The word elder literally means “old man,” without specifying what qualifies as old. In the Bible, groups of elders (never just one one) were responsible to lead tribes, villages, cities, synagogues and eventually churches. In Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of appointing elders “in every church,” suggesting that elders represent the basic structure for local church leadership.
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