Esteeming Office-Bearers

Paul says that Christians not only should not be abusive, but they should esteem office-bearers very highly. That is what he says. He is using strong language here. He is speaking of special honour that is due to the holy office of the minister and the elder. Now, it is this biblical mandate, by the way, that has prompted the practice of people referring to ordained ministers as Reverend. People say to me, It is unbiblical for you to be called Reverend. I have to say, I personally do not really care if I am called Reverend or not, but it is biblical. You read in places like 1 Timothy 5:17, let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching. And so the office-bearers of the church, particularly the elders, especially those who preach the Word, are to be esteemed very highly. Paul says, Now the idea here is not of social prestige, dare I say, much less of celebrity status, but rather the spiritual submission to biblical authority that the pastor needs to fulfill his God-given role in the lives of Christ’s people.¹

Richard D. Phillips