How Does One Determine Who is Over Another in the Lord?

[Aaron56]

Just for scriptural reference, the writer of Hebrews records this:

"Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better."

and

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonians:

"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake."

I was wondering about the typical Christian perspective on the grace to rule and lead among the saints. Are you more likely to accept someone's leadership position based upon their education, number of missionary trips, or hours of Bible study... their knowledge of Koine Greek and Hebrew perhaps? Do you examine their life as a whole? Whether or not they have a certain degree or title? Or perhaps you think none are over others in the Lord and leaders a simply responsible for the administration of church gatherings and functions. Lastly, perhaps you believe only you, yourself, must give an account to God for your soul and no one else.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Are you more likely to accept someone's leadership position based upon their education, number of missionary trips, or hours of Bible study... their knowledge of Koine Greek and Hebrew perhaps? Do you examine their life as a whole? Whether or not they have a certain degree or title?

Hello Aaron, typically, I accept someone's leadership position in a church based solely upon the fact that they are the one who presently holds the position that they are in (pastor/elder/deacon/etc.), as long as they acquired their position fairly/honestly and according to the rules that had been established (unless I am part of the leadership and/or committee that is tasked with finding a suitable candidate for a certain position in church, of course, and if that's the case, then yes, I would make sure that all of the candidates are properly/thoroughly vetted concerning most or all of the things that you mentioned above, and more).

.....perhaps you think none are over others in the Lord and leaders a simply responsible for the administration of church gatherings and functions.

I respect those in leadership positions in church and follow their lead (unless I sense that some kind of problem could/would result from doing so, of course).

Lastly, perhaps you believe only you, yourself, must give an account to God for your soul and no one else.

The Bible tells us that 'we' will have to give an accounting to God (at the end of the age) for everything that 'we' did, said and thought (or failed to do or say) in this life, but where does the Bible tells us that we will have to give an account to God for someone else's life, or that they (on the other hand) will have to do so concerning us

Hebrews 13:17 tells us that the Lord's undershepherds (our pastors and elders) will have to give God an accounting, but this accounting to Him will be concerned with ~their~ work, the work that they did on our behalf as our pastors/elders, ~not~ with the work that we did.

IOW, our undershepherds, who were tasked by the Lord to watch over souls, will be held accountable by Him for the work that He called them to do on our behalf (when we were under their charge and care during our lives here).

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

Hebrews 13​

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. ​

.

 

[timf]

Hebrews 13 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them

A better translation might be, "Stop resisting and allow yourself to be persuaded by those you have agreed to follow"

This comes to an end when one has matured in the faith such that "leaders" are often seen as immature, mistaken, or misled themselves. One can beat the bushes trying to find a useful nugget or two of truth, but in the marketplace of Christianity it is getting harder and harder to find that which helps us become more like Jesus.

 

[GWH]

A better translation might be, "Stop resisting and allow yourself to be persuaded by those you have agreed to follow"

This comes to an end when one has matured in the faith such that "leaders" are often seen as immature, mistaken, or misled themselves. One can beat the bushes trying to find a useful nugget or two of truth, but in the marketplace of Christianity it is getting harder and harder to find that which helps us become more like Jesus.

Yes, in God's kingdom "slavery" is voluntary, which means it operates by consensus or mutual submission (Eph. 5:21).

 

[Suze]

I think a good measure of authority would b how long someone has been a Christian and , that they have very good Bible knowledge . Of course this isn't fallible , a man who hasn't been a Christian as long as a woman has and who maybe doesn't know his Bible as well as all the women , will of course b allowed to have authority over them just because he is a man . So , the men in authority had better know their stuff ! When I did go to church , it was very very very frustrating to me ( and to others I'm guessing ) to have to listen in silence to a brother who was saying things that were incorrect , and not b able to say anything to him ( in private of course ) . We women have a lot to put up with . Thankfully it didn't happen often .

 

[ResidentAlien]

Those who are over others are the shepherds or overseers. However, they aren't over anyone in the sense of being above them or domineering. As the name suggests, they shepherd and lead; they have oversight. As Peter says:

"Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:1-3​

So for me, I consider someone to be "over" me if 1) They have proven they actually care about me; 2) Have demonstrated their own spirituality in the Lord; and 3) They don't act like they're above me.

 

[OMC]

"Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better."

and

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonians:

"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake."

I was wondering about the typical Christian perspective on the grace to rule and lead among the saints. Are you more likely to accept someone's leadership position based upon their education, number of missionary trips, or hours of Bible study... their knowledge of Koine Greek and Hebrew perhaps? Do you examine their life as a whole? Whether or not they have a certain degree or title? Or perhaps you think none are over others in the Lord and leaders a simply responsible for the administration of church gatherings and functions. Lastly, perhaps you believe only you, yourself, must give an account to God for your soul and no one else.

God appoints real, accountable leaders among the saints, and their authority is measured neither by degrees nor by résumé but by divine calling, observable character, and faithful labor.
Hebrews 7:7 establishes the principle — the lesser is blessed by the better, meaning God actually orders His people through men He places above others; Hebrews 13:17 applies it directly — these men “watch for your souls as those who must give account,” which means someone besides you will answer to God for how they shepherded you.
Paul reinforces the same structure in 1 Thess 5:12–13: recognize those who “labor among you,” who are “over you in the Lord,” and “admonish you,” and esteem them highly for their work’s sake, not for their credentials.
Scripture never ties leadership to education, travel, Greek proficiency, or institutional titles; it ties it to Spirit‑given grace (Acts 20:28), tested character (1 Tim 3:1–7), sound doctrine (Tit 1:9), and visible fruit (1 Pet 5:2–3).
Nor does Scripture flatten the church into pure administrative equality — elders actually “rule” (1 Tim 5:17), shepherds actually “lead” (Heb 13:7), and saints actually submit (Heb 13:17).
And no, Scripture never teaches that only you give account for your soul; shepherds will answer for how they guarded it, and you will answer for how you responded to them.