Message 10 - 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5:12-14 – Church Leadership Positions And Practical Matters For Christians Series

MESSAGE 10 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:12-14 – CHURCH LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND PRACTICAL MATTERS FOR CHRISTIANS

RESPECT YOUR SHEPHERDS

We will continue with the studies in 1Thessalonians, and today we will look at the governing of a church and the shepherd role within the leadership.

PART A. {{1Thessalonians 5:12 “We request of you, brethren, that you APPRECIATE those who diligently labour among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 1Thess 5:13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.}}

BREAKDOWN OF THE VERSE

Before we go any further we will look at the two positions in this verse. Firstly, that of the ministry workers – these words are used “diligently labour”, “have charge”, “give instruction”. Then there is the flock they guard and its response – these words are used “appreciate those”, “esteem them very highly”.

You will notice of course that all these words are in the plural, and in this small/smaller church at Thessalonica, the men who had the responsibility for care, nurture and wellbeing were plural. This is in contrast with what grew up in the church after the first century where it began to change to that of a one man in charge, and he took the title of bishop. It is that way today in nearly every church but it was not so in the apostolic churches, and I think as that was installed by God, then that is the best way.

Paul draws their attention to the leadership among them. The p?esß?te???, were the leaders that the apostles were accustomed to place in newly founded churches such as in this – {{Acts 14:23 “When they had appointed ELDERS for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”}} The word p?esß?t????? is “elders. Elders, always plural, were appointed in every church. That was the leadership; no one single person in charge.

The people were asked to recognise and appreciate the ones who were labouring among them. These were the ones who had responsibility over the flock of God’s sheep, and whose charge it was to keep them, and to instruct the flock. The people had to recognise that, and that word “APPRECIATE” in verse 12 is translated in different ways - appreciate (NASB) or recognise (Holman and Meyer) or respect (ESV), acknowledge (NIV). It really means to know as in appreciate. The assembly was to understand these shepherds of God and the nature of their duties, and to know their character and labours, to have proper acquaintance with them. Paul tells the Thessalonians that they had to esteem these men very highly because of the work they were doing, and that is done in love. It is a solemn position because these men have to be accountable before the Lord for how they shepherded the sheep.

THE FIVE (5) WORDS OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Paul speaks of this church position in other places in the New Testament and uses specific words for that SAME POSITION. The different words relate to the specific ministry that position holds. In different bible versions, and in translations, these words get mixed up all the time. However there are 5 of these words, all referring to different aspects of the same office or position the men held in the leadership of the church. These are the five words –

[1]. ELDER – The word suggests a tried and older man. We know this most clearly from Israel’s history. It does not mean “an ancient man” but a man well experienced and tried in the things of God, and certainly not a novice. Israel’s elders were leaders among their people. Now it comes to be understood as a man well grounded with a long/er walk with God. Here are some thoughts for “elder” from Strong’s Concordance:-

[[“An elder, of age, advanced in life, an elder, a senior. It can mean forefathers or a term of rank or office. Among the Jews, it meant (1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men) and (2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice.” Among the Christians, the elders presided over the assemblies (or churches). The word “Presbyter” means elder.]]

[2]. BISHOP – There are 6 times the word “episkopos” is translated “bishop” in the KJV in the New Testament. It is used in the King James Version because King James had some influence in that translation and demanded the use of that word when the translators preferred “overseers”! The NASB and NIV correctly use “overseer” for this Greek word. This is the explanation from Strong’s Concordance:- [[“An overseer is a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others, are done rightly. He is any curator, guardian or superintendent, and the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church.”