This term has to do with church government—assembly administration (1 Tim. 3:1, 10, 13). It is something that is carried out purely on a local level. There is no such thing in Scripture as an office over a national or world-wide federation of assemblies.
The Bible teaches that there are two such administrative offices in church government:
• An overseer (Acts 14:23; 20:17-35; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17-18; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 1:20).
• A deacon [minister] (Acts 6:3; 1 Tim. 3:8-13).
Overseers are those who “take the lead” in guiding the local assembly in its administrative affairs and are particularly occupied with the spiritual state of the flock (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Cor. 16:15-18; 1 Tim. 5:17 – J. N. Darby Trans.). The KJV refers to these men as “Them which have the rule over you,” but this expression could be misleading and might convey the mistaken idea that there is a special caste of men who are “over” the flock—i.e. the clergy. It should say, “Those who take the lead among you.” This shows that they are not to “lord” it over the flock (1 Peter 5:3). This work does not necessarily refer to leading in public teaching or preaching but to the administrative affairs of the assembly. To confuse these two things is to misunderstand the difference between gift and office, which are two distinct spheres in the house of God. Some of those who take the lead may not teach publicly at all, but it is very good and helpful when they can (1 Tim. 5:17). These men should know the principles of the Word of God and be able to lay them out so that the assembly might understand the course of action that God would have it to take in a particular matter (Titus 1:9).
There are three words used in the epistles to describe these leaders in the local assembly:
• Firstly, “elders” (Presbuteroi). This refers to those advanced in age. It implies maturity and experience in spiritual matters (Acts 14:23; 15:6; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; 1 Peter 5:1-4). However, not all aged men in the assembly necessarily function in the role of leaders (1 Tim. 5:1; Titus 2:1-2).
• Secondly, “overseers” (Episkopoi). This refers to the work that they do—shepherding the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2), watching over souls (Acts 20:31; Heb. 13:17), and giving admonition (1 Thess. 5:12).
• Thirdly, they are called “leaders [guides]” (Hegoumenos). This refers to their spiritual capacity to lead and guide the saints (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24).
These are not three different positions in the assembly, but rather, three aspects of one work that these men do. This can be seen in the way the Spirit of God uses these terms interchangeably. (Compare Acts 20:17 with 20:28, and Titus 1:5 with 1:7.) In the book of Revelation those in this role are referred to as “stars” and also as “the angel of the [local] church” (Rev. 1-3). As “stars” they are to bear witness to the truth of God (the principles of His Word) as light bearers in the local assembly, providing light on various subjects that the assembly might be confronted with. This is illustrated in Acts 15. After hearing of the problem that was troubling the assembly, Peter and James gave spiritual light on the matter. James applied a principle from the Word of God and gave his judgment as to what he believed the Lord would have them to do (vss. 15-21). As “the angel of the church,” they act as messengers to carry out the mind of God in the assembly in the performance of the thing. This is also illustrated in verses 23-29.
There is no official appointment of elders/overseers/guides to this work today, as there was in the early Church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), because there are no apostles (or delegates from apostles) on earth to ordain them. This does not mean that the work of oversight cannot go on today. The Spirit of God is still raising up men to do this work (Acts 20:28). These men do not appoint themselves to this role, nor are they appointed by the assembly, as is the case so often in the Church today. These surely would be those whom an apostle would ordain if one were here today. The assembly will know them by their devoted care of the saints, their knowledge of Scriptural principles, and their sound judgment—and should recognize them as such, even though they have not been officially appointed.
In Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders, he gave a description of the character and work of an elder/overseer/guide, using himself as an example (Acts 20:17-35). He carefully outlined what they are to be:
• Consistent (vs. 18)
• Humble (vs. 19).
• Compassionate (vs. 19).
• Persevering (vs. 19).
• Faithful (vs. 20).
• Committed (vss. 21-24).
• Energetic (vss. 24-27).
Then he outlined what they are to do:
• Shepherd the flock (vs. 28).
• Watch against two ever-present dangers: of wolves entering in and men drawing disciples away after themselves (vss. 29-31).
• Use the resources God has given for that work: prayer and the Word of God (vs. 32).
• Be engaged in a ministry of giving in a practical sense (vss. 33-35).
The second administrative office in the local assembly is that of a "deacon." This pertains to the work of attending to the temporal affairs of the assembly—material things, financial things, etc. (Acts 6:3; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). The word, "deacon" means "servant" and can be translated "minister." As an example, when Barnabas and Paul went out on their first missionary journey, "they had also John to their minister" (Acts 13:5). The word "minister" in this case can be translated "servant" or "attendant," and refers to the same type of work. Hence, John Mark helped Barnabas and Paul in temporal things on the mission field. In the case of the deacon in 1 Timothy 3, however, it is in connection with temporal things that pertain to the local assembly.
Acts 6:1-5 illustrates this. A practical need of administrating temporal things arose in the assembly at Jerusalem. The apostles in that assembly said, "It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables." The word "serve" here is the same root word as "deacon." Certain men, therefore, were appointed to take care of "the daily ministration" (or distribution of funds) and to "serve tables," so that the apostles would be free to carry on their work of ministering the Word.
The Church today, sad to say, has taken the term "minister" away from its Scriptural meaning and use and has attached it to the man-made position of a clergyman with official titles of "Minister" and "Pastor." The place and work of a minister has been converted into a prominent position of preaching and teaching in the Church—often with a staff of people attending upon the preacher. In Scripture, it is quite the opposite; a minister is a servant of those who would preach and teach! (Acts 13:5; Rom. 16:1)
One notable difference in the qualifications of an overseer and a deacon is that there is no mention of the deacon being "apt to teach." It does say that he is to hold "the mystery of the faith," which indicates that he is to know the truth—as all the saints should—but there is no mention of him being able to teach or preach. Another notable difference between these two offices is that while overseers are not to be chosen by the assembly for their work, the assembly is to choose its deacons. Again, this is seen in Acts 6. The apostles instructed the assembly at Jerusalem to choose the men whom they felt were best suited for that work. There is wisdom in this: who better would know the character of these persons than those who walk in fellowship with them on a daily basis? It should also be noted that even after the assembly chose those men, it did not ordain them, because the assembly (whether then or now) has no power of ordination. The assembly brought those whom they chose to the apostles who then officially appointed them to that office. An example of this work can be seen in the "brother" who was well-reported for his trustworthiness being "chosen of the churches" to help in handling the collection and the bringing of it to the poor saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8:18-19).
If this temporal work is carried out faithfully, the deacon/minister will gain opportunities in other areas of service—particularly in the verbal testimony of the gospel (1 Tim. 3:13). The well-ordered life and faithful work of a deacon/minister in the house of God becomes a testimony to all around that he is one who can be trusted. This is illustrated in the lives of Stephen and Philip in Acts 7-8. These men were deacons in the assembly at Jerusalem (Acts 6:5), and having done their work faithfully, they waxed bold in the faith and testified of the Lord before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7) and in the city of Samaria (Acts 8). Stephen had a gift in teaching, and Philip was a gifted evangelist (Acts 21:8). But this does not mean that all deacons have such public gifts.