What are elders and deacons?

1 Timothy 3:1-13

¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.

⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

⁸ In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

¹⁰ They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

¹³ Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

New International Version (NIV)

The answer

Elders are overseers who shepherd and teach the church; deacons are servants who meet practical needs and support the church’s ministry. Both require proven Christian character, and both are exercises of humble service rather than status or domination.

Elders: shepherding and oversight

• Elder and overseer describe the same responsibility. Paul tells Titus to appoint elders, then immediately describes the qualifications of the overseer in Titus 1:5-7. Their work is sometimes described as shepherding or feeding the flock.
• They care for the church and guard its teaching. The Holy Spirit makes overseers responsible to feed the church that Christ purchased with His blood in Acts 20:28. They must hold firmly to the faithful word, encourage others through sound doctrine, and correct those who contradict it in Titus 1:9.
• They lead willingly and by example. First Peter 5:2-4 tells elders to exercise oversight voluntarily, not for dishonest gain or by lording it over others, but as examples under Christ, the chief Shepherd.
• Their character must be tested and visible. First Timothy 3:1-7 requires an overseer to be without reproach, faithful in marriage, self-controlled, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, free from greed and drunkenness, responsible at home, spiritually mature, and well regarded even by outsiders. Wanting the work is good, but desire alone does not qualify someone.

Deacons: practical service

• They are recognized servants of the church. Philippians 1:1 addresses the congregation together with its overseers and servants, showing these two ministries alongside one another.
• Their service helps meet needs and preserves the ministry of the word. Acts 6:1-6 does not call the seven chosen men deacons, but it displays the pattern: spiritually mature and wise men were appointed to ensure that neglected widows received daily care, while the apostles continued steadfastly in prayer and the ministry of the word.
• Deacons must be spiritually qualified, not merely available. First Timothy 3:8-12 requires reverence, truthful speech, moderation, freedom from greed, a pure conscience in holding the faith, proven faithfulness, and good management of household responsibilities. They are tested before serving.
• Faithful service is spiritually fruitful. First Timothy 3:13 promises that those who serve well gain good standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026

Scripture establishes two ordinary, perpetual offices in the local church: elders, who shepherd and teach the flock, and deacons, who execute hands-on works of practical service and mercy. Both offices exist under the supreme headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflecting His pastoral care and servant heart for His purchased people. Understanding their biblical callings, qualifications, and distinct duties guards the health and holiness of Christ's assembly.

The Pastoral Office

Elders Shepherd, Teach, and Oversee the Flock

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

1 Timothy 3:1 (NIV)

It affirms that aspiring to the office of an overseer is desiring a noble and honorable work of spiritual oversight.

In 1 Timothy 3:1, the Apostle Paul announces that if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task, establishing that spiritual leadership is an honorable calling of active labor. Throughout the New Testament, three Greek terms describe this singular pastoral office interchangeably: presbyteros (elder), episkopos (overseer or bishop), and poimen (shepherd or pastor). When Paul met the Ephesian leaders at Miletus in Acts 20:17, he summoned the elders, and in Acts 20:28 he charged those same men as overseers appointed by the Holy Spirit to shepherd the flock that God bought with His own blood. Titus 1:5 and Titus 1:7 weave these titles together identically, directing Titus to appoint elders in every town because an overseer must be blameless as God's steward. Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:1-2 as a fellow elder, urging under-shepherds to exercise oversight willingly and eagerly, pointing in 1 Peter 2:25 to the Lord Jesus Christ as the supreme Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

From the earliest missionary journeys, pastoral oversight was plural and thoroughly integrated into every local assembly. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting in Acts 14:23. In Jerusalem, elders governed alongside apostles during critical doctrinal deliberation, seen in Acts 15:2, Acts 15:6, and Acts 21:18. The congregation bears an active responsibility toward these leaders: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 calls believers to respect and highly esteem those who labor over them in love. In 1 Timothy 5:17-18, elders who rule well are counted worthy of double honor—including financial provision—especially those laboring in preaching and teaching. To protect their ministry, 1 Timothy 5:19 requires two or three witnesses to entertain an accusation, while 1 Timothy 5:20 commands public rebuke for persistent sin, and 1 Timothy 5:22 warns against hasty ordination. Hebrews 13:7 and Hebrews 13:17 urge believers to imitate the faith of their leaders and obey them, knowing they keep watch over eternal souls. In times of illness, James 5:14 instructs the sick to call church elders for prayer and anointing. Rather than domineering, 1 Peter 5:3-4 commands elders to be living examples, anticipating the unfading crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd.

The passages

Passage	What it says
1 Timothy 3:1	States that if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
Acts 20:17	Paul summons the elders of the church in Ephesus to meet him at Miletus.
Acts 20:28	Charges elders as Holy Spirit-appointed overseers to shepherd the church of God purchased with His blood.
Titus 1:5	Instructs Titus to appoint qualified elders in every city of Crete.
Titus 1:7	Identifies the overseer as God's steward who must be blameless.
1 Peter 5:1	Peter writes as a fellow elder exhorting the elders among the scattered believers.
1 Peter 5:2	Exhorts elders to shepherd God's flock eagerly, exercising oversight willingly and not for dishonest gain.
1 Peter 2:25	Calls Christ Jesus the supreme Shepherd and Overseer (Bishop) of our souls.
Acts 14:23	Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting.
Acts 15:2	The church appointed Paul and Barnabas to confer with apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
Acts 15:6	Apostles and elders gathered together to deliberate the question of Gentile circumcision.
Acts 21:18	Paul went in to James, and all the elders of Jerusalem were present.
1 Thessalonians 5:12	Believers are told to know and respect those who labor and oversee them.
1 Thessalonians 5:13	Congregations must esteem their leaders very highly in love for their work's sake.
1 Timothy 5:17	Elders who rule well deserve double honor, especially those laboring in preaching.
1 Timothy 5:18	Scripture warrants financial support for the elder, saying the laborer deserves his wages.
1 Timothy 5:19	No charge against an elder is entertained except on two or three witnesses.
1 Timothy 5:20	Those elders who persist in sin must be rebuked in everyone's presence.
1 Timothy 5:22	Paul cautions Timothy against laying hands precipitously on candidates for church office.
Hebrews 13:7	The church must remember and imitate leaders who spoke God's word to them.
Hebrews 13:17	Believers are commanded to obey leaders who keep watch over their souls.
James 5:14	Sick believers should call for church elders to pray and anoint them.
1 Peter 5:3	Elders must shepherd without domineering, serving instead as godly examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:4	Faithful elders will receive the unfading crown of glory when Christ appears.

Elder Qualifications

Blameless Character and Sound Doctrine Are Required

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:2 (NIV)

It sets the foundational moral benchmark of blamelessness and specifies that an elder must be able to teach.

The standard for pastoral leadership focuses on tested godly character and theological fidelity. In 1 Timothy 3:2, Paul sets the foundational requirement that an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. This blamelessness does not require sinless perfection, but rather an irreproachable life free from disqualifying moral failure. The distinct duty separating the elder from the deacon is the positive competence to instruct the church in sound doctrine, an indispensable gift for protecting Christ's sheep from error.

The pastoral profile extends into self-mastery, family life, and public reputation. In 1 Timothy 3:3, Scripture forbids drunkenness, violence, greed, and pugnacity, demanding instead that an elder be gentle and peaceable. His domestic integrity serves as the testing ground for spiritual authority: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 insists he must manage his own household well with dignity, asking how anyone unable to govern his own home could care for the household of God. To guard against destructive pride, 1 Timothy 3:6 bars recent converts from appointment, lest they become conceited and fall into the snare of the devil. A candidate must also possess a solid reputation among unbelievers according to 1 Timothy 3:7, maintaining Christian integrity before an watching world. Paul echoes these non-negotiable benchmarks in Titus 1:6 and Titus 1:8, requiring uprightness, holy living, and faithful children. In Titus 1:9, Paul highlights the pastoral necessity of holding firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, enabling the elder both to encourage the church with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

The passages

Passage	What it says
1 Timothy 3:2	Demands an overseer be above reproach, one woman's husband, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach.
1 Timothy 3:3	Forbids drunkenness, violence, greed, and quarreling, requiring gentleness instead.
1 Timothy 3:4	Requires him to manage his own household well, keeping children submissive with all dignity.
1 Timothy 3:5	Explains that failing to rule one's own house disqualifies a man from caring for God's church.
1 Timothy 3:6	Disallows a recent convert so he does not become conceited and fall into the devil's condemnation.
1 Timothy 3:7	Commands a good reputation with outsiders to avoid disgrace and the devil's snare.
Titus 1:6	Specifies that an elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, and have faithful, orderly children.
Titus 1:8	Demands hospitality, devotion to goodness, self-control, uprightness, holiness, and discipline.
Titus 1:9	Commands holding firmly to sound doctrine to give instruction and refute those who contradict.

The Diaconal Origin

Deacons Serve Practical Needs to Preserve Ministry

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Acts 6:3 (NIV)

It outlines the church's initial selection of spirit-filled servants to oversee practical needs and protect pastoral prayer and preaching.

While elders carry spiritual oversight and teaching, God instituted the diaconate to execute crucial works of practical service and mercy. In Acts 6:3, the apostles directed the congregation to pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom the church could appoint to handle physical administration. The office was born out of a real communal crisis in Acts 6:1, where Grecian widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Rather than ignoring this practical necessity or neglecting their own primary calling, the Twelve recognized in Acts 6:2 that it was wrong for them to abandon the ministry of the Word to wait on tables.

This structural division safeguarded the spiritual feeding of the flock. In Acts 6:4, the apostles reaffirmed their pastoral mandate to devote themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. The proposal pleased the congregation, which chose seven qualified servants in Acts 6:5, including Stephen and Philip. In Acts 6:6, the apostles prayed and laid hands upon them, formally designating their public authority to manage benevolence. In Philippians 1:1, Paul addresses the mature church order at Philippi by greeting the saints alongside their overseers and deacons (diakonoi). The practical scope of service also shines in Romans 16:1-2, where Paul commends Phoebe, a devoted servant and patron of the assembly at Cenchreae, charging the church in Rome to receive her in the Lord and assist her in whatever work she needed.

The passages

Passage	What it says
Acts 6:1	Records the complaint regarding the neglect of Hellenistic widows in the daily distribution of food.
Acts 6:2	Shows the Twelve declaring it improper to leave preaching God's Word to serve tables.
Acts 6:3	Directs the assembly to pick seven respected men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
Acts 6:4	States the pastoral priority to devote continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Acts 6:5	Names the chosen servants who pleased the entire gathering.
Acts 6:6	Depicts the apostles laying hands on and praying over these newly appointed servants.
Philippians 1:1	Paul addresses the local church in Philippi together with its overseers and deacons.
Romans 16:1	Paul commends Phoebe, a servant or deaconess of the church at Cenchreae.
Romans 16:2	The church in Rome is instructed to receive and assist Phoebe in ministry.

Deacon Qualifications

Tested Servants of Integrity and Deep Faith

They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 3:9 (NIV)

It anchors practical service in genuine spiritual conviction, requiring deacons to hold gospel truth with a clear conscience.

Scripture establishes rigorous moral and spiritual qualifications for deacons, demonstrating that practical service within the body of Christ demands deep spiritual maturity. In 1 Timothy 3:9, Paul mandates that deacons must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, anchoring outward ministry in inward doctrinal orthodoxy and personal integrity. Physical stewardship in the local church is never treated as mere secular management; it requires godly men whose hearts are thoroughly captivated by the gospel.

Paul lays out the character traits of deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8, requiring them to be dignified, sincere in speech, not addicted to much wine, and free from dishonest financial greed. Handling benevolent funds and ministering to vulnerable members demands unquestioned financial and verbal reliability. In 1 Timothy 3:10, Paul commands that candidates first be tested through observation and proven service, taking up the office only if they prove blameless. The standard extends to the women who assist or serve in these diaconal ministries: 1 Timothy 3:11 requires them to be dignified, temperate, faithful in all things, and not slanderers. In 1 Timothy 3:12, deacons must be the husband of one wife and manage their children and households well, mirroring the domestic faithfulness required of elders. Faithfulness in this supportive office carries an eternal reward: 1 Timothy 3:13 promises that those who serve well as deacons gain an honorable standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The passages

Passage	What it says
1 Timothy 3:8	Requires deacons to be dignified, not insincere, not prone to much wine, and not greedy for dishonest gain.
1 Timothy 3:9	Commands holding the mystery of the faith with a pure, blameless conscience.
1 Timothy 3:10	Orders that candidates first be examined and proven before serving if found blameless.
1 Timothy 3:11	Demands that the women or wives be dignified, not slanderers, sober-minded, and faithful in all things.
1 Timothy 3:12	Requires deacons to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and households well.
1 Timothy 3:13	Promises an honorable standing and great boldness in Christ to those who serve well as deacons.

God has not left His flock without order, provision, or care, but has established elders to feed souls and deacons to serve needs. When both offices function according to Scripture's holy qualifications, the gospel shines brightly and the entire congregation is built up in faith and love.

48 passages, each cited once.

How the major Christian traditions read this

All Christian traditions confess that Christ has given ordained leaders and servants to His church, pointing to Scripture's qualifications for overseers who shepherd the flock and deacons who serve practical needs (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Philippians 1:1).

Catholic

In the Catholic Church, holy orders is a sacrament instituted by Christ with three distinct degrees: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons). Bishops possess the fullness of the priesthood as successors to the apostles (Acts 20:28), while priests serve as co-workers with the bishops, preaching the Word and administering the sacraments. Deacons are ordained not unto the priesthood, but unto a ministry of service, assisting at the altar, proclaiming the Gospel, and caring for charitable needs in imitation of the early church's pattern (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Orthodox

The Orthodox Church maintains the threefold ministry received from the apostles: bishop, presbyter (priest), and deacon. Bishops stand in unbroken apostolic succession to guard the faith and shepherd the regional flock (Titus 1:5-9). Presbyters, or elders, are ordained by the bishop to lead local Eucharistic communities, teach sound doctrine, and shepherd souls (1 Peter 5:1-4). Deacons assist the bishop and presbyters in the divine liturgy, handle administrative matters, and direct works of mercy, fulfilling the ministry of humble service outlined in the New Testament (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4

Lutheran

Lutherans recognize one essential office of public ministry: the ministry of the Word and Sacraments (Augsburg Confession 5), rooted in Christ's commission to preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). The terms pastor, overseer, and elder describe this same pastoral office, which is responsible for public preaching, teaching sound doctrine, and administering the sacraments (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Deacons serve as authorized helpers to assist the pastor and the congregation in practical administration, mercy, and physical needs, reflecting the biblical example of ordered service in the household of God (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Reformed & Presbyterian

Reformed and Presbyterian churches hold that Scripture establishes a two-office or three-office structure led by a plurality of elders and deacons. We distinguish between teaching elders (ministers or pastors who labour in the word and doctrine) and ruling elders who govern and shepherd the congregation alongside them (1 Timothy 5:17). Overseer and elder refer to the same office (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:28). Deacons hold a distinct, honorable office dedicated to showing Christ's sympathy through physical care, benevolence, and administration, freeing elders to pray and teach (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, 1 Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5-7

Anglican & Episcopal

Anglicans retain the historic threefold order of ministry set forth in the Ordinal: bishops, priests, and deacons (Thirty-Nine Articles 36). As the Ordinal affirms, these orders have continued from the apostles' time. Bishops exercise spiritual oversight and unity over a diocese, ordaining clergy and guarding doctrine (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5). Priests (presbyters) shepherd local parishes, preach the word, and administer the sacraments (1 Peter 5:1-3). Deacons serve as heralds of the Gospel, assisting in liturgical worship and ministering to the poor, sick, and vulnerable (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5, 1 Peter 5:1-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Baptist

Baptists affirm that the local church is governed under Christ by two perpetual biblical offices: elders (also called bishops or pastors) and deacons (Philippians 1:1; 1689 London Baptist Confession 26.8). In the New Testament, overseer, elder, and shepherd describe the same office of spiritual oversight, preaching, and congregational care (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-2). Deacons are chosen by the congregation to attend to physical needs, finances, and deeds of mercy so that the pastors can give themselves entirely to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Methodist & Wesleyan

In the Wesleyan tradition, ministry is structured for mission and accountability. Elders (presbyters) are ordained to a ministry of Word, Sacrament, order, and service, bearing spiritual oversight and shepherding the flock under the supervision of itinerant bishops (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Deacons are ordained to a permanent ministry of Word and Service, functioning as a bridge between the church and the world by leading outreach, justice, and compassionate care (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13). Both orders work in harmony to build up the body of Christ.

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 1 Peter 5:1-4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Pentecostal & Charismatic

Pentecostal and Charismatic churches regard elders and deacons as Spirit-empowered servants appointed according to biblical qualifications and spiritual giftedness (1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 12:28). Elders or pastors lead under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, exercising oversight, preaching, and anointing the sick for healing (Acts 20:28; James 5:14-15). Deacons serve the practical and administrative needs of the church, ministering with wisdom and the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3-5). Both offices exist to equip believers for evangelism and the demonstration of the Spirit's power.

Scripture: Acts 6:3-5, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, James 5:14-15

Non-denominational & Evangelical

Non-denominational evangelical churches look directly to the New Testament pattern for church leadership, generally recognizing two offices: elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1). Scripture uses elder, pastor, and overseer interchangeably to describe qualified men who provide spiritual leadership, guard sound doctrine, and shepherd the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Deacons serve alongside them to manage practical ministries, church operations, and compassionate care, preserving church unity and freeing the elders to focus on teaching and prayer (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9

Where they differ

Whether bishop and elder are distinct offices

Catholic

Bishops hold the highest order above priests in apostolic succession.

Orthodox

Bishops are distinct from presbyters and hold the apostolic fullness.

Lutheran

Scripture knows one pastoral office; bishop is an administrative distinction.

Reformed & Presbyterian

Bishop and elder are identical offices of spiritual oversight in Scripture.

Anglican & Episcopal

Bishops, priests, and deacons are three distinct, historic orders.

Baptist

Bishop, elder, and pastor describe the exact same local church office.

Methodist & Wesleyan

Elders are the pastoral order; bishops serve as consecrated general superintendents.

Pentecostal & Charismatic

Scripture equates overseer and elder under the Spirit's guidance.

Non-denominational & Evangelical

Overseer and elder are interchangeable terms for the same local role.

Scripture: Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:5-7

The primary role of the deacon

Catholic

An ordained cleric who assists liturgically, baptizes, and conducts works of mercy.

Orthodox

An ordained servant who assists clergy in liturgy and charitable service.

Lutheran

An authorized lay or auxiliary servant assisting the pastor in mercy.

Reformed & Presbyterian

An ordained officer dedicated to benevolence, financial care, and congregation needs.

Anglican & Episcopal

An ordained order serving in worship, evangelism, and community pastoral care.

Baptist

A qualified servant assisting pastors by managing practical congregational needs.

Methodist & Wesleyan

An ordained order connecting the gathered church to justice and service.

Pentecostal & Charismatic

A Spirit-filled leader who supports church operations and benevolent outreach.

Non-denominational & Evangelical

A church officer caring for physical logistics, mercy, and operational ministry.

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Your pastor can tell you where your church stands.

Scripture cited

• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• Titus 1:7
• Acts 20:28
• 1 Peter 5:2
• Acts 6:1-6
• Titus 1:5-9
• 1 Peter 5:1-4
• Philippians 1:1