Original collection
Elder An officer in the local congregation, whose responsibility it is to lead, shepherd, and oversee the members. The term may be used interchangeably with bishop, pastor, overseer, shepherd, or presbyter. In the NT a plurality of elders were always appointed over a local congregation. The concept of one bishop over a church is a later development.
Key KJV Scriptures:
Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4
Key KJV Scriptures: Full Text
87 indexed verses · Showing 41–80. Read each passage in its chapter context.
Acts 16:4 (KJV)
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 16:5 (KJV)
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 20:17 (KJV)
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 (KJV)
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:29 (KJV)
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 (KJV)
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:31 (KJV)
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Acts 20:32 (KJV)
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 21:18 (KJV)
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
1 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Timothy 3:3 (KJV)
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1 Timothy 3:4 (KJV)
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1 Timothy 3:6 (KJV)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:7 (KJV)
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 4:14 (KJV)
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1 Timothy 5:17 (KJV)
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:18 (KJV)
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
1 Timothy 5:19 (KJV)
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Titus 1:5 (KJV)
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Titus 1:6 (KJV)
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Titus 1:7 (KJV)
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Titus 1:8 (KJV)
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Titus 1:9 (KJV)
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Hebrews 11:2 (KJV)
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
James 5:14 (KJV)
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15 (KJV)
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
1 Peter 5:1 (KJV)
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1 Peter 5:2 (KJV)
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1 Peter 5:3 (KJV)
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:4 (KJV)
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1 Peter 5:5 (KJV)
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
2 John 1:1 (KJV)
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
3 John 1:1 (KJV)
The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Revelation 4:4 (KJV)
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Revelation 4:10 (KJV)
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 5:5 (KJV)
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:6 (KJV)
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Revelation 5:8 (KJV)
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Reference selections include Orville J. Nave’s public-domain topical index, via Brady Stephenson’s bible-data (CC BY 4.0). Titles and references have been normalized, duplicates merged, and references checked against the site’s KJV. This is a passage-finding aid; its classifications do not establish doctrine.