Elders and Deacons

In the book of Acts, James speaks of the restoration of all things. The history of restoration in the church began with the initiative of the disciples to preach the gospel in Jerusalem and Judea. From there they went to the Gentile region of Samaria and, ultimately, to the ends of the earth. The twelve apostles represented the primary leadership of the church in Jerusalem and Judea. Then, because of the work load as the churches grew, they appointed seven men as deacons. These men waited on those around them, yet were ‘full of the Spirit and of wisdom’. Acts 6:1-4.

After Stephen was martyred, the whole church, except the apostles, was scattered. There were five brethren together in Antioch, and they were called prophets and teachers. These five prophets and teachers were fasting and praying, and the Holy Spirit directed them to set aside Paul and Barnabas and to send them out to do the work to which He had called them. Paul and Barnabas therefore became apostles, or in other words, ones who were ‘sent’.

When Paul and Barnabas went out, they did not go as elders. At that time, there were no churches and therefore no elders. There were elders in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, but they were Jewish elders, not elders of the church. Elders didn’t emerge in the church until Paul and Barnabas went out on their first journey. As they returned to the infant churches they appointed elders in every church. As churches, we need to consider the substance of what we call ‘the Ephesian pattern’ – a multiple eldership. We’ll recall that Paul exhorted the elders from Ephesus to shepherd and guard the flock over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers. Acts 20:28. As Paul had come to the people as a ‘messenger’, so now these elders had to pick up the role of the messengers to the local region and church. The word ‘messenger’ is probably a better term than ‘elder’, since it allows for some flexibility between the local church and the region, and ultimately the universal church.

There needs to be elders ‘in every place’, but the fact that the deacons were appointed long before elders answers a dilemma for many men. The authority of the church did not proceed from twelve to the elders of the churches. It originated from those who were ministering the word and waiting on God in prayer. The word for ‘minister’ is better translated ‘deacon’. The apostles were ‘deaconing’ the word. Over the years, one of the ongoing areas of struggle for men has been the issue of limited ministry grace, but an abundance of ‘deaconing’ capacity. This dilemma is answered, at least in part, when we understand that everybody deacons. The question is more, ‘in which area?’ We need to be sure that we are in the place we have been called to be.

David Falk

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Feature Articles
August 2008

Keeping your heart

Bearing His reproach

The staff of bread

The harmony of life

Honouring fatherhood

Elders and Deacons

Showing Virtue in tragedy

Becoming a seeker

The Goodness of God

The devotion of your youth

Increase by labour