Books on the Ruling Elder

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JOwen

JOwen

Puritan Board Junior
Brothers,

Could you make some recommendations for reading for men who are or may be called to the office of elder?
 
dannyhyde said:
We use Called to Serve: Essays for Elders and Deacons, ed. Michael G. Brown (Reformed Fellowship, 2007) to train prospective office-bearers.

We also use as ongoing training for existing elders P. Y. De Jong, Taking Heed to the Flock (repr., Wipf & Stock) and John Sittema, With a Shepherd's Heart (Reformed Fellowship).
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Hey I was gonna recommend Called to Serve! FYI, because he is too humble to mention it, I will let you know that Rev Hyde is a contributor to this book.
 
Where does the bible distinguish between a ruling elder and a teaching elder? All I can remember is that it just mentions elder and that title seems to be the same thing that many would call a bishop. All I remember seeing in there is elder and deacon. I can't remember where elder is divided into two parts.
 
DD2009 said:
Where does the bible distinguish between a ruling elder and a teaching elder? All I can remember is that it just mentions elder and that title seems to be the same thing that many would call a bishop. All I remember seeing in there is elder and deacon. I can't remember where elder is divided into two parts.
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1 Timothy 5:17

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching" (italics mine)

The distinction here is made between Elders and Preaching/Teaching Elders.
 
MLCOPE2 said:
DD2009 said:
Where does the bible distinguish between a ruling elder and a teaching elder? All I can remember is that it just mentions elder and that title seems to be the same thing that many would call a bishop. All I remember seeing in there is elder and deacon. I can't remember where elder is divided into two parts.
Click to expand...

1 Timothy 5:17

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching" (italics mine)

The distinction here is made between Elders and Preaching/Teaching Elders.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn't remember that.
 
MLCOPE2 said:
DD2009 said:
Where does the bible distinguish between a ruling elder and a teaching elder? All I can remember is that it just mentions elder and that title seems to be the same thing that many would call a bishop. All I remember seeing in there is elder and deacon. I can't remember where elder is divided into two parts.
Click to expand...

1 Timothy 5:17

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching" (italics mine)

The distinction here is made between Elders and Preaching/Teaching Elders.
Click to expand...

Elders are not divided into two parts. There is only one office of elder. Some may teach more than others but all are to be apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). There is a unity in 1 Timothy 5:17, it is not speaking of two offices. "Especially" denotes they are of the same office but some labor in word and doctrine more than others. Whether or not you want to call some ruling and some teaching doesn't really bother me as long as it is understood they occupy the same office even though their duties may be different.
 
John Lanier said:
MLCOPE2 said:
DD2009 said:
Where does the bible distinguish between a ruling elder and a teaching elder? All I can remember is that it just mentions elder and that title seems to be the same thing that many would call a bishop. All I remember seeing in there is elder and deacon. I can't remember where elder is divided into two parts.
Click to expand...

1 Timothy 5:17

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching" (italics mine)

The distinction here is made between Elders and Preaching/Teaching Elders.
Click to expand...

Elders are not divided into two parts. There is only one office of elder. Some may teach more than others but all are to be apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). There is a unity in 1 Timothy 5:17, it is not speaking of two offices. "Especially" denotes they are of the same office but some labor in word and doctrine more than others. Whether or not you want to call some ruling and some teaching doesn't really bother me as long as it is understood they occupy the same office even though their duties may be different.
Click to expand...

A distinction in function does not necessitate a distinction in form.
 
The Elder and his Work.............................................David Dickson
The Ruling Elder......................................................Samuel Miller
The Church's Ruling Elders........................................George G. Hutton
Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland, in points of the Ruling Elders, and of the authority of Presbyteries and Synods.............................................................George Gillespie
 
For Presbyterians: Witherow's The Apostolic Church - Which Is It?; G. I. Williamson's The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes; Robertson's The Christ of the Covenants; and not least, Smyth's Ecclesiastical Catechism of the Presbyterian Church.

These are my faves, and I like the others as well.
 
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