The Elder and Overseer: One Office in the Early Church

“Recent scholarship has reevaluated the meaning of the terms ‘overseer’ and ‘elder.’ Merkle analyzes the contribution of recent scholarship, and thoroughly examines the biblical text to discern the meaning of these terms. He demonstrates persuasively that the view offered by J. B. Lightfoot remains the most convincing.”

– Thomas R. Schreiner The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville KY

“Benjamin L. Merkle sheds new light on a much-discussed issue. This book is a useful and interesting read for all New Testament students.”

– E. Earle Ellis,  Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth TX

“For serious students of ecclesiology, the question of the relationship between the terms ‘elder’ and ‘overseer’ is more important than most people realize. Merkle convincingly shows that there is one office that used both terms interchangeably.”

– Alexander Strauch, author of Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership