{"id":1001,"date":"2005-02-25T01:27:18","date_gmt":"2005-02-25T01:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/february-qelders-worthy-of-double-honorq\/"},"modified":"2014-02-02T02:19:08","modified_gmt":"2014-02-02T02:19:08","slug":"february-qelders-worthy-of-double-honorq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/february-qelders-worthy-of-double-honorq\/","title":{"rendered":"Elders Worthy of Double Honor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
\n<\/span>especially they who labour in the word and doctrine (1 Tim. 5:17).<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Baptists have never thought they were the only believers in the world or the only ones with Bibles.\u00a0 All believers have the obligation to apply the Scriptures to every part of life, including church life.\u00a0 The great Southern Baptist Greek scholar, A.T. Robertson, said however, \u201cGive a man an open Bible, an open mind, a conscience in good working order, and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist.\u201d1<\/sup> Baptists have always had a definite opinion about those elders who are worthy of such double honor.<\/p>\n

Baptists have generally taken Paul\u2019s instruction to mean that the one office of \u201cpastor\u201d is also called \u201celder\u201d and that any pastor\/elder ought to be a good teacher as well as ruler, and that some pastors\/elders do a better job laboring in the Word and proclaiming it in doctrine than others.\u00a0 There have been, since the days of John Calvin (and especially among our Reformed friends), others who have taken Paul\u2019s words to mean that every local church should have two \u201ckinds\u201d of pastors\/elders; a less honorable kind to rule (\u201cruling elders\u201d) and another kind worthy of double honor (\u201cteaching elders\u201d).\u00a0 While neither Baptists (holding to one \u201ckind\u201d of pastoral office) nor some others (holding to two \u201ckinds\u201d of pastoral office) make this difference a matter of salvation or heresy, both strongly defend their view as the Biblical structure for the church.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The Two Views Delineated<\/h3>\n

Calvin wrote of this verse,<\/p>\n

\n

We may learn from this, that there were at that time two kinds of elders; for all were not ordained to teach.\u00a0 The words plainly mean, that there were some who \u201cruled well\u201d and honourably, but who did not hold the office of teacher.\u00a0 And, indeed, there were chosen from among the people men of worth and of good character, who, united with the pastors in a common council and authority, administered the discipline of the Church, and were a kind of censors for the correction of morals. . . . To return to Paul, he enjoins that support shall be provided chiefly for pastors, who are employed in teaching.2<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Augustus Strong, the most prominent Baptist theologian of the last two centuries, in describing the Baptist view says,<\/p>\n

\n

The only plausible objection to the identity of the presbyter and the bishop [being the same] is that first suggested by Calvin, on the ground of 1 Tim. 5:17.\u00a0 But this text only shows that the one office of presbyter or bishop involved two kinds of labor, and that certain presbyters or bishops were more successful in one kind than in the other.\u00a0 That gifts of teaching and ruling belonged to the same individual, is clear from Acts 20:28-31; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:7; 1 Tim. 3:2-episkopon didaktikon.3<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rodney Decker, following Strong, and writing in the Grace Theological Journal said,<\/p>\n

\n

The terms \u201cteaching elder\u201d and \u201cruling elder\u201d do not appear historically until Calvin.\u00a0 1 Tim. 5:17 refers to elders who are ruling well\u2014not to a class of \u201cruling elders.\u201d\u00a0 The noun is oi presbuteroi, modified by the participle, proestwtes, which is further qualified by the adjective kalws.\u00a0 It is thus the \u201cwell-ruling elders,\u201d not the \u201cgood, ruling-elders.\u201d4<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

Which Is The Novel View?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It would be fair to point out that even Baptists, at times, have had ruling elders in addition to teaching elders.\u00a0 However, this is rare and is usually seen as ruling elders (plural) and a teaching elder i.e. pastor (singular).\u00a0 For example, Peter Masters (whom I greatly admire and whose services I attend when in London), now pastor of Spurgeon\u2019s Metropolitan (Baptist) Tabernacle in London is a Baptist but also Reformed in theology.\u00a0 He defends the separate office of ruling elder while maintaining a higher, and singular office of preaching elder or \u201cpastor\u201d (which he is). He objects to the arrangement of the equality of elders as novel, but maintains three offices in the church:\u00a0 pastor, elders, deacons, as the historical position.5<\/sup><\/p>\n

Most Baptists would maintain, however, that the New Testament teaches the local church has only two biblical offices:\u00a0 pastor and deacons, an \u201celder\u201d simply being another name for the pastor.\u00a0 I have already quoted Strong and Rodney Decker commenting that the third office of elder, separate from the pastor or deacons, began with Calvin.\u00a0\u00a0 Strong also has an interesting quote from Henry M. Dexter in a writing on Congregationalism in which Dexter says,<\/p>\n

\n

Calvin was a natural aristocrat, not a man of the people like Luther.\u00a0 Taken out of his own family to be educated in a family of the nobility, he received an early bent toward exclusiveness.\u00a0 He believed in authority and loved to exercise it.\u00a0 He could easily have been a despot.\u00a0 He assumed all citizens to be Christians until proof to the contrary.\u00a0 He resolved church discipline into police control.\u00a0 He confessed that the eldership was an expedient to which he was driven by circumstances, though after creating it he naturally enough endeavored to procure Scriptural proof in its favor.6<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Now, whether one agrees with Dexter, or even has a dislike for his tone, it is worthy to note that it was the elder rule system that was seen as novel, not the two office system of the Baptists.\u00a0 The greatest Baptist thinker of the eighteenth century, John Gill, wrote in his commentary on 1 Tim. 5:17,<\/p>\n

\n

There are no other that rule in churches, but such who also speak to them the word of God; wherefore by him that rules, and the labourer in word and doctrine; are not meant two distinct orders, but different persons of the same order; some of these ruling well, but do not take so much pains in the ministry of the word; whilst others of them both rule well and labour in the word, and who are to be reckoned deserving of the honour hereafter mentioned.7<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In addition, Dr. Gill wrote in his great work on theology, \u201cThese pastors, teachers, bishops, and elders, are called rulers, guides, and governors.\u00a0 A pastor, or shepherd, is the governor and guide of his flock; a teacher, and a ruling elder are the same, 1 Tim. v. 17.\u201d8<\/sup> Such a voice from the eighteenth century can hardly be said to be \u201cnovel\u201d to our time in history.\u00a0 Alexander Maclaren, who pastored the Union Baptist chapel in Manchester, England for 45 years (1858-1903), wrote concerning our text, \u201cOf course a comparison with verse 17 shows that elder and bishop were two designations for one officer.\u201d9<\/sup> Edward Hiscox, writing a standard Baptist church manual in 1894 confesses that the pastor and elder are two names for the same office.10<\/sup> An older Southern Baptist publication designed for use by their churches in 1907 delineates the same.11<\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Where Do Baptists Stand Today?<\/h3>\n

For the last fifty years, fundamental Baptists in similar practicing fellowships and associations have also described their method of church polity as the two office system of pastor and deacons.\u00a0 Elders have always been seen as a different title for the office of pastor, not a third officer of the church.\u00a0 Richard V. Clearwaters, in 1954, in a book that became the standard for the Minnesota Baptist Association, wrote, \u201cBy comparing Scripture references it seems obvious that both elder and bishop (1 Tim. 3:1, 2) can designate the same office (Titus 1:5, 7); sometimes referring to the officer or man at other times the office or its function (Acts 20:28, 29).\u201d12<\/sup> Paul Jackson, in his book that has been a standard for the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, wrote, \u201cVery honest differences of opinion may exist unless it is understood that the terms pastor, elder and bishop refer to the same office.\u201d13<\/sup> Mike Randall, writing in the Baptist Bible Tribune (of the Baptist Bible Fellowship) in 1987, wrote, \u201cIt seems unmistakable that the elders of the New Testament were all of them teachers and preachers . . . . New Testament elders, then, were ministers in the churches who exercised leadership as overseers and served their flocks as shepherd or pastor.\u201d14<\/sup><\/p>\n

Though there will be exceptions to this view, they are just that, exceptions!\u00a0 The twentieth century could hardly show anything other than the two office arrangement in conservative or fundamental Baptist groups.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cEspecially\u201d in\u00a0 1 Timothy 5:17<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If it is true that the apostle Paul was merely commending those elders that do a good job of laboring in Word and doctrine, not delineating two different kinds of elders, we would expect to find this expression reinforced in other uses in his writings.\u00a0 My proposition is that in every instance where we find the expression \u201cespecially\u201d (always malista), it carries the same meaning or picture of one among equals who stands out in some particular thing.\u00a0 The word is used twelve times in the New Testament: three times by Luke (Acts 20:38; 25:26; 26:3, though quoting Paul in one); one time by Peter (2 Pet. 2:10); and every other time by Paul (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 4:22; 1 Tim. 4:10; 5:8; 5:17; 2 Tim. 4:13; Tit. 1:10; Phile. 16).<\/p>\n

The word \u201cespecially\u201d or \u201cspecially\u201d (\u201cchiefly\u201d in Phil. 4:22) always gives a unique picture of a circle within a circle.\u00a0 The larger circle A, contains a large group while the smaller circle B (placed within A) contains a smaller but special part of A.\u00a0 If I said, \u201cI like to watch high school basketball, but especially when my own sons play,\u201d I would be drawing a large circle (watching high school basketball) but also drawing a smaller circle which points out a special part of the same thing (my own sons playing high school basketball).\u00a0 We might say, all B is A, but not all of A is B.\u00a0 In contrast, the elder-rule system would give a picture of two distinct circles of ruling elders and teaching elders.\u00a0 Due to space, I cannot illustrate all of Paul\u2019s usages, but a few will suffice to see the consistency in the way \u201cespecially\u201d is used throughout.<\/p>\n

Gal. 6:10.\u00a0 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.\u00a0 Here the large circle is all men.\u00a0 The smaller circle within the larger circle is especially .\u00a0 . . . the household of faith.\u00a0 Believers are still men, but they have taken advantage of a special opportunity which is available to all men.<\/p>\n

2 Tim. 4:13.\u00a0 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.\u00a0 Of all the books Paul had (the larger circle), the Scriptures on parchment (the smaller circle within the larger) were of \u201cspecial\u201d desire to him.\u00a0 The Bible is still a book, but is a \u201cspecial\u201d book.<\/p>\n

Phile. 16.\u00a0 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee.\u00a0 Paul counted all converts dear (the large circle), but the ones he had led to the Lord such as Onesimus (the smaller circle) were \u201cspecially\u201d dear to him.\u00a0 Our own sons in the faith are still converts, but they are \u201cspecial\u201d to us.<\/p>\n

I believe we would find that the same pattern repeats itself in every usage of the word malista (specially, especially, chiefly).\u00a0 Some elder-rule brethren may object that they see all elders as ruling elders and from among those there are a few teaching elders, thus showing the same pattern.\u00a0 But my observation has been that when you view their system from the top view it looks the same, but when you view it from the side, it is a pyramid with two distinct levels or \u201ckinds\u201d of elders.\u00a0 The Baptist view would be more like a slice out of an old tree:\u00a0 viewed from the top you see the circles and circles within circles, and when viewed from the side all the circles are still level.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Who are the elders?<\/h3>\n

All pastors are elders and all elders are pastors.\u00a0 Every man who desires the office of a bishop desires a good work (1 Tim. 3:1) and that work is both ruling (lit. \u201cto do the thinking\u201d)\u00a0 and preaching.\u00a0 Those elders who labor diligently in the Word and in the proclamation of its doctrines are worthy of a double amount of honor from the fortunate people who hear them.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
Notes:<\/address>\n
1. In his book, A.T. Robertson: A Biography (New York: MacMillan, 1943) 181, Everett Gill quotes Robertson from his writing, \u201cHow To Make Baptists.\u201d<\/address>\n
2. John Calvin, Calvin\u2019s Commentaries, vol. XXI (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981) 138-139.<\/address>\n
3. Augustus Strong, Systematic Theology (Old Tappan:\u00a0 Fleming H. Revell, 1970) 915.<\/address>\n
4. Rodney J. Decker, \u201cPolity and the Elder Issue,\u201d Grace Theological Journal 9.2 (1988) 275.<\/address>\n
5. Peter Masters, \u201cConfusion Over Eldership,\u201d\u00a0 The Sword & Trowel.\u00a0 Note: I apologize that my photographed copy did not have the date on it.<\/address>\n
6. Strong, 915.<\/address>\n
7. John Gill, Dr. Gill\u2019s Commentary, vol. 6 (London: William Hill Collingridge, 1853) 614.<\/address>\n
8. John Gill, Body Of Divinity (Atlanta: Turner Lassetter, 1965) 864.<\/address>\n
9. Alexander Maclaren, Expositions Of Holy Scripture vol. 8 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdman\u2019s, 1959) 191.<\/address>\n
10. Edward T. Hiscox, The New Directory For Baptist Churches (Philadelphia: Judson Press, 1946) 90-91.<\/address>\n
11. Montgomery Essig & others, The Churchmember\u2019s Guide and Complete Church Manual (Nashville: The Southwestern Co., 1949) 68.<\/address>\n
12. Richard Clearwaters, The Local Church of the New Testament (Chicago: CBA, 1954) 32.<\/address>\n
13. Paul R. Jackson, The Doctrine and Administration of the Church (Schaumburg: RBP, 1968) 45.<\/address>\n
14. Mike Randall, \u201cA Defense of Baptist Elders\u201d Baptist Bible Tribune, April 24, 1987, p. 12.<\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine (1 Tim. 5:17).   Baptists have never thought they were the only believers in the world or the only ones with Bibles.\u00a0 All believers have the obligation to apply the Scriptures to every part […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[155,182,157],"class_list":["post-1001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-baptist-baptists","tag-ministry-leadership","tag-modern-authors-theological-issues"],"yoast_head":"\nElders Worthy of Double Honor - Aletheia Baptist Ministries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/february-qelders-worthy-of-double-honorq\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Elders Worthy of Double Honor - 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