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What Is the Difference Between an Elder and an Eldership?
What Is the Difference Between an Elder and an Eldership?
Bob Oliver
That may seem like a strange question, but there is really a big difference. Jesus put it like this, “…Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28).
The world sees authority as having power. Jesus in this instance teaches that this is not His way. An elder is to be a servant. He is directed to serve the congregation in teaching, in example, and in service.
But elders, as a group or an eldership, have been given the direction by our Lord to rule his house, the church. (Hebrews 13:7, 17). That implies authority. An elder that attempts to rule by himself violates the concept of being a servant. On the other hand, when an eldership rules over the congregation, they are to be obeyed. They are ruling on behalf of the Master. That was His plan for government in His body, the church.
