Bible Verses About Clergy And Church Leadership

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:

Peter identifies himself as an elder and speaks from leadership role

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Clear Bible command to obey those who rule over you

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:

Acts shows apostles and elders choosing men and sending them

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.

Direct Bible text on overseers caring for the church

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

Overseer office is described as noble task

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 are honored

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;

Shepherding language for overseers

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

Leaders are not to domineer, but to be examples

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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.

Acts says elders were ordained in every church with prayer and fasting

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 qualification about character

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Bible names deacons as a church office

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

Recognize those who labor among you and are over you

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.

Deacon office rewarded for good service

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

Same qualification text in another translation entry

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 setting elders in every city