Another question must be asked: do they lead people rightly and well?

Churches do well to appoint people as shepherds of many who are already adept at shepherding some. Indeed, they have no business appointing any other kind of person for it this work that must make up the majority of the work they do. This will be their primary role and so how a person is doing with the execution of such a role must needs be on the table from the get go. If a church is looking to appoint someone as a shepherd, it must ask itself if the person is already doing shepherding work. If they are, good. If they aren’t, they shouldn’t expect it to suddenly start happening, much less flourishing, upon their being made an elder.

a. Do they lead people?

“Elders who lead well …” (1 Timothy 5.17a CEB)

“Lead” is a very good choice of rendering to describe what is being conveyed here by the Greek word proistemi. The same word was used earlier in 1 Timothy to describe the way an elder “managed” their family or household.

“They should manage [proistemi] their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect, because if they don’t know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3.4-5 CEB)

Paul also used this same word (proistemi) to describe the way one who was a servant of the church was to care for their household.

“Servants must be faithful to their spouse and manage [proistemi] their children and their own households well.” (1 Timothy 3.12 CEB)

However, it’s very unfortunate that proistemi has sometimes been translated in years past by the word “rule” (e.g. – KJV, NKJV, NASB, NRSV). One is left to wonder how often such a rendering has left people with an entirely wrong set of expectations as to an elder’s work and/or ways! Such a rendering conveys more freight than the word was meant to carry. Philip Towner speaks directly to this point when he says:

“… the notions of guiding, administering, and caring for are all relevant, but the term stops short of ‘ruling.’” (The Letters to Timothy and Titus, p. 362).

Humor me, won’t you, as I briefly illustrate the difference. Ask your mate if you “take care of” them or if do a good job of “caring for” them and you’ll likely receive an open invitation to conversation on the matter. But, try asking them how your “rule” over them is coming along and just see how far the conversation goes. Good luck with that!

Now some Christians are very mature, fruitful disciples and also have the ability to “take good care of” others for whom they are given responsibility. However, there are also truly mature, fruitful disciples who have no business leading God’s people for they simply can’t, won’t, or don’t know how to “lead” and further, will make no real effort to learn. And so, who know some of those ways, will not continue to learn, stunting their growth and preventing them from become aware of, accepting, and adopting better or different ways in time to come as needs arise. Such individuals can take care of themselves, but do not do well at taking good care of others. During the course of selecting individuals to serve as elders, those making appointments to an eldership be attentive and give a care for such.

b. Do they lead by example?

“… become examples [typos] to the flock.” (1 Peter 5.3 CEB)

Those who serve as elder leaders of God’s people must model God’s message well. As we would say today, “They must walk the talk.” They must not be people who say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

It would seem that much more of what a church family actually believes and practices is caught than taught. Those who are fit for service in a congregation’s eldership strongly exemplify the message of Christ. That is, they teach healthy doctrine, and when necessary may even use words.

A quick look at some of the other appearances of the word typos in Paul’s writings would be helpful. Consider passages such as Philippians 3.17, 1 Thessalonians 1.7; 2 Thessalonians. 3.9, and 1 Timothy 4.12. A pattern is clear: Paul was an example to Christians (including Timothy), Timothy imitated Paul and modeled truth faith, hope, and love to others, and then elders (that Timothy, and others, would appoint would do likewise.

Now a multitude of points of application can sprout from this simple phrase, “become examples to the flock,” but one that should not be overlooked in those who who serve as overseers is how they perceive themselves. When the apostle Peter described the work of a true shepherd of God, he thought not of one who gave directions from behind the scenes, but of one who in effect said before all, “Who will join me in doing such and such?’ A true elder is not given to asking of others what they would not be willing to do themselves. Quite the opposite, actually. They ask others to do things not as near-invisible directors, but simply because they know they cannot, and must not try to, do it all by themselves.

Such a healthy self-perception will breed healthy perception by others, too. A healthy elder is someone who is unafraid to delegate and equally healthy in getting their own hands dirty. Such a person will foster the generation of people asking them “How can I help you?” rather than “Who made you the boss over me?”