Conferred Authority

There are several ceremonies in the Bible (I think it’s right to call them that) by which authority is conferred to people. There is, for instance, the anointing of kings, the setting apart of priests, and the breathing upon the disciples by Jesus that they would “receive the Holy Spirit” in whose authority and power they would forgive or withhold forgiveness of sins (John 20:22-23). There is also the laying on of hands. It’s this last ceremony that Paul references in his letter to Timothy. Timothy himself underwent this conferring of authority (1 Timothy 4:14), and now he was to lay hands on those chosen to shepherd the church in Ephesus.

Earlier in the letter, Paul offers qualifications for those who would serve as elders. He teaches that those who serve well, “especially those who labor in preaching and teaching,” are deserving of “double honor.” By double honor is meant respect and material compensation. He likens the situation to an ox threshing out grain. The ox is to be able to eat from the labor he provides lest he be unfit for carrying out the work. You might recall how the apostles in Jerusalem, when confronted with a need to sort out distribution issues among the widows of the church, instructed that others should be chosen for the task, saying, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). The expectation Paul describes is of the same spirit. 

Those so supported are often referred to as pastors. This is not to deny that all men who serve as elders help shepherd the sheep, nor that all are expected to be “apt to teach,” but there will be those particularly called to the task who need to be freed up to pursue it. Hence, the need for adequate compensation.

In our country, it’s common practice to call one who holds, or has held, the office of President to be addressed as “Mr. President.” That is showing honor to the office despite who they are or how well they have done their job. In the church, however, just bearing the title is insufficient for receiving such honor. Indeed, double honor is uncalled for for those who persist in sin. To the unrepentant, the only appropriate address is public rebuke. The position is too important for mere decorum.

The conferring of authority brings with it grave responsibility, so pray for pastors. Assuming a position of leadership makes them prime targets of the Enemy and the enmity of others. Satan would like nothing more then to sow disunity in the very entity that is charged to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), and going after the pastor is a good way to do it. And believers in a church should remember that pastors are not perfect, nor should they be expected to be. But if they are thought to have done something wrong they are deserving of a proper hearing. This is part of the honor of which Paul speaks. Care should be taken to establish the truth of the charge and, if found to be false, should be quickly put aside. If true, then repentance and forgiveness is called for.