The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture (Cornelis van Dam)

The Elder

Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture

To rediscover God’s gift of eldership for the church today, we need to go back beyond the New Testament to the origins of the office of elder in ancient Israel. There we discover the enduring principles that guided the elder in antiquity – and that guide the church today. In this book you will develop a renewed understanding of the office of elder and of godly discipline.

Endorsements

“Rooted in the deep soil of Reformed faith and practice, The Elder is also a treasure at a time when much gets lost these days in translation from theory to practice. I heartily recommend this book for current elders, elders-in-training, aspiring elders, and those who seek to be blessed by their labors.”
— Michael Horton

“Cornelis Van Dam provides a full and intelligent discussion of the biblical texts that inform our understanding of the office of the elder in the church today. This book is a must for those who are elders or who think they might be called to that office.”
— Tremper Longman III

About the Author

Cornelis Van Dam is professor of Old Testament at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary (Hamilton, Ontario) and holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University (BA); Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches (BD); Knox College, University of Toronto (ThM) and Theological University of Kampen, The Netherlands (ThD).

Contents

1. An Overview of the Office
2. The Shepherd and His Flock
3. A Bearded Head
4. Elders as Leaders in the Old Testament
5. Elders as Leaders in the New Testament
6. The Christian Congregation Inherits the Office
7. Elders and the Keys of the Kingdom
8. Ruling and Having Authority
9. Disciplining for Life
10. Two Current Issues: Female Elders and Elders for Life
11. The Privilege of the Eldership