Are There Two Types of Elders?

I'm reading through Witmer's "The Shepherd Leader."  This is an excellent and challenging book for any church elder.

In the third chapter Witmer recalls first how the church strayed from the leading of a plurality and parity of elders.  This shift began in the second century but was greatly accelerated by Cyprian in the third century.  Cyprian tied church leadership to the Levitical model, with elders becoming priests.  “Bishop” became a title that vested a single man with immense authority over the church and its leadership.

The biblical idea of elders and deacons began to be restored in the reformation, beginning with Wycliff, advancing greatly with Calvin and his student Knox, the latter two of which split the role of elder into a teaching pastor and a ruling elder.  The former was to teach the word, the latter was to “seek the fruit of the same in the people” (Knox.)  According to Witmer, these elders were to be men of good character, but they need not possess the gift of teaching.  Witmer's view here builds on a small point dropped into the previous chapter: “All elders, including teaching elders (pastors), are called to shepherd the flock, but not all elders have the gift of teaching, though they should be apt to teach” (p43.)  This is based primarily on two scriptures:

“...he who leads, with diligence...” (Romans 12:8)

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” (1 Timothy 5:17)

So how do these verses stand up to what is stated in 1 Tim 3:2 where Paul says that an overseer must be “able to teach.”  Didaktikos.  Also…

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,” (2 Timothy 2:24)

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11)

“The Lord’s servant must… holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” (Titus 1:9)

So is Paul declaring that there are two types of elders in 1 Tim 5:17?  Are ruling and teaching exclusive from each other?  A plain reading of that passage shows that the statements are inclusive:  those who rule and teach.  Paul is emphasizing the need to provide financial support for those elders that have devoted themselves to the ministry work: such men (and their families) should not be left to starve on the street.  He is not using this passage to differentiate roles, but to ensure that full-time elders are provided for by the church.

So why would anyone conclude otherwise?  Where does the contrast of “gift of teaching” against being “able to teach” originate?  I suspect that it comes down to either tradition or pragmatism.  At the time of Calvin and Knox the established church was very hierarchical, with great power and authority invested in a church’s pastor, the regional bishop etc.  Perhaps this was too much to undo at the time.  Also, from a practical perspective, any congregation would likely have men of stalwart faith and character that, nonetheless, lack the ability to teach.  Such men are natural leaders and have much to offer a church, and so it is natural to look for such a leadership role in Scripture… and we always find what we are looking for.

I  respectfully disagree with Witmer (and many other fine men) that there are two types of elder.  Such an approach perpetuates the very ecclesiastical hierarchy that the reformers were trying to do away with.  It also elevates unqualified men into a position of leadership, and that can be ruinous to a church.

“Gift of teaching” is not a formal biblical term, and can be misleading.  Rather, we should simply ask, “Is the man able to teach?  Does he have a firm grasp of biblical teaching, and can he effectively use that to encourage some and to refute others?”  If so, he has met one of the necessary qualifications for becoming an elder.  And elders are called to both teach and rule.