Pertanyaan: 839. Apa posisi dan jabatan seorang penatua, menurut Kitab Suci?
Menurut definisi yang diterima, jabatan penatua adalah satu-satunya jabatan permanen dan penting dalam gereja, baik pada zaman perjanjian lama maupun baru. Para penatua dalam gereja Perjanjian Baru adalah gembala (Efesus 4:11), uskup atau pengawas (Kisah Para Rasul 20:28), pemimpin dan penguasa (Ibrani 13:7; 1 Tesalonika 5:12) dari kawanan domba. Mereka juga menjadi pengajar jemaat, menjelaskan dan memberitakan serta melaksanakan sakramen. Tanpa ragu, banyak penatua yang tidak meninggalkan pekerjaan duniawi mereka. Dalam gereja modern, tugas mereka sedikit dimodifikasi, meskipun karakteristik umum yang sama tetap ada.
Question: 839. What Was the Position and Office of an Elder, According to Scripture?
According to the accepted definition, "the office of elder was the only permanent and essential office of the church," under both the old and new dispensations. The elders of the New Testament church were pastors (Eph. 4:11), bishops or overseers (Acts 20:28), leaders and rulers (Heb. 13:7; I Thes. 5: 12) of the flock. They were also the teachers of the congregation, expounding and preaching and also administering the sacraments. Doubtless many were elders who did not leave their temporal occupations. In the modern church their duties are somewhat modified, although the same general characteristics remain.
