PHIL. 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

In addressing his epistle Paul includes with the general term saints (meaning holy ones) two specific categories of Philippians believers: overseers and deacons. This is the first reference to these offices in any of Paul’s writings. There are several lessons to learn from this mention of the leaders of the church at Philippi.

1 - The early church had leaders. Church officers were not a later addition, they were a part of original Biblical Christianity. They were needed then, they are needed now. The presence of the Holy Spirit does not somehow erase the need for church leaders.

2 - New Testament churches had what is called a plurality of leadership. In every occurrence where regular church leaders are mentioned in the New Testament, they are spoken of in the plural. There was not a single leader over a church (except at times an apostle or apostolic delegate). There was always a group of leaders over a church. There were overseers and deacons.

3 - Apart from apostles (and their official delegates) there were only two offices in the New Testament church: overseers and deacons. Overseer is another name for elder (in Acts 20:28 Paul says to the Ephesian elders, "Give heed to the flock among whom the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers." Overseer referred to the function of the office, elder referred to the characteristic age of the office-holders.). The New Testament teaches a two-office system of elders and deacons. What about preachers/pastors? They are a form of elder, as is clear in 1Tim.5:17. In my denomination (the Presbyterian Church in America), pastors/ministers are called teaching elders, while the other elders are called ruling elders. But they are both the same office.

The order in which Paul lists these two makes it clear that overseer was a higher office than deacon. For the Biblical qualifications of overseers and deacons see 1Tim.3 and Titus 1:5ff.

Lord, thank you that you have established leaders in Your church. Thank You for all the great men of faith that You have raised up down through the ages that have done so much good for Your people. Thank You for the church leaders You have used in my own life.

Help the leaders of Your church to be the godly men they should be. Help them to hold firmly to Your truth as revealed in the Scriptures, living it and communicating it without compromise. Help them to take their high calling very seriously. Help them to serve Your church well and watch over Your beloved lambs with tenderness, love and courage.

On the other hand, help your people to have a good attitude toward their leaders. Help them to follow well, without pride or rebellion. Help them not to take lightly the ones that You have appointed over them to keep watch over their souls. Help them to be thankful for their leaders and to pray for them and try to make their job a joy.

And most of all, thank You that in spite of all our human frailties and sins, Your Son Jesus is our chief shepherd, who watches over us and cares for us, even when men fail us. Help us always to rest in His loving care.

(Pray also for the leaders in your own church.)