Restoring New Testament
Apostles & Elders — And Why It Matters

A Return to the New Testament Church of the Book of Acts

The apostle Paul wrote about the relationship between apostles and local church elders in several of his letters, highlighting both their distinct and complementary roles in church leadership.

Apostolic Authority and Elder Leadership

Paul, as an apostle, had a unique authority given directly by Christ (Galatians 1:1). He played a foundational role in planting churches and establishing their leadership structures (Ephesians 2:20).

However, he did not govern churches directly but appointed elders to oversee local congregations (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).

Elders as Shepherds and Overseers

• Paul instructed elders (also called overseers or bishops) to shepherd and care for the church (Acts 20:28).
• He emphasized their responsibility to teach sound doctrine and guard against false teachers (Titus 1:9).
• While apostles like Paul had a broader, itinerant ministry, elders provided ongoing, local leadership.
  

Mutual Respect and Delegation

• Paul demonstrated respect for local elders, often working through them rather than over them. For example, in Acts 20:17-38, he exhorted the Ephesian elders to be faithful shepherds of the church.
• He also entrusted Timothy and Titus with appointing elders, showing that the apostolic mission included training and empowering local leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
  

Elders’ Accountability to Apostolic Teaching

• Elders were to uphold the teachings given by the apostles, ensuring doctrinal purity in their congregations (2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 4:16).
• Paul rebuked elders who strayed from sound teaching or led poorly (1 Timothy 5:19-20).
  

Derek Prince and Watchman Nee both had strong teachings on church government, including the roles of apostles and elders, but their perspectives differ in key ways due to their theological backgrounds and ministry contexts.

Derek Prince on Apostles and Elders
Derek emphasized the fivefold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13) in the governance of the church. He believed that:


1. Apostles Have Authority & Leadership: Apostles were foundational to the church, responsible for overseeing multiple churches, setting doctrine, and ensuring proper church function. He saw apostles as spiritual fathers who guide and correct churches.

2. Elders Govern Locally: Elders (also called bishops or overseers) had the responsibility of shepherding individual congregations. Their authority was local, and they provided pastoral care, teaching, and spiritual oversight.

3. Apostolic and Elder Cooperation: While elders managed the daily affairs of a local church, apostles had a broader oversight function. Apostles would appoint elders, provide guidance, and ensure doctrinal soundness but would not micromanage local affairs.

4. Spiritual Gifts in Government: Derek saw church governance as Spirit-led, with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers working together to equip the body.
   

Watchman Nee on Apostles and Elders
Watchman Nee was influenced by the Plymouth Brethren and deeply committed to New Testament patterns, emphasized church autonomy and spiritual order:


1. Apostles Are Church Planters: Watchman Nee saw apostles as those sent by God to establish churches but not to control them after their formation. Once a church was established, local elders should take over its leadership.

2. Elders Hold Local Authority: Like Derek, Watchman Nee believed that elders were responsible for the local church, handling discipline, teaching, and governance. However, he strongly emphasized that no outside authority (including apostles) should interfere in an established church.

3. No Centralized Control: Watchman Nee was wary of hierarchical structures and taught that apostles should not create centralized denominations or maintain control over multiple churches. Each church should be autonomous once it has elders in place.

4. Spiritual Authority, Not Institutional: Nee taught that true spiritual authority is not positional but comes from the life of Christ in a person. While elders had authority, it was more of a moral and spiritual leadership rather than an official rank.
   

Comparisons & Differences

Agreements

• Both emphasized elders as local leaders responsible for the church’s well-being.
• Both agreed that apostles are foundational and are responsible for spreading the gospel and establishing churches.
• Both saw church leadership as Spirit-led rather than institutionally appointed.
  

Key Difference
The primary difference lies in the level of apostolic oversight

• Derek saw apostles as having continued leadership over churches they establish.
• Watchman Nee taught that once a church is established with elders, it should be fully autonomous.
  

Conclusion
Both men had a deep reverence for biblical church structure but applied it differently. Derek leaned toward an ongoing apostolic role in guiding churches, whereas Watchman Nee emphasized local church independence after apostles had completed their foundational work. Their teachings provide valuable insights into church governance, depending on one's theological and practical approach to leadership.

Difference between leadership and government