What does the Bible say about elders?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• 1 Peter 5:1-5

  [1] I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed. [2] Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; [3] neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. [4] When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away. [5] Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

• 1 Timothy 3:1-16

  [1] This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. [2] The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; [3] not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; [4] one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; [5] (but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) [6] not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. [7] Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil. [8] Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; [9] holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. [10] Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blameless. [11] Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. [12] Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [13] For those who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. [14] These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; [15] but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. [16] Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, And received up in glory.

• Acts 14:23

  When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

• 1 Timothy 5:17

  Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

• Acts 20:28

  Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

• James 5:14

  Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

• 1 Timothy 5:17-19

  [17] Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. [18] For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." [19] Don't receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

• Acts 20:17

  From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

• Titus 1:5

  I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

• Titus 1:6-9

  [6] if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. [7] For the overseer must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; [8] but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober-minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; [9] holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

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• taking care of elders
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