continued from last week

Paul wrote, "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" (Heb. 13:17). Obey (pei’tho) means "to be persuaded, trust." This word is translated in the New Testament – "persuade" 22 times (Matt. 27:20; 28:14; Luke 16:31; 20:6; Acts 13:43; 14:19; 18:4; 19:8,26; 21:14; 26:26,28; 28:23; Rom. 8:38; 14:14; 15:14; 2 Cor. 5:11; Gal. 1:10; 2 Tim. 1:5,12; Heb. 6:9; 11:13), "trust" eight times (Matt. 27:43; Mark 10:24; Luke 11:22; 18:9; 2 Cor. 1:9; 10:7; Phil. 2:24; Heb. 13:18), "obey" seven times (Acts 5:36,37; Rom. 2:8; Gal. 3:1; 5:7; Heb. 13:17; James 3:3), "have confidence" six times (2 Cor. 2:3; Gal. 5:10; Phil. 1:25; 3:3; Phe. 21), "believe" three times (Acts 17:4; 27:11; 28:24), "be confident" two times (Rom. 2:19; Phil. 1:6), "agreed" (Acts 5:40); "make (one’s) friend" (Acts 12:20), "yield unto" (Acts 23:21), "wax confident" (Phil. 1:14), "have whereof (one) might trust" (Phil. 3:4), "put (one’s) trust" (Heb. 2:13) and "assure" (1 John 3:19) (Smith, p. 284). "Rule" (hege’omai) means "primarily to lead on or forward...to preside, govern, rule, whether in a temporal sense or in a spiritual one" (Zodhiates, p.1695 ). This word is translated "count" ten times (Phil. 3:7,8; 2 Thess. 3:15; 1 Tim. 1:12; 6:1;Heb. 10:29; James 1:2; 2 Peter 2:13; 3:9), "think" four times (Acts 26:2; 2 Cor. 9:5; Phil. 2:6; 2 Peter 1:13), " esteem " three times (Phil. 2:3; 1 Thess. 5:13; Heb. 11:26), "have the rule over" three times (Heb. 13:7,17,24), "governor" two times (Matt. 2:6; Acts 7:10; "chief" two times (Luke 22:26; Acts 15:22), "chief speaker" (Acts 14:12), "suppose" (Phil. 2:25), "judge" (Heb. 11:11) and "account" (2 Peter 3:15) (Smith, p. 165). Submit one’s self (hupei’ko) means "submit to." This is the only time this word is used in the New Testament. Watch (agrupne’o) means "to be sleepless, keep awake, watch...to be intent upon a thing...to exercise constant, vigilance over something (Thayer, p. 9). This word is translated "watch" four times (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; Eph. 6:18; Heb. 13:17) (Smith, p. 4). The elders are to watch over the church, being on guard against wolves who seek to destroy the church. They must watch for false teachers that call for the church to change to keep up with the times.

Paul continues to write concerning elders, "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" (Titus 1:7). The steward of God means administrator of God’s house. The significance of this for elders means that they must be active, energetic, administrators of God’s house, the church. In view of all this overwhelming evidence how can one fail to see that authority, inheres in the work of the elders. The authority is with the eldership not with one elder. But elders are not to be dictators (1 Peter 5:1-4). Elders are to feed or tend the flock (1 Peter 5:2). Elders are to teach the Word of God (1 Tim. 3:2; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 5:12). Elders are to exhort and convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). Elders are to take the oversight of the congregation (1 Peter 5:2). Elders are to watch for grievous wolves (Acts 20:29-31). Elders are to support the weak (Acts 20:35). Elders are to admonish the church (1 Thess. 5:12,13). Elders are to consider and decide on church problems (Acts 15:6). Elders are to take the lead in exercising discipline (Matt. 18:15-18; Luke 17:1-4; Mark 11:25,26; 1 Cor. 10:32).

Liberalism is causing a great amount of damage to the organization of the Lord’s church. The only way to combat this attack by the liberals is to take a stand (1 Cor. 15:58). Christians must put on the whole armor of God and fight against these liberals (Eph. 6:10-18).

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated.

Anderson, Lynn, "Leadership in Focus: Part One of a two-part series." The Christian Chronicle, 29 April 2001 <http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID254 85|CHIDQE7205|CHD356330,00.html>

Holt, Charles A. "God’s Elders and the Ecclesia." The Examiner. 18 Jan. 2005 <http://www.theexaminer.org/volu me8/number1/elders.htm>.

Massey, Jim. Scriptural Organization of the Churches of Christ. Winona, MS:World Literature. 1999.

McClish, Dub. "Reevaluation/Reaffirmation of Elders?" Leadership. Ed. Michael Hatcher. Pensacola, FL: Bellview Church of Christ, 1997, 83-103.

Sally, Razeen. What is Liberalism? 18 Jan. 2005 <http://www.lse.ac.uk/clubs’hayek/Ama- gi/Volume1/number2/what_is_liberalism.htm>.

Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church:. Volume II, Ante-Nicence Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, reprint 1987.

Shelly, Rubel. Liberalism’s Threat to the Faith. Memphis, TN: Simple Studies, n.d.

Smith, J.B. Greek-English Concordance to the New Testament. Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1955

Thayer, Joseph Henry. Thayer Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Associated Publishers and Authors, n.d.

Vaughn, J. Roy. "Churches Without Elders." Gospel Advocate. 8 Aug. 1946.

Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., 986.

Weir, Marvin. "Change Agents And Leadership." The Gospel Journal. Ed. Dub McClish. Oct. 2002

Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Jan. 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism>.

Zodhiates, Spiro. The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1984.

Larry Powers