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Titus 1:5 Elder (Greek, "presbuteros") and bishop (Greek, "episcopos" means "overseer") designate the same office, (compare (Tit. 1:7); (Act. 20:17); (Act. 20:28), the former referring to the man, the latter to a function of the office. The eldership in the apostolic local churches was always plural. There is no instance of one elder in a local church. The functions of the elders are: to rule; (1Ti. 3:4); (1Ti. 3:5); (1Ti. 5:17) to guard the body of revealed truth from perversion and error (Tit. 1:9) to "oversee" the church as a shepherd his flock; (Act. 20:28); (Joh. 21:16); ( Heb. 13:17). (1Pe. 5:2). Elders are made or "set" in the churches by the Holy Spirit, (Act. 20:28), but great stress is laid upon their due appointment. (Act. 14:23); (Tit. 1:5). At first, they were ordained (Greek, "kathiste"to elect," "to designate with the hand,") by an apostle; for example, (Act. 14:23), but in Titus and First Timothy, the qualifications of an elder become part of the Scriptures for the guidance of the churches in such appointment. (1Ti. 3:1-7). |