Bible Verses About Elders

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.

Direct appointment of elders in churches

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

Says elders rule well and teach

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:

Shows apostles and elders choosing leaders together

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:

Commands ordaining elders in every city

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

Direct instruction not to lord it over the flock

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:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Calls the church elders together

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Tells believers not to rebuke an elder harshly

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Requires careful judgment before charging an elder

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;

Tells elders to shepherd willingly and not for gain

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;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Shows elders listed alongside apostles and brothers

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

Lists bishops and deacons but does not mention elders directly

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

Overseer qualifications overlap with elder leadership but use overseer language

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

Speaks of those over the church who admonish the believers

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

Background on the office of bishop, not elders specifically

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Shows laying on of hands by the presbytery