"The Elders That Rule Well"

by Garry D. Pifer                 

Following the January 16 , 1986 death of Herbert W. Armstrong , the Worldwide Church of God dedicated the February 10, 1986 issue of The Worldwide News to his memory.  A very interesting article written by Herman L. Hoeh appeared on page 3, “Church government: a question understood by Mr. Armstrong.”  Breaking into the article, I’d like to quote Mr. Hoeh’s explanation of Mr. Armstrong’s understanding.  “He has set those in the ministry who are spiritually more mature, and who, irrespective of age, can be called elders, and who are responsible under Christ to assist in shepherding the flock.  He holds them responsible for ruling the Church well.”

He continues in the next paragraph, “We read in I Timothy 5:17: ‘Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.’

“So one of the functions of the elders is to rule well.  But how?  That troubled Mr. Armstrong for years.

"This ruling well involves authoritative expounding of the meaning of the Scriptures.  Yet, if God’s rule in the Church involved only teaching, but no authority to enforce that teaching, Mr. Armstrong saw the Church would quickly be divided like Protestant sects are.

“If you, for example, tell your child to do this or do that, and the child doesn’t do it --- and you haven’t been given the authority to act, but only the authority to talk, are you going to have unity in the family?  Of course not!

“Now if God says that every elder must first learn how to rule his own house well, that means he is also to have Church authority vested in him.  He is to teach God’s truth, and if the teaching isn’t followed, then, Mr. Armstrong concluded, he is responsible for exercising authority to see that God’s teaching is obeyed.  The duty, therefore, to rule well in the home is a necessary prerequisite to all in the ministry.”

This article isn’t meant to be “Armstrong bashing” but a look into the Scriptures and their true intent.  We will discover that the conclusion drawn by Mr. Armstrong was incorrect.

The basic definition we have as a part of our vocabulary for the word RULE would be about the same as found in most dictionaries, “control by authority; the reign of a monarch; an accepted method of behavior.”  Applying the definition “control by authority” to scriptures, such as1 Timothy 5:17 quoted above will lead us to wrong conclusions.

The questions we must ask ourselves and answer truthfully, are these: “Is this what is to be understood when we read the word RULE in the New Testament?”  “Does it mean ‘control by authority’?” “What does RULE really mean?”  “Can we assign just one definition to the word RULE when we see it in the New Testament Scriptures?”

Translation from one language to another has its difficulties, in trying to always convey what the author intended.  The translators of the King James Version were translating from the Greek text into English as it was read and spoken in the early 1600's.  Various things such as the culture, the background of the translators, etc. had some bearing on how certain words and phrases were translated.

The English word RULE as found in the KJV is the translation of at least seven or eight Greek words.  The authors of the books of the New Testament were attempting to convey varying concepts by using the various and different Greek words which have been lumped together by the translators.  Why would the translators do this?  There may have been numerous reasons but here are a couple to consider.

The KJV was translated during the period of time that King James I was king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland and also of Scotland.  King James I didn’t do the translating of course but allowed it.  The translators were careful not to do anything to upset the king.  Understanding the thinking and belief of the king may have had definite influence on the translators selection of the word RULE.  Notice a couple of quotations concerning the king.  From the New Lexicon Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, article James I, “James’s stubborn insistence on the divine right of kings clashed with a growing spirit of independence in the Commons, and he left a legacy of constitutional conflict to his son Charles I.”  From the Illustrated World Encyclopedia, article James, King of England, “There were two kings of England named James.  James I became king of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603.  He was already king of Scotland, so this united the countries.  James was the son of Mary of Scots and was born in 1566.  He was a member of the Stuart family.  He was very unpopular in England because he believed in the divine right of a kings.  This means that he believed that a king’s power came from God and not from the people, and so he could do whatever he liked.”

I think you will agree that his strong belief in “the divine right of kings” would have had a strong influence on the translators.  Notice how they looked at and to the king.  This is probably a part of the Bible you may have never read.  It is the dedication to King James found in the very front of your KJV.  “To the Most High and Mighty Prince JAMES, By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.  The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.   Great and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent Your Majesty’s Royal Person to rule and reign over us.”  You can read the rest of it later, but I think you can see the exalted position he felt he had and to which they looked.

The translators were 47 scholars who themselves had for the most part been fresh out of Catholicism and would themselves have had a preconceived idea of ministers/priests rulership within the Church.  And, I’m sure there were many additional influences of the culture, etc.

So, let us begin our study and see if we can come to a better grasp of what the original authors were trying to convey and which has become blurred by using the one word RULE where 7 or 8 different Greek words were originally used.  The references used for most of this study are ones most of you will have readily available; Online Bible’s Greek Lexicon, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.  We will look at each of the various Greek words basically in order of their Strong’s Greek Dictionary numbers.

The first word is archo {ar’-kho} (#757 in Strong’s).  This word is used only twice in the AV (Authorized Version or King James Version), translated once as “rule over” and once as “reign over.”  It is defined as, “to be chief, to lead, to rule.”

One of the two places this word is used is, in my opinion, the key scripture in the study of this subject, because it is the words of Jesus Christ specifically about “rulership.”  Let us notice what He has to say.

Mark 10:42  "But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them."  (All scriptural references from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)  Jesus was showing his disciples (you and me) an example of a type of dictatorial rulership found in the nations and kingdoms of the world.  He goes on to show in the following verses that this was NOT what they (or we)should be following.

Mark 10:43  "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:"   Mark 10:44  "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."  Mark 10:45  "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." 

The second place archo is used is Rom. 15:12, which is a prophecy of Christ reigning over the Gentiles.  Based on Christ’s statement in Mark 10, I dare say He will not “exercise lordship over them” and “exercise authority upon them” as the Gentile’s own rulers did.

The second Greek word translated RULE is a related word to the first one.  It is arche (#746 in Strong’s) and its primary definition is “a beginning.”  40 times out of the 58 times it is used in the AV it is translated “beginning.”  Only once is it translated RULE,

1 Corinthians 15:24  "Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." 

What is being referred to here?  Although it is somewhat unclear I believe it becomes clearer when we notice one of the five definitions for this Greek word in the Online Bible’s Lexicon, “ the first place, rule, magistracy of angels and demons.”

It seems to be referring more to those  first in time sequence, to the angels.  They are called principalities or powers, and we know that satan and his angels rule this present evil world.  What began the whole system of misrulership, Satan, will have been put down.

The third Greek word we will look at is brabeuo {brab-yoo’-o} (#1018 in Strong’s.)  It is used only one time in the AV and is translated RULE.  Brabeuo is defined as 1) to be an umpire 2) to decide, determine 3) to direct, control, rule.  Vine’s says “properly, ‘to act as an umpire’, hence, generally, ‘to arbitrate, decide,’...”

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."    Vine’s says of this verse, “Col. 3:15, ‘rule’ (RV, marg. ‘arbitrate’), representing ‘the peace of Christ’ (RV) as deciding all matters in the hearts of believers; some regard the meaning as that of simply directing, controlling, ‘ruling’.”

The next, and fourth, Greek word in our study is hegeomai {hayg-eh’-om-ahee} (#2233 in Strong’s).  This word is used 28 times in the AV and is translated count, think, esteem, have rule over, be governor and other miscellaneous ways.  Following are the definitions given in the Online Bible’s Lexicon.

Hebrews 13:7  "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation."

Hebrews 13:17  "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you."

The use of the words “RULE OVER” in these three verses has led to perhaps one of the greatest misunderstandings and the greatest abuse of God’s people over the years.  These verses have been used to condone the dictatorial rulership condemned by Jesus Christ in Mark 10:42, that we looked at earlier.  This is not what the author was saying.  Even the marginal rendering in the New King James Version helps to clarify what is meant.  The margin says “lead”, which , if you will notice the definitions above, is the PRIMARY definition.

Hegeomai is translated esteem in three places.  One of those places, I Thes. 5:13 is speaking specifically of the LEADERS in the Church, “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”  This is the same word used in Phil. 2:3 where we are told to “esteem others better than themselves.” 

One of the reasons these three verses in Hebrews 13 have been misunderstood is in the use of the word “OBEY” in verse 17.  We have assumed that this means to be subservient to those that “RULE OVER” us.  Again, an unfortunate translation.  The Greek word translated obey here is peitho {pi’-tho} (#3982 in Strong’s) and it’s primary definition is PERSUADE and is translated that way 22 times in the AV.  Some of the definitions are “to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe”, “to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something”, “to trust, have confidence, be confident.”

What is being said in these verses is NOT what we have assumed.  We are told that the leaders that are highly esteemed (voluntarily) because of their example, their service and their words (backed up by the Word of God) should be persuading us to submission and obedience of the Word of God.  There is to be earned respect through proper leadership and example, NOT unquestioned “submission and obedience to controlling rulership” as condemned by Jesus Christ.

The fifth Greek word we will look at has little to do with actual “rulership” of one over another.  Kanon {kan-ohn’) (#2583 in Strong’s) is translated RULE four times in the AV.  From the definitions given it is clear that it has everything to do with maintaining standards.  It is a rod (ruler, plumbline, level) that is used to make sure the building is straight, NOT to beat someone over the head.

2 Corinthians 10:13  "But we will not boast of things without [our] measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you."

2 Corinthians 10:15 " Not boasting of things without [our] measure, [that is], of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,"  

Galatians 6:16  "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."  

Philippians 3:16  "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." 

The sixth word we will look at has also caused a great deal of misunderstanding because of the translation as RULE.  Specifically in Rev. 2:27; Rev. 12:5 and Rev. 19:15 in the expression “rule them with a rod of iron.”  The Greek word is poimaino {poy-mah’-ee-no} (#4165 in Strong’s).  Look at the definitions of this word.

The primary definition given is “to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep.”  Vine’s gives the following definition; “‘to act as a shepherd, tend flocks,’ is translated ‘to rule’ in Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15, all indicating that the governing power exercised by the Shepherd is to be of a firm character; in Matt. 2:6, KJV, ‘shall rule’ (RV, ‘shall be shepherd of’).”

Although poimaino is translated RULE in the four scriptures referenced above, it is translated 6 times as feed and once as feed cattle.  Let us quickly notice those scriptures.

Luke 17:7 "But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?"  

John 21:16  "He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep"

Acts 20:28  "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." 

1 Corinthians 9:7  "Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?"

1 Peter 5:2  " Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;"  

Jude 1:12  "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"

Matthew 2:6 was referenced by Vine’s above.  The AV translates it RULE but in the margin shows “feed” a better rendering.  Lamsa’s translation as well as the Jewish New Testament, New American Standard, J. B. Phillips and others use “shepherd.”

Although poimaino is used in John 21:16 (quoted above and translated “feed”) the preceding and following verses, 15 and 17, also have the English word “feed’, but a different Greek word is used.  The word is bosko{bos’-ko} (#1006 in Strong’s) and Vine’s gives the following definition.  “‘to feed’ is primarily used of a herdsman (from boo, ‘to nourish,’ the special function being to provide food; the root is bo, found in boter, ‘a herdsman or herd,’ and botane, ‘fodder or pasture’)” Vine’s follows with an interesting note.  “In John 21:15, 16, 17, the Lord, addressing Peter, first uses No. 1, bosko (vs. 15), then No. 2, poimaino (vs. 16), and then returns to bosko (vs. 17).  These are not simply interchangeable (nor are other variations in His remarks); a study of the above notes will show this.  Nor, again, is there a progression of ideas.  The lesson to be learnt, as Trench points out, is that, in the spiritual care of God’s children, the ‘feeding’ of the flock from the Word of God is the constant and regular necessity; it is to have the foremost place.  The tending (which includes this) consists of other acts, of discipline, authority, restoration, material assistance of individuals, but they are incidental in comparison with the ‘feeding.’”

Now, let’s turn our attention to the verses which have been the most misunderstood, those in the book of Revelation. 

Revelation 2:27  "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." 

Revelation 12:5  "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne." 

Revelation 19:15  "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

To understand what “ruling with a rod of iron” means it will be helpful to know what a “rod of iron” is.  The word “rod” is translated from the Greek word rhabdos {hrab’-dos} (#4464 in Strong’s).  It is translated as rod six times, staff four times and sceptre two times in the AV.  Some of the definitions are “a staff, a walking stick, a twig, rod, branch”, “a staff, as used on a journey, or to lean upon, or by shepherds”, “a royal sceptre.”

With this understanding let’s come to see what we are being told here in the book of Revelation.  Let’s look specifically at Rev. 19.    In verse 7 the marriage of the Lamb is mentioned then in verse 11 heaven opens and we see the picture of Christ on a white horse returning to make war and judgement.  Notice, this is a different type of warfare than we are used to.  “And in righteousness He judges and makes war.” (NKJV) Warfare as we know it isn’t done “in righteousness.”  Verse 15, the nations are to be smitten.  When a nation’s armies and leadership is destroyed when they come up to fight Christ the nation is “smitten.”  What happens then?  “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron.”  This is the phrase we want to understand.

Some passages from the Old Testament will help our understanding.  But, first let us notice that the definition for the Hebrew word translated “rod” is equivalent to the Greek rhabdos that we looked at.  Shebet {shay’-bet} (#07626 in Strong’s) is defined as “rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.”  It also is shown to be a “shepherd’s instrument.    A very familiar verse where this Hebrew word is used is Psalms 23:4.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod (07626 shebet) and thy staff comfort me.”  Davis Dictionary of the Bible, article Shepherd says of this rod, “a long rod, doubtless generally in ancient times as now with a crook at the upper end, was used to manage the flock, keep it together, guide it, defend it and chastise the disobedient (Psa 23:4; Mic. 7:14; Zech 11:7)

Micah 7:14 "¶ Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily [in] the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed [in] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old."

An interesting fact to note is that the word “feed” is very similar to the definitions for the Greek word poimaino.  Poimaino’s main and primary definition, as previously shown, is “to feed.”  The Hebrew word translated “feed” here in Micah 7"14 is raah {raw-aw’} (#07462 in Strong’s).  It’s primary definition is “to pasture, tend, graze, feed.” A secondary definition is “to shepherd.” 

The New King James Version renders this verse, “Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage,...”

Zechariah 11:7  "And I will feed the flock of slaughter, [even] you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock." 

This whole passage of scripture is an indictment from God against the ministers, the shepherds, who have not properly cared for His people, His flock.  In verse 7 the word translated “staves” is a different Hebrew word with basically the same meaning, maqqel {mak-kale} (#04731 in Strong’s).

Isaiah 40:11  "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young." 

Both “feed” and “shepherd” are translated from the Hebrew raah, “to pasture, tend, graze, feed, to shepherd.”  Verse 11 follows verse 10, of course, which is speaking specifically of Christ returning to “rule.”  The Hebrew word translated “rule” is speaking of “rule, reign” of Christ. The word is mashal {maw-shal} (#04910 in Strong’s).  Then verse 11 tells us plainly and to the point HOW that rule will be carried out, “He will feed (pasture, tend, graze, shepherd) His flock like a shepherd (same Hebrew word again); He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” 

Does this sound like beating everyone over the head with an iron bar to force them to submit to an absolute harsh dictatorship?  And, yet that is the scenario we have had painted when the verses in Revelation were read, “and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.”  Hopefully, we can begin to understand that Christ will rule and reign as a shepherd, with gentleness, tenderness and loving care, not as a harsh ruler that “exercises lordship” and “exercises authority” that He condemned in Mark 10:42

The seventh, and last, Greek word we will study is the one we referred to in our opening quote from Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, “let the elders that rule well...”  That word is proistemi {pro-is’-tay-mee}(#4291 in Strong’s).  It is used eight times in the AV and we will look at all eight but first let us look at the definitions.

As we look at all eight places this word is used, both of husbands “over” wives and elders “over” the younger Church members we will see that it means to “superintend or maintain” rather than deciding every action the other must make.

Romans 12:8 " Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."  

1 Thessalonians 5:12  "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;"  

1 Timothy 3:5 " (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)"  

1 Timothy 3:12  "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."  

1 Timothy 5:17  "¶ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."  

Titus 3:8 " [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." 

Titus 3:14  "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."

The last two verses quoted especially show that “RULE” is not the intended meaning of proistemi.  How can one rule over good works?  One can maintain or superintend oneself and others to ensure that good works continue, BUT one does NOT rule over good works per se.  The job of a husband and an elder, is to ensure that good works flow from those he is responsible for, i.e. the wife, the children, the younger ones.  A husband and an elder maintains his group/family, in the sense that he supports, cares for, looks after, provides for, etc.

A husband “superintends” or “maintains” and “promotes” his family, as a “head” would the rest of the body.  This is what an “elder” or “minister” also should do for the “Body of Christ” he serves.  He strives to keep the members out of harm’s way, and does good for all; nourishing, cherishing, superintending, and maintaining them.  That is the real meaning of proistemi, incorrectly translated “rule” in these passages.

In conclusion, I believe it is very clear when we look at and study what the authors of the New Testament REALLY were trying to tell us, that we have totally misunderstood “rulership.”  As I said in the beginning, I’m not “Armstrong bashing” but Mr. Armstrong had misunderstood the subject as well.  And, his teaching and instruction regarding the way the ministry were to treat the membership and how the membership were to respond to the ministry has done much damage.  And, hopefully, we also can acknowledge the truth of God’s Word and understand that the conclusion that Mr. Armstrong came to was also WRONG.  Let me quote again that conclusion from Herman Hoeh’s article.  “Now if God says that every elder must first learn how to rule his own house well, that means he is also to have Church authority vested in him.  He is to teach God’s truth, and if the teaching isn’t followed, then, Mr. Armstrong concluded, he is responsible for exercising authority to see that God’s teaching is obeyed.”

THAT IS WRONG!  Even God doesn’t FORCE obedience.  He tells us to choose.  He tells us what is right and what is wrong.  That is something we are not to decide for ourselves.  But, He leaves the choice up to us.  We can choose right or we can choose wrong, although He tells us which choice to make.  Notice Deut. 30:19.

Deuteronomy 30:19  "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"

The Israelites, and we, are instructed to choose life.  The consequences of our choices, life or death, blessing or cursing, were laid out just a couple of chapters back, in chapter 28.  There were definite encouragements to make the right choices, BUT you will not find that God forces obedience.  Forced obedience, to physically do the action, is not the obedience God requires.  He is looking for obedience that comes from the heart.

That kind of obedience can be worked toward by giving loving care, by shepherding, nurturing and feeding the flock of God.  That is what proper “rulership” is all about.  What is needed is right and true “leadership” and not the “rulership” that mirrors what those Christ condemned were doing towards the Gentiles, the nations.