Elders & Overseers

Strictly speaking, the Bible doesn’t prohibit drawing a distinction between kinds & types of elders.  All overseers are elders, but not all all elders are overseers.   

Why would Luke use these two terms if they were synonymous? Probably because the Ephesian Church was composed of a number of smaller units & the elders serving one unit at times oversaw one or more units with the general community. 

Think of the Ephesian Church as a multiune entity like God. Unit 1 is paracleted by the Father, 2 by the Son, & 3 by the Spirit.   The entire church is paracleted by them All.   Does this mean that Unit 1 is not paracleted by the Son &/o Spirit?   No, insofar as the 3 Persons of the Godhead are also perichoretic.

The earliest elders were too.  There is no reason to think at least some of the elders paracleting & teaching in Unit 1 did not help oversee Units 2 & 3. 

In extrabiblical literature, an episkopos was an inspector - general of many units.   In addition, the word was used for governors or magistrates, so we see that an overseer is someone who can oversee a single unit or multiple units as to role &/or rank. 

All overseers must be elder qualified.   They ought to do the work of an elder & if the location in which a church is located, an elder by role & rank is allowed to oversee more than one church by role & if necessary by way of rank as well as role.  

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