Elders are godly men who supervise the ministry of God’s Word. In Judaism, older men had the task of governing religious and political life in the towns and villages of Israel.1 This historic practice is now continued in the church.2 Some elders give themselves full time to the work of teaching (1 Timothy 5:17–18) and they are typically known as pastors or ministers of the Word. Jesus Christ rules his church through office-bearers who serve and look after his people (1 Peter 5:1–4). A plurality of elders is needed so as to prevent hierarchy in God’s church (see Acts 11:30; Titus 1:5).3
23 Ils désignèrent des anciens dans chaque Eglise, et, après avoir prié et jeûné, ils les recommandèrent au Seigneur, en qui ils avaient cru.