Why Do We Need Elders (1 Tim 3:1-7)

"Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task" (1 Tim 3:1).
Related post: What Kind of Elders Do We Need? (1 Tim 3:1-7)

In 1 Timothy, Paul is laying down for Timothy--a young evangelist, minister, church planter--a permanent pattern for ministry in the church. 1 Tim 3:1-16 focuses on officers in the church. Why do we need elders (1 Tim 3:1-7)? 3 answers:

1. Paul required that elders be appointed in every church (Tit 1:5).
2. Jesus gave elders as gifts to the church. We must need them, because Jesus doesn’t give unneeded gifts.
3. Elders are given to the church for the purpose of discipleship and spiritual oversight.

I. Paul Directed that Elders (pleural) be Appointed in Every Church that was Planted
"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you" (Tit 1:5). In Acts, 1 Peter, James, Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, we have a body of elders (pleural). "Obey your leaders" (Heb 13:7). "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church" (Jas 5:14). "To the elders among you..." (1 Pet 5:1). Also Acts 20:28. Over and over in the NT we find everywhere there is a settled church, there is a body of elders which has been given spiritual oversight.
II. We Need Elders because Jesus Gave Them to the Church
After Jesus ascended on high, "Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers" (Eph 4:11) This can be translated as "pastor teachers." In this passage it is clear that Jesus has given officers to the church, and among those officers that He has given are pastors and teachers. Paul also calls elders shepherds and pastors. An elder is a pastor. As elder is an overseer.
Why do we need elders? "...to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:12-13). Elders are given, and necessary, for our spiritual edification. Jesus gave elders to the church:

1. to equip Christians for works of service, for the work God made us to do. We need elders to equip us.
   
2. to build up of the body of Christ.

How do elders build up the body of Christ? "...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature" (Eph 4:13). Elders are there to foster the unity of the fellowship, to build us up to be mature in the faith, to help us grow in grace, to disciple us into spiritual maturity, etc. That’s why we need elders. Paul says to the Ephesian elders, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God" (Acts 20:28).

What Kind of Elders Do We Need? (1 Tim 3:1-7) Paul tells us 6 things:

1. Elders who want the work, not just the status of being an elder.
2. Elders who are godly men, for holiness is God's qualification for an elder.
3. Elders who are able to teach--to be able to convey God's truth to disciples.
4. Elders with godly homes and families.
5. Elders who are spiritually mature.
6. Elders whose moral reputation is good with local non-Christians

Reference: Why We Need Elders and Why Kind of Elders We Need, Ligon Duncan, 2002.

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