from Sunday Forum, September 12, 2021
presented by Amandus Derr, Interim Senior Pastor
HISTORY
- Early Church
- By the time 1 Timothy 3:1-13 was written, (late first to mid-Second Century CE) an order of Bishops, Elders (Pastors), and Deacons seem to have already existed in most of the early church.
- Concerning the office of bishop (episkopos,meaning “overseer”), the author speaks of qualities of those seeking that office, but does not actually outline the responsibilities of the office. It includes some kind of administrative leadership since the person is supposed to be able to manage his own household as a prerequisite for his work in the church.
- There is more specificity for the duties of the presbyter (presbyteros,meaning “elder”). Presbyters have leadership functions of some kind, since at least some of them should be honored because they “rule well,” and some of them teach. There is a “council of elders” or presbytery (presbyterion, which the NRSV translates as “council of elders”) to which the elders belong and is responsible for ordinations (4:14). Whether the bishop belongs to the presbytery is not clear.
- The office of deacon (diakonos,“minister” or “servant”) appears to be assumed and may have to do primarily with social ministry, but the duties are not elaborated.
