Choosing Elders

Dr. Couch, are elders voted on by the congregation or are they appointed by other elders, or the apostles, in the case of the establishing of the NT churches?

ANSWER: Elders are not to be voted on in churches. That is a congregational system that is not biblical. Sheep do not vote on their shepherds; that does not make sense. Some wrongly use Acts 14:23 to try to prove that elders were voted on but this won't fly!

It is the account of Paul and Barnabas who "appointed" elders "in every church, having prayed with fasting, ..." The Greek word is Cheirotoneo that has the word "Hand" ("cheiro") in it, thus leading some to say, "Well, this is the holding up the hand to vote." But those who say that miss the point of how words change and adjust in usage. While the word once meant to raise the hand, we have only two men, Paul and Barnabas, who were deciding on the elders. It would be ludicrous to think that Paul counted 1, 2, 3, and said, "Now Barnabas, raise your hand and vote!" Because two men were doing the selection they were not voting in the normal sense. In fact, the NAS correctly translates the word "to appoint" with the idea of discussing the issue and "selecting" who the elders were to be.

Voting was confined only to wealthy people of the city-states and the Roman senates. The common people did not vote as we would normally think.

So this word changed in meaning by usage. Paul and Barnabas did not vote on elders. They discussed the issue and then appointed those they felt were qualified. This is what is to be done today. Elders select elders. The sheep do not have anything to do with this process. Voting causes competition and division. The selection of wise men by wise men is the biblical way to go!

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

The Author of the Faith

Dr. Couch, what does it mean in Hebrews 12:2 when it calls Christ the Author of The Faith? ANSWER:  This is a bad translation. This is why I took about 40 hours of graduate Greek in order to get it straight, as to what the Bible was saying. The NT IS Greek and without understanding the language we are out to lunch in trying to interpret the Word of God.    The Greek word is "archagos." The word is better translated "leader." You can see the word Arch, or "top one, the highest one."    The great grammarians Balz & Schneider have a lot to say about this word. "God exalted [Christ] at His right hand as Leader and Savior" (Acts 5:31). "The predication 'Leader and Savior' is plainly near to Heb. 2:10, 'pioneer of their salvation.'" "Heb. 2:10 has: 'Make the Leader who delivers them perfect through sufferings.'" "Jesus' function as Leader results from the cross and the resurrection from the dead (13:20)." "God effects faith in Jesus as the Leader."    Ger adds: "Jesus is described here with two complementary designations. He is the "archegos," "the champion," "the leader," the pioneering source and heroic author of faith. This is a rare messianic title that is used by the author of Hebrews in 2:10 and 12:2 and only in additional two times in the New Testament in Acts (3:15; 5:31). ... His magnificent accomplishment, now serves as the very embodiment of faith itself."    The writer of Hebrews seems to be pulling this name from Jeremiah 30:21. The NAS there calls the Messiah "the Leader." It is the Hebrew word Ay'Der. It sometimes is translated as Prince, or "Mighty, Splendid One." Jeremiah 30:21 reads: "And their Leader shall be one of them [the Jews in the restoration]."    The word is used of God in Psalm 8:2. "O Lord, our Lord, How GLORIOUS is You Name in all the earth, who has displayed Your splendor above the heavens!"     The Hebrew word Ay'Der is related to other Hebrew words that are translated: "splendor, noble." The word can describe a splendid robe of a king!    Thus, on Hebrews 12:2 we might say: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Glorious Splendid Leader of THE FAITH, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame [of it], and has [now] sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," waiting for the Lord to subdue His enemies (Psa. 110:1-2).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Verses regarding Apostasy and the Nation of Israel

Dr. Couch, we all get the sense that we're there! We are now deep into the apostasy. You mentioned the other day a great verse that speaks to such issues in regard to the failure of the nation of Israel. Could you please refer to that again? Yes, I was referring to 2 Chronicles 36:14-21. The passage tells us that the leadership of Israel, and the people, "were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had sanctified in Jerusalem" (v. 14). God then "sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people … but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words ands scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy left" (vv. 15-16).    The Lord then sent judgment (by the Chaldeans) who slew the people and destroyed the temple (v. 17).    The Lord then "fulfilled [His word] by the mouth of Jeremiah …" (v. 21).    A Scofield Ministries website reader sent an excellent email that we can all believe, if we are truly alert as to what is happening in our world! I think America as we know it is gone for good. The Constitution is out the window and we have a congress that is totally captured by special interests. Voting no longer makes a difference because the only ones running are those who tow the line and are sponsored by big money. The economy is in dire straits and is not going to turn around anytime soon. The majority of manufacturing jobs are permanently gone. Debt is spiraling out of control. Government is going wild. It is only a matter of time before the dollar is devalued and we move toward a regional or global currency. The swine flu situation has many suspect and troubling aspects. Things seem to be getting set up for martial law. – A Reader    This is really about the apostasy. And it is not just what is happening in America. Things are crumbling worldwide, not simply here in our country. For example, in Australia things are also falling apart. One of the largest denominational groups – the Uniting Church Australia – is rapidly turning liberal. It will soon support gay ministers.    A concerned Christian in that country keeps me informed about what is happening. He says: "This group is turning toward apostasy, and buying into the Emerging Church idea. They don't care about how Scripture is interpreted. And they are destroying any thought of proclaiming sound doctrine."    "We will have to move from the Uniting Church Australia (UCA) quickly. The people in the church who wanted to learn true doctrine are now in harms way spiritually. The days are evil and we are in dangerous times. Apostasy is well within all the areas of the churches these days.  I don't know where to go from here. It's hard to trust any church around here anymore. May the Lord come soon!"    All that the Word of God has prophesied is coming about before our very eyes!    Dr. Mal Couch

Difference Between Elders and Deacons

Dr. Couch, I attend a church that only has deacons and no elders. What's the difference? ANSWER:  Many churches have seen the biblical light and realize that the Word of God says that a church should have both. This problem highlights two issues. People (1) are not reading their Bible, and (2) tradition has a stronger hold on church leadership than looking carefully at Scripture. I know of many churches that have gone to elder leadership when they simply opened their Bible. Rather than give you the long answer here, I suggest you order from me my book Biblical Theology of the Church.    Unfortunately, even when a church has elders, the elders can walk about carnal and do stupid things. I know of this at first hand! Power or authority can go to their head and they can destroy what is good in their church. But supposedly, by following God's directive on the issue, the church should be in a better position to be biblical.    Another problem is that elders are not very trained. They should (but don't) really know their Bible. I have seen many who were "led" by the nose by their wives! Or, they are just passive when it comes to making tough decisions. "Duh, what shall we do?" One of my old professors, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, told of the passivity of elders. He said he was playing golf with one when it started to rain. The elder just stuck his hand out and said, "Uhhh, what shall we do?" Dr. McGee answered, "Well, what about getting out of the rain?" The old saying, "Some don't have the brains to get out of the rain!"    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

What Can Women Say in Church?

Dr. Couch, is the Bible saying that women are not to say anything in the church, when it says that must be silent?

ANSWER:  Paul's main concern is that he does not want women, who can be more emotionally wired, to be in charge of the teaching and leading in the congregations. He wants male leadership in the churches. By their spirituality, women can have a great influence over their husbands and over children. Read 1 Timothy 2:9-15. The apostle commends women for their good works. "Rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness. Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness" (vv. 10-11).

  Feminist claim that Paul's words only fit that culture but this is not so. Paul argues for male leadership on the basis of the primacy of Adam. What he says is applicable throughout the entire period of the dispensation of the church."For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve" (v. 13). Adam was deceived but Eve was "quite deceived" (v. 14). Paul says that the woman is to receive instruction "quietly" (v. 11). The Greek word is heesukia. It means "to be unemotional," "to be quiet in the sense of being emotionally controlled," to not be animated, not simply to be silent. He repeats this idea in verse 14.

  Paul seems to be repeating this thought in 1 Corinthians 14:35-36. He says the woman is to "keep silent" (v. 34). He uses the Greek word sigao from the Greek word siagon, meaning jaw-bone. She is not to be slapping the jaw, flapping the mouth! She is not to be dominating the conversation, just going blah, blah, blah! So I do not think Paul is saying she cannot speak at all but she is not to dominate in the discussion. You have to put this word together with his thought that she is "not to be speaking" in the rest of the two verses. Paul wants his readers to "get it." He adds, "But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized" (v. 38). To conclude: women can converse in the church service but they are not to emotionally dominate the conversation or become overly excitable.

I hope this helps, and, thanks for asking.

Dr. Mal Couch

Women as Leaders

Dr. Couch, I hear a lot today about women being leaders. Does the Bible confirm this idea?

ANSWER: Feminist driven women today will drag out the story of Deborah from the book of Judges to try to prove that they should be pastor(ettes) and leader(ettes), but that argument will not fly. While it was true that there was a dearth of men who were spiritually qualified, the fact of her taking the role of a judge is an exception in Scripture and not the norm.

She was not a military leader as some try to claim. Barak was her general who led the armies in combat. He was a bit weak kneed in that he wanted her to go with him for spiritual support to fight and defeat Sisera (Judges 4:7-9).

The rule is that male leadership is meant to guide the churches, but I see more and more Bible schools and seminaries having conferences to train women in "leadership." Our military schools claim they are training women to be military leaders, but the elephant in the living room that no one speaks about, is that women cannot really lead men. It takes men to lead men! The Pentagon lies to us and tells us they are not putting women in combat positions but the reality is they are! Women are trained as jet fighter pilots, etc. I heard one misguided military girl say, "I feel it is my duty to defend my country!" Wrong! It is her duty to raise godly children and make a wonderful warm home for family spiritual training. It is the duty of the men to defend both home and hearth!

In Scripture, young men are told to "be subject to your elders" (1 Pet. 5:5). Young men are wild horses and need the firm guidance of older men as roll models and as those who exercise their authority in reigning in the waywardness of the young.

As long as the churches follow the dictates of the culture and what is politically correct, spiritual failure will only increase in the life of the Evangelical community.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch

Qualifications of Both the Elder and the Deacon

Dr. Couch, I have a lot of questions about the issue of the qualifications of both the elder and the deacon. Can you shed light? 

 

    ANSWER: Rather than use the word "qualifications" I prefer the word "characteristics." For some reason the word "qualifications" seems to imply absolute perfection for these two offices, and this is certainly not true. The apostle Paul often had to chide these men in their failures. I believe Paul is saying that his lists help in determining whether these are the characteristics that these men possess for their office. 

    While there have been several books written about the elder and deacon, none come up to the details I provide in my book A Biblical Theology of the Church (Kregel). There are a lot of misunderstandings about these issues regarding what the Bible actually says. I analyze the verses and open them up grammatically in order to really ascertain from the Greek grammar what is being said. I also give some very important quotes from the early church fathers as to what these verses mean. 

    Thanks for asking!

    Dr. Mal Couch

Reasons Why Elders and Pastor Are Not Different Offices

Dr. Couch, I agree that the pastor should be one among equals with the church elders, but would you explain the reasons that an elder and pastor are not different offices? 

 

    ANSWER:   In the NT, and the NT alone, we find that there is a leadership group (plural) in the church that is given four titles. Or, to put it another way, they each are given four titles: pastor (shepherd), teacher, elder, overseer. Thus you have a board or group of men with each designated as: pastor/teacher/elder/overseer. This means we have four designations or four functions in the same person(s). 

    All of this is easy to prove from Scripture but the only problem is (1) people are not reading their Bibles, and (2) they are running on traditional denominational gas and not by what the Scriptures say. 

    For example, Paul summoned together the ELDERS (pl.) of Ephesus (Acts 20:17) and he called them also the OVERSEERS (pl.) (v. 28). (Overseer is "episcopos" and means "to over scope, overlook.) He then uses the verb SHEPHERD (to pastor) as what these men together are to do with the flock at Ephesus (v. 28). Paul uses the word PASTORS (shepherds) as a noun describing the church office only once (Eph. 4:11). There, he puts it this way: "PASTORS (AND, INDEED) TEACHERS." So PASTORS are to pastor by being TEACHERS! 

    Thus the four descriptions describing the same group of guys! 

    To further prove that the ELDERS and OVERSEERS are the same guys, all you have to do is notice that Paul describes their characteristics as church leaders in two lists, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:5-9. Same list, but he begins 1 Timothy 3:1 by calling them the OVERSEERS, yet in Titus 1:5 he calls them the ELDERS! 

    To really get it biblically settled you need my two books Biblical Theology of the Church and Pastors’ Manual for Doing Church. 

    Thanks for asking!

    Dr. Mal Couch