Names Given to Church Leaders

In the apostolic days there were several designated leaders of God’s people. These were known as elders, deacons, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. (Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1; Ephesians 4:11.) There was another group who bore heavy administrative burdens who were known as bishops (1 Timothy 3:2), “overseers” (Acts 20:28), “pillars” (Galatians 2:9), and “chief men” (Acts 15:22). The term “bishop” had a somewhat different meaning in the early days of the church from what it has today. Then it meant supervisor; in fact, the word rendered “bishop” elsewhere is rendered “overseer” in Acts 20:28. Furthermore, we have another ecclesiastical term used in the book of Timothy. There Paul writes concerning the “presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:14.) This is the only place this word is used in the Scriptures. The Greek word means the whole body of elders, or the assembly of elders. It is this word in the Greek form of presbuteros that is rendered “elder” in our New Testament.BSPC 171.1

In connection with the office of elder it should be observed that this term was applied to two groups of men. There were those like the apostles who served the church at large, and there were those who served the local church that called them to service. The former were called to their office and ordained for their work by the entire church; the latter were called by the local church to serve in the sphere of the local church that elected them.BSPC 171.2

In addition to these elders there were other officers of the local church. There were deacons, and there were officers like the secretary and treasurer. We do not read of secretaries in the apostolic church, but there is no doubt that they were there. They were in the Old Testament church, as can be seen in such scriptures as 2 Samuel 8:17 and 2 Kings 18:18. In these texts we find the word “scribe,” with the marginal rendering as “secretary.” The secretary in those ancient days was evidently the same in principle as today. He was a “recorder” (2 Samuel 20:24) or “remembrancer” or “writer of chronicles” (2 Samuel 8:16, margin).BSPC 171.3

The treasurers were certainly necessary in the church of God. Instances of their activities are seen in Nehemiah 13:13 and 1 Chronicles 9:26.BSPC 171.4