Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 06:2 (Spring 2020)
Article: Eldership In The Church Of Jesus Christ
Author: Bruce R. Backensto

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RPTJ 6:2 (Spring 2020) p. 19

Eldership In The Church Of Jesus Christ

Bruce R. Backensto

Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology

Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Having served as a Teaching Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America since my ordination on May 31, 1972, it is my observation that it might be helpful to look again at what the Bible says the eldership is and does. The bulk of this article is taken from my contribution to the 1976 pre-synodic conference on The Church and Her Ministry.1 This article argues the Bible presents the office of elder consisting of two primary functions.

Old Testament Usage

To help us understand afresh the office of elder, the basic words to be considered in the New Testament are πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), επίσκοπος (episkopos) and ποιμήν (poiman) and the verbs derived from these nouns. Since both poiman and presbuteros are used in the New Testament without any formal definition given to them, it seems they must have developed from their use in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament.2 However, in the Old Testament nation of Israel, the word presbuteros3 is simply used with reference to a particular office or group of men in the community. Genesis 50:7 is the first translation of presbuteros as an elder. The reference is to the elders of the house of Joseph and the elders of the land of Egypt going up to bury Joseph’s father. It is not clear whether a special office is being spoken of or a specific group of “senior citizens” representing the land of Egypt and the people of Joseph’s household is intended. There are eight previous references in Genesis where the term presbuteros is used, but these are simply when a younger and older person is contrasted. The development of the Hebrew word zaqen, which presbuteros, translates in the LXX has the meaning “a man with a beard” to “an old man” to “older men . . . chosen (to form) the narrower colleges of elders which represent the tribes, city, locality or people.”4

The elders generally were not rulers or governing authorities but basically representatives. It is interesting, however, to notice they were assembled on important occasions when the will of Yahweh was given, which would affect the whole nation or people of Israel. They went with Moses before Pharaoh concerning their ema...

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