Bible Verses About Church Officers

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Overseer office is called a noble task

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

ordination of elders in every church

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Deacons have a recognized office

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Overseer character requirements

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Overseers shepherd the flock willingly

Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

apostles and elders choose and send leaders

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

elders among you

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

elders who rule well

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul greets bishops and deacons in Philippi

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Titus instructs elders in every city

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Overseer qualifications in 1 Timothy

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Overseers are not to lord it over the flock

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Deacons are to be proved first

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

deacon qualifications

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Thessalonians are told to know those over them in the Lord

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Acts 6 gives an appointment model for servants over a task

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Deacons have moral qualifications

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers