9 Bible Verses about Church Authority, Of Eldars

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son].

Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs!" He said to him again a second time, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep!" He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

And he himself gave some [as] apostles and some [as] prophets and some [as] evangelists and some [as] pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

But you, speak [the things] which are fitting for sound instruction. Older men are to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, [and] in endurance. Older women likewise [are to be] reverent in [their] behavior, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,read more.
in order that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands [and to] love their children, [to be] self-controlled, pure, busy at home, good, being subject to their own husbands, in order that the word of God may not be slandered. Likewise, exhort the young men to be self-controlled, concerning everything showing yourself [to be] an example of good deeds, in your teaching [demonstrating] soundness, dignity, sound message beyond reproach, in order that {an opponent} may be put to shame, [because he] has nothing bad to say concerning us. Slaves must be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not to talk back, not stealing, but demonstrating all good faith, in order that they may do credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly,

if [it is] one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you,