A question has come: is it wrong to want to be an elder? Paul gave an answer: "If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work" (1 Timothy 3:1, KJV).

Preliminary to the discussion about the propriety of wanting to be an elder is the use of the word "bishop" in the KJV, the NKJV, the ASV, and the NRSV. In the 20th century the word "bishop" has only two church related meanings: (1) "a prelate superior to the priesthood, consecrated for the spiritual government and direction of a diocese," and (2) "a high-ranking clergyman with authority over a church district" (Webster). The 1st century church had neither a "prelate" nor a "clergyman."

If we are to speak where the Bible speaks, if we are to call Bible things by Bible names, if we are to speak "a pure language" (Zephaniah 3:9, ASV), if we are to hold "the pattern of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13, ASV), we will not use the word "bishop."

Instead of the phrase "the office of a bishop," the literal meaning of Paul’s inspired word is "overseership" (episkope). The word "overseership" conforms exactly to the practice of the 1st century congregations, for they had "overseers," a plurality of older men called "elders" (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28, KJV).

The words "desire" (orego amd "desireth" (epithumeo) in the above quotation from 1 Timothy 3:1 cannot be criticized, for they set forth a holy and admirable aspiration that ought to be in the heart of every young man, but not for the honor of it.

No higher earthly honor can be bestowed than for fellow Christians to select a man as one of their overseers (elders). James A. Garfield considered being an elder a higher honor than being president of the United States. When he was elected president of the United States in 1881 he was serving as an elder of the Lord’s church in Hiram, Ohio. On the last Sunday that he was at services, before he boarded a train for Washington, D.C., he stood before the congregation and said, "Today I am stepping down from the eldership of the Hiram congregation to go to Washington to become president of the United States."

Why did he think he was stepping down instead of up? Would he not receive a free house in Washington and a large salary as president? But as an elder he had received no pay and he had provided his own house.

The difference in Bro. Garfield’s mind was spiritual. As president he would deal with people’s physical welfare only, but as an elder his primary concern was to look after people’s souls. The work of an elder has eternal consequences, but that of a president is only temporary. A more important work than the welfare of a nation is to "keep watch" over Christians, for whose welfare an elder "will give an account" (Hebrews 13:17).

Yes, it is a higher honor to be an elder than to be president of the United States. But if one desires to be an elder because of the honor, his desire is sinful! The thrust of being an elder is service, unrelenting, day or night! His mind and heart are not on self but on people. His most important work is not to be "up front" in the assembly, nor to be in a business meeting, but to knock on doors!

In line with an elder’s work as an overseer, he is to "shepherd God’s flock," working under "the Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:1-5). A shepherd only in name is repulsive to God:

The shepherd-sheep illustration which God thought was good for Israel he also thinks is good for spiritual Israel, as he speaks to church elders as shepherds:

If it is personal honor that motivates a man’s desire to be an elder, he is as vain and selfish as James and John in asking for places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom (Matthew 20:20-24). They were "conceited, provoking one another, envying one another" (Galatians 5:26, NKJV). Their mother and they themselves spoke "through selfish ambition," not "in lowliness of mind," not in esteeming "others better than" themselves (Philippians 2:3, JKJV).

Every Christian man, properly taught, has crucified selfishness (Galatians 5:24). Never will he say, "I look forward to the day that I will be called an elder," nor will he ask someone to turn in his name to be an elder. Instead, from a youth, he will say, "I want to be my brother’s keeper, to help everyone to the best of my ability, whether or not I am ever asked to be an elder." No thought was in Stephanas’ mind of becoming an elder as he dedicated himself "to the service of the saints" (1 Corinthians 16:15).

Furthermore, if a man agrees to serve as an elder because his friends insisted, he would be an unscriptural elder, for a scriptural elder does not serve "by constraint," because he has been talked into it, but "willingly" (1 Peter 5:2).

Every Christian, man or woman, properly taught, is willing to be "poured out as a drink-offering [sponde]" (Philippians 2:17) to help others "for whom Christ died" (1 Corinthians 8:11). When that kind of man is approached by loving brothers and sisters, and they tell him that he could render even greater service to the church if he would serve as an elder, that man, if he agrees to serve, is not self-seeking. More of his time will be required, and church problems will arise, but he will serve because he has made himself a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). "This saying is reliable, if a man aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work" (1 Timothy 3:1, FHV).