The term "elder" is frequently misunderstood today. In the Old Testament and early New Testament, when the Jewish patterns were still in place, it meant "elder statesman." The Sanheidrin were all "elders of the people." They were the experienced and wisemen of the community.

As the church began to function in New Testament times it took on other meanings beyond the simple older wise man. Timothy was an elder, yet he was young, and Paul exhorted him to not let anyone dispise his youth. We make the distinction of elders being lay, unpaid people, and pastors paid overseers, but the Bible does not make such a distinction.

It is our purpose here to show that elders are the core of leadership in the local church. We will also show that elders are defined using three Greek words that are variously translated in the Bible as "elder," "bishop," and "pastor." We will show how the three are one of the same and used interchangeably throughout the New Testament. These three New Testament words are used to describe the office and function of what we know as a pastor or elder.

Presbuteros <4245> = elders, presbyters
Episkopos <1984> = bishops, overseers
Poimen <4166> = pastors, shepherds

In Philippians 1:1 Paul makes reference to the close proximity of the relationship of Elders and Deacons.

"Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers (episkopos) and deacons (diakonos):"

In Philippi Paul recognized the two key leadership roles of the church to be vested in overseers (episkopos) and deacons (diakonos).

Both were evident in the local assemblies. Both were necessary to the effective ministry to the body of Christ. Notice that Paul describes them as "overseers" and uses the word "episkopos." They are plural. There usually was not single pastor/elder over the flock but a team of pastor/elders shepherding the congregation.

Team ministry is an important theme in Jesus ministry and also that of the apostles and the early church. Elders/bishops were overseers and pastors as feeders, protectors, watchmen, and examples to the flock. Indeed, Peter combines the two in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:25) when he calls him Shepherd and Bishop.