Overseers And Their Work (3)(continued)

by J. Rodgers, Toronto | Category: Overseers And Their Work (continued) | Sept 1979

Last month we enquired about scriptural guidance on this subject for today. It is essential to establish initially that the terms elder, bishop and overseer refer to the same office. Help may be obtained from a comparison of Acts 20:17, "... he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church", with Acts 20:28, "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost (Spirit) hath made you bishops (overseers RVM), to feed the church of God", and 1 Timothy 3:1, "If a man seeketh the office of a bishop (overseer RVM), he desireth a good work".

The character of an overseer is of prime importance to his recognition. The qualities outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9 should be the plumbline for assessing the necessary character and fitness of those whom the Lord is calling to this important aspect of service among His people.

The "making" of overseers is a term which is often used, but we need reminding of its scriptural usage. According to Acts 20:28 overseers are made by the Holy Spirit. The "appointing" of overseers, as previously referred to, applies to the recognition by others of the evident work of the Holy Spirit in them.

The recognition of overseers must have scriptural precedent if we are to apply it as a principle for today. The purpose in our tracing in detail the development in the purposes of God throughout the Scriptures in relation to rule is to emphasize its importance in the divine plan. The necessity of God-appointed rulers is brought into greater relief through references to occasions when this was lacking, with disastrous results. We have followed through to New Covenant teaching and viewed the existence of elders, or overseers, as an important part in the overall pattern which was ordained in all the churches. It remains now to establish the doctrine of the Lord in respect to oversight recognition.

According to certain passages of Scripture which we have examined (e.g. Acts 20), we can clearly see the responsibility of overseers in their local assembly. Nevertheless, Peter addresses his first epistle to five provinces, and later, in chapter 5, writes to the elders of these provinces. Thus we see elders grouped together in various provinces, having responsibility therein beyond the local sphere. Further, provinces are seen acting together in their liberal united giving of material things to meet the need of saints in another area (see 2 Cor. 8 and 9). From Romans 15:26 we learn that this bountiful supply from exercised hearts was for the poor in Jerusalem, yet Acts 11 shows that the gift was sent from the aforementioned provinces to the province of Judea (not directly to Jerusalem, even although the apostles were resident and active there). It seems clear, therefore, that churches were linked together in their various provinces and that elders of these provinces were the administrative body which acted on their behalf. The gift was sent by the hand of the elders to the elders in Judea. Added to the foregoing, if we examine Acts 16:1-4 and 1 Tim. 4:14 we see again district elders united in commending Timothy to the work of the Lord, this united body being spoken of as the "presbytery". We conclude that the apostolic circle which was the recognized administrative body for early church days, was gradually being replaced, in view of its ultimate cessation, by that body of men recognized as elders of provinces. We judge from the correlation of these various scriptural teachings that an individual brought into oversight was recognized and received through the prevailing administrative circle. In the past the apostles formed this circle, then through the development of God's purposes recognition was vested in provincial elderhood, which we regard as applying to the present, there being no recorded alteration to the foregoing.

A man's initial responsibility in oversight would be in respect to his local assembly, then as we have seen, in a linking with others in district (or province) administration. He becomes part of that body of men upon whom God has placed responsibility for all the churches. This widespread care and government is suggested by Paul's use of the words "all the flock" in Acts 20 and the word by Peter in chapter 5, "the flock of God". Since this last point indicates a grouping together of brethren in the community, it substantiates our claim that the Scriptures teach that no church or single body of elders is autonomous (i.e. any body of elders other than the elders of all the churches together). In discussing doctrine as affecting the community, which we believe is described by the words of 1 Corinthians 1:9, "The fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord", it is necessary for representative elders of all the churches to meet for consultation. This is seen in practical outworking in Acts 15.

The work of oversight must be considered and weighed carefully before one undertakes it. Borrowing words from another source, "it should not be entered into lightly, but in the fear of God". It cannot be better expressed than in the words of 1 Peter 5:2-3, "... exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according unto God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock". It must be engaged in only as led by the Spirit of God for the glory of God. The work of oversight includes: tending (1 Pet. 5:2); feeding (Acts 20:28); exhorting (Tit. 1:9); admonishing, encouraging and supporting (1 Thess. 5:14).

Because overseers should be "given to hospitality"(Tit. 1:8), but are also responsible to "admonish the disorderly" (1 Thess. 5:14), it is essential that they keep a proper balance to avoid being biased in judgement through the influences of friendship.

"Overseers" and "shepherds" are not synonymous words. However, they are clearly linked together in such passages as Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2, indicating that they can apply to the same person. The shepherd aspect of oversight work is given the pre-eminent place in Scripture, over all other aspects of oversight work. The Lord in His dealings with Israel gives us a preview of shepherd responsibility, doubtless a lesson for ourselves, by emphasizing its negative aspect in the words:

"who will not visit those that are cut off, neither will seek those that are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound ..." (Zech. 11:16 ASV).

The care and welfare of the flock is a continuing exercise. This is well expressed in the words of Genesis 31:40, "in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes". Psalm 23 introduces us to the Great Shepherd and exemplifies one of the most important aspects of shepherd work - to be there when needed (v.4).

The responsibility of overseers is firstly Godward. It carries a reward for service rendered, according to 1 Peter 5:4, but also a future accountability: "... for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account... (Heb. 13:17). An overseer should not act independently; he has a joint responsibility with others in the work of oversight. Elders, or overseers, are always, (in respect to their work) spoken of in the plural in the New Covenant Scriptures. An overseer, not being infallible, needs the prayers of the saints for wisdom and grace. He should be approachable, dependable and knowledgeable.

According to 1 Timothy 3:2 the overseer is to be "the husband of one wife". This does not imply that an overseer must be married; in fact, other scriptural passages run contrary to such a proposal. We may be well advised, however, to consider the relationship of husband and wife when a man is brought into oversight. The necessary sacrifice on the wife's part may be a point worthy of joint prayerful consideration when contemplating the Lord's leading to this service. She may be faced with lonely vigils as her husband pursues his God-given duties of visiting and consultation. It may be a grief of heart to her to watch the evidence in the countenance of her husband of the burden he carries from time to time, yet, in many instances, a burden which cannot be shared. In such circumstances a wife can be a "help meet for him" through continual prayer support, and be of inestimable value in helping and encouraging through patience, self-denial and possibly, now and again, "a word in season". To such we say, although there is no direct word to them from the Lord in the scriptural records; "God is not unrighteous to forget your work" (Heb. 6:10).

We are instructed from 1 Timothy 3:6 that an overseer must not be a novice. The word 'novice' means a new or youthful person. Nevertheless, as previously suggested, age is not of prime importance in a man's appointment to oversight. Of far greater significance in such recognition is spiritual maturity and ability, as is said of the men of Issachar, "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chron. 12:32).

The word "seeketh", in 1 Timothy 3:1, means "stretches out towards". This does not suggest a promoting of oneself, which is contrary to what has been previously stated, namely that the w9rk of the Holy Spirit alone fits an individual for that work and a united district oversight recognizes the work of the Spirit in the man and brings him forward. There is linked with the seeking in 1 Timothy 3 the expression, "he desireth a good work". To desire is "to set one's heart upon". If the two expressions are combined, it is clearly evident that the seeking is the result of a heart exercise. A heart thus bowed to the will of God will patiently await the fulfilment of his desire in the Lord's time.

(to be continued)

J. Rodgers, Toronto | Sept 1979
Overseers And Their Work (continued)