Talk:Elder
- What is biblical eldership?
- What is pastoral eldership!
- How important is this subject to the Church?
- What does the Bible say about church eldership?
Is the pastoral mission of the Church primarily or exclusively "concerning or appropriate to the giving of spiritual guidance"?[1]
"Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions. It has been described in our modern context as individual and corporate patience in which trained pastoral carers support people in their pain, loss and anxiety, and their triumphs, joys and victories." University of Canberra
Repeatedly I see references to Pastoral care as "emotional and spiritual" support but the words related to pastor in the Bible suggest, even state, a temporal responsibility for the health and well being. The Hebrew word "raah"[2] is not only the word for pastor and shepherd it is mostly commonly translated as "feed".
The Greek word poimen[3] which we see translated pastor in the New Testament is commonly translated shepherd.
The term shepherd as an occupational title reached beyond emotions and spiritual needs of the flock and for 2000 years the Church was heavily engaged in daily ministrations of a temporal needs. The relegation of a pastors duties to primarily a spiritual or emotional caregiver is an apparition of the modern Church.
The original duties of a shepherd are said to be:'[3]
- -to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep
- -to defend the sheep from attackers
- -to heal the wounded and sick sheep
- -to find and save lost or trapped sheep
- -to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
Jesus repeated that we were to Feed His Sheep and the apostles and the Church were clearly rightly dividing actual bread from house to house.[4]
unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; O generation of vipers, warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
David wrote in Psalms 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Luke 3:1 ¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalms 80:1 ¶ « To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. » Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims, shine forth.
The lack of knowledge concerning the role of elders and deacons in the early Christian community is in part the lack of understanding of the function of the early Church appointed by Christ. Revisiting a few of the definitions of terms used in the biblical text and the history of that era
We are not training the very men who lead and have oversight of our churches. We erroneously believe that our serving elders and deacons understand spiritual oversight and care, but in fact our churches are filled with elders and deacons who confess that they are unprepared and untrained for their work.
Biblical Eldership, when used in connection with the main text, Biblical Eldership, provides twelve comprehensive lessons regarding biblical eldership principles. It is designed for use by the prospective new elder under the direction of a mentoring elder, or can also be used in group study.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
TUTORIALS
MENTORING PLAN
ELDER TRAINING PROGRAMS
ELDER MISSION
- ↑ 2018 Oxford University Press
- ↑ 07462 ^הער^ ra‘ah \@raw-aw’\@ (רעה) ReshAyinHei a primitive root; v; AV-feed 75, shepherd 63, pastor 8, herdmen 7, keep 3, companion 2, broken 1, company 1, devour 1, eat 1, entreateth 1, misc 10; 173
- 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to tend, pasture
- 1a1a) to shepherd
- 1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
- 1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
- 1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
- 1a2) to feed, graze
- 1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
- 1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
- 1a1) to tend, pasture
- 1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
- 1a) (Qal)
- 2) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
- 2a) (Qal) to associate with
- 2b) (Hithpael) to be companions
- 3) (Piel) to be a special friend
- 07462 (רעה) ReshAyinHei ra`ah is also translated feed 75, shepherd 63, pastor 8, herdmen 7, keep 3, companion 2, and broken, company, devour, eat, entreateth once each and 10 miscellaneous other ways. It is defined 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed 2) to associate with, be a friend of ... It is the same three letters we see in 07463 (רעה) ReshAyinHei re`eh 1) friend, friend of the king (technical sense)
- 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 4166 ~ποιμήν~ poimen \@poy-mane’\@ of uncertain affinity; n m AV-shepherd 15, Shepherd 2, pastor 1; 18
- 1) a herdsman, esp. a shepherd
- 1a) in the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow
- 2) metaph.
- 2a) the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church; the NT uses the term bishop, overseers, 1985 pastors, 4166 elders, and presbyters 4245 interchangeably {#Ac 20:17,28 Eph 4:11 Tit 1:5,7 1Pe 5:1-4 etc.} 2a1) of the overseers of the Christian assemblies 2a2) of kings and princes
- The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were:
- -to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep
- -to defend the sheep from attackers
- -to heal the wounded and sick sheep
- -to find and save lost or trapped sheep
- -to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
- 1) a herdsman, esp. a shepherd
- ↑ Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,