God Intends For Us To Have Elders
Channel: South Austin church of Christ
Date: 08/05/2023

Ephesus had Christians starting with their baptism on Paul's arrival.
    Acts 19:5
    On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesus must not have had elders when Paul departed and left Timothy there.
    Acts 20:1
    After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
    1 Timothy 1:3
    As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine....

    1 Timothy 3:1
    The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task....
    1 Timothy 3:14-15
    I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
    if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

    1 Timothy 4:1
    Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons....

    1 Timothy 4:11-12
    Command and teach these things.
    Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

    1 Timothy 5:19-21
    Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
    As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
    In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

    1 Timothy 6:3-5
    If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
    he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
    and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Ephesus obviously did have elders when Paul summoned them to himself at Miletus.
    Acts 20:17
    Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

    Acts 20:28-32
    "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
    I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
    and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
    Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
    And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."