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Having looked at the terminology the New Testament uses to refer to the spiritual leaders of the church – the elders, overseers and pastors – and before we consider what the function, or job description is of the men in those roles, we need to look at three things we find – or perhaps don’t find – in the New Testament template for church leadership.
First, Elders are Plural.
Every New Testament reference to elders in relationship to a local congregation of believers is in the plural. Although it is very common today for a local church to have just one elder, usually called pastor, that is, without a doubt, not a biblical model.
Look, for example, at Acts 14:23 where we read of how Paul, as he revisits the churches planted on his first missionary travels, “appointed elders for them in every church.” Or note how Paul instructs Titus to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). In all the sixteen references to elders as church leaders, the word is in the plural. (See Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1, 5). The only times where it occurs in the singular are in those cases where an individual elder is being referred to, such as in 1 Timothy 5:19; 1 Peter 5:1; 2 John 1; 3 John 1.
It could hardly be clearer that God’s pattern for the church is a plurality of elders. “…the Bible simply does not know a model of sole leadership in the local church.”1 Wayne Grudem is in full agreement, “…no passage suggests that any church, no matter how small had only one elder. The consistent New Testament pattern is a plurality of elders “in every church” (Acts 14:23) and “in every town” (Titus 1:5).”2
James Montogomry Boice rightly said, “It is significant that in the New Testament the Holy Spirit never seemed to have led anyone to appoint merely one elder or one bishop in a place. It is always elders (plural) or bishops (plural).” 3
Now, not withstanding Grudem’s comment about small churches, in reality there are occasions, perhaps when a church is just being established, or perhaps when it is in a time of decline, when there is only one suitably gifted man available to fill the role of an elder. That was my own experience after planting a church a number of years ago but the Lord graciously provided a fellow elder who was appointed on the first anniversary of the starting of the church, and for that we had consistently prayed, believing it to be the biblical model. I have a friend who is currently, and, it has to be said, somewhat reluctantly, the only elder in his congregation which has sadly diminished in numbers in recent years.
It is undoubtedly better to have a sole elder than to have other men who are neither gifted or called take on the role simply to make up the numbers. But given the clear teaching of Scripture, it ought to be the desire and goal of the smallest of churches to have a plurality of elders.
“The presupposition that the function of biblically qualified overseers is a matter of crucial importance for the well-being of the church reminds us that plurality is essential to the provision of rule in the church of Christ. Sometimes God, in his providence, does not supply a plurality of elders, and men may labor alone until such time as He does.” 4
Why, we might ask, did God, in establishing the pattern for his church, make a plurality of elders the norm. We all know that it is so often easier and quicker to get things done, for example, if one person is tasked with making decisions and moving things forward. Well, as you would expect, there are hugely important reasons why a plurality of leaders is vitally necessary.
First, as Strauch expresses it, “There is greater wisdom in a council of godly, qualified elders than in any one person.” 5 The Scriptures affirm that, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22), “…in abundance of counsellors there is victory” (Proverbs 24:6), and, “…in an abundance of counsellors there is safety” (Provers 11:14).
No single individual, no matter how gifted by God, will have all the skills and wisdom and knowledge to address and manage every situation that will present itself in the life of a church. We need the “Iron sharpens iron” principle of Proverbs 27:17 to be at work.
Second, a plurality of elders provides a structure for genuine mutual accountability. Too many sole leaders, take to themselves authority and power that goes unchallenged because there is no means for others to hold them to account. Such abuse of leadership is much less likely to occur where there is a plurality of godly men working together as a team and holding one another to account.
Third, and often much overlooked, is the fact that with a plurality of elders in a local church, there is the opportunity, not just for mutual accountability but also mutual shepherding and spiritual care. “A team ministry provides pastors for each pastor, men from whom one can expect full encouragement and help.”6 (Stabbert, 1982, p. 51)
Fourth, in the words of the old adage, there is strength in numbers. As the wisest of men once said, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). How many men, exercising leadership alone in a local church, and who have come under the almost inevitable hard knocks of pastoral life, might have lasted longer and not given up if they didn’t have to face those trials alone?
So, what if a man finds himself serving alone as the elder, overseer and pastor of his flock? What steps should and could he take. Let me offer the following counsel.
First, pray with faith and confidence. We have seen that it is without a doubt that God desires each local congregation of believers to be led by a plurality of godly men, so when you pray for this to happen in your situation you can be sure that you are praying according to the will of God.
Second, pray over the men in your congregation. It might be that there is someone there who has the potential of becoming an elder, albeit at some time in the future if not now. Invest time and effort in that brother, test them to see if they have the required qualities as listed in Scripture.
Third, seek the counsel and advice of a number of godly and experienced elders in other churches that you know of. You may not have the advantage and blessing of “an abundance of counsellors” within your own fellowship, but look further afield and talk and pray with others who can speak into your situation.
Fourthly – and though this be sadly all too rare, I have seen this work wonderfully in some cases – pray that God might lay it in the hearts of the leaders of a relatively nearby but larger church to give you a few of their leaders who would throw their lot in with you and help you establish that desired plurality. Perhaps one of those leaders with whom you are prayerfully consulting and praying might see it as of the Lord to invest even two or three suitable men from his congregation.
Earlier in this series I used the expression that elders are essential. Let me conclude this study by affirming that a plurality of elders is essential.
- Murray Capill, The Elder-Led Church, Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2024 p. 36 ↩︎
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, Leicester: IVP, 1994 p913 ↩︎
- James Montgomery Boice, 1997, Leicester: IVP p116 ↩︎
- Al Martin Pastoral Theology (vol 3) Montville: Trinity Pulpit Press, 2020 p64 ↩︎
- Alexander Strauch Biblical Eldership Biblical Eldership Resources: Colorado, 2023 p.53) ↩︎
- Bruce Stabbert, The Team Concept: Paul’s Leadership Pattern Or Ours? Tacoma: Hegg, 1982 p51 ↩︎