Logos Staff
Paul addresses the qualifications for church leadership in texts such as 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:1-9; however, the structure of church leadership is a little less black and white. For this reason, churches have a variety of leadership models. Some assemblies function under the leadership of multiple pastors or elders, others have a single individual serving as their chief overseer, and some churches function under a ruling body made up of both pastors and elders.
In this week’s video, we’ll examine the New Testament use of the word elder in both the singular and plural form. This exercise will provide you with concrete references necessary for determining whether this role is intended for one or multiple individuals.
What do you think? Tell us in the Logos Bible Software Faithlife Group.
Recommended Resources:
- Who Runs the Church?: 4 Views on Church Government: Understand the arguments for episcopal church governance, presbyterian governance, single-elder governance, and plural-elder congregationalism.
- Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity brings together a different set of contributors and adds another viewpoint—congregationalism.
- Alexander Strauch has written extensively on church leadership and polity. Check out his eight-volume collection.
Vik Rajagopal
Leah Parker