainly we should exercise
discipline for sin. But we should not discipline
someone for disobeying the pastor on an issue
concerning a financial budget or a family decision.
Are these words ‘office’, ‘obey’ and ‘authority’ really
important? Absolutely. These words are only used
one time in translations of the New Testament and not
at all in the Greek, as illustrated above, in regards to
elders and thus can have the effect of expanding or
changing our view of Paul’s teaching on the function of
elders.
Not only is a system of authority over believers not
taught in the New Testament, it is even warned against
in Colossians. Paul was talking about submitting to
religious authorities when he said, Let no one keep
defrauding you of your prize...and not holding fast to the
head (Christ)... Colossians 2:18-19.
The focus on men’s teaching took the Corinthians’ eyes
off Christ and it also took the Colossians’ eyes off of
Him. But Paul was addressing something else at
Colossae. He was concerned about governing
authorities in the church.
In Colossians 2:8 Paul writes, See to it that no one takes
you captive through philosophy and empty deception,
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according to the tradition (teaching) of men, according to
the elementary principles of the world, rather than according
to Christ.
The Greek word #4747 stoicheion is interpreted
‘elementary principle’ and has the general meaning of
‘rule.’ Read how this word is used in Galatians 4:2-3.
...But he is under guardians and managers until the date set
by the father. So also we, while we were children were held
in bondage under the ‘elemental things’ of the world.
Note the repetition of Paul’s attention on ruling
authorities in the following Colossian verses:
1:16 ...whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities...
1: 18 ...He is also head of the body, the church...
2:8 ...See to it that no one takes you captive...according to
the elementary principles... (rules)
2:10 ...He is the head over all rule and authority...
2:15 ...When He (Christ) had disarmed the rulers and
authorities...
2:16 ...no one is to act as your judge...
2:18 ...let no one give judgment against... in the Greek
from Interlinear NIV Parallel New Testament
2:19 ...not holding fast to the head... (of the church,
Christ)
2:20 ...if you have died with Christ to the elementary
principles... (rules)
2:20 ...why... do you submit...
2:22 ...commandments and teachings of men...
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Paul identifies ecclesiastical authorities in Colossians
2:16, Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to
food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a
Sabbath day.
Do you see from verse 2:16 that Paul is not as
concerned about the Sabbath day as much as he is
concerned the believer will submit to an authority as a
substitute for Christ’s direct lordship? Paul had
already told us in Romans 14:5, One person regards one
day above another, another regards every day alike. Each
person must be fully convinced in his own mind. Paul’s
commandment in verse 16 is no one is to act as your
judge and not whether they should observe a Sabbath
day.
Again in Colossians 2:18, Let no one keep defrauding you
of your prize by delighting in self-abasement (humility) and
the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has
seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind. Yes, these
delights in humility and the worship, or religion, of
angels are a problem. Yes, they are actually prideful
and redirect the believer’s attention from God as well.
But Paul’s primary concern was the Colossians were
not holding fast to the Head, Colossians 2:19, because they
were submitting to authorities, Colossians 2:20.
Very definitely our fellowship with one another is
related to our relationship with Christ, ...if we walk in
the Light (Christ),...we have fellowship with one another...
I John 1:7. But by submitting to leaders as a substitute
for our fellowship with one another, we will loosen our
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hold on Christ. We must not trade our relationship
with Him for a religious system.
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