What Is The Authority Of The Under-Shepherd

The office of elder roots runs deeper than the surface of the New Testament. Moses under the advice of his father-in-law appointed elders to lead and teach the church in the wilderness. God used the elders in the Old Testament church to rule and guide His chosen nation. Christ continued with the pattern set forth in the Old Testament and appointed under-shepherds over the church He built. Who would be so fitting for such role? It is no doubt those who were first appointed are those Christ taught intimately, after which He instructed to go into the world and make disciples. With the increase in disciples (sheep), likewise, there must be an increase in under-shepherds. Paul, though he was not a member of the original twelve, being filled with the Holy Spirit wrote to Timothy and Titus the qualifications of one who desired the Pastoral office. According to Paul, an elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, not argumentative, gentle, uncontentious, not greedy for money, not covetous, able to rule his household, having children who respect and obey him, one who has a good reputation outside …show more content…
As keepers of sheep they were responsible for leading the flock to green pastures (Psalm 23). They watched over the flock all day providing protection (1 Samuel 17:34). Should one of the sheep strayed or wandered away from the rest the shepherd would seek diligently until it’s found (Luke 15:4). Likewise the under-shepherds must execute the same role and authority as a shepherd. Paul and Peter exhort the elders and also charged them with the task of shepherding the flock which Christ had entrusted to them (Act 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-4). Let us look at what I consider are the three main roles of the under-shepherd; to protect, to feed and to