Lin

Paula, Good point.

We must take into consideration that KJV translators were laboring under a church/state mentality.

Cheryl, one reason you may not have gotten a posted question about Hebrews is because most of us have studied that passage in depth. I have a series about it on my blog that goes into this verse in depth.

Also, taking that verse into context with all of NTscripture negates the ‘authority over’ translation. If we are to believe other passages about ‘not lording it over’, etc., then it cannot mean what it has been translated to mean. Another interesting point about this passage is that the word ‘elders’ is not in the passage.

Here is an excerpt from a blog series http://coffeetradernews.blogspot.com/2007/02/elders-rulers-or-servants-part-2.html  I posted a few years back on this verse:

“Now, go through the verse and pick out the word “elder.” If you cannot find it in the verse, look for it in the context. You are right! It is nowhere to be found. Is it not strange that the main text to which those who advocate “Elders Rule,” does not even mention “elders”? It is assumed beyond a shadow of a doubt that verse 17 is talking about elders. Then, it is welded into a law of God that this verse gives elders the authority to rule over the congregation.

Two other verses in Hebrews 13, verses 7 and 24, are very similar to verse 17. It is unclear who the Hebrew writer had in mind. Verse 7 reads: “Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.” Notice the past tense treatment of “had the rule.” Verse 24 states: “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints….” It is very possible that those “that spake unto you the word of God” were the first to preach the gospel to them, including the apostles themselves.

Robert Milligan, a great scholar of the nineteenth century, published a commentary on Hebrews in 1875. Commenting on verse 7 Milligan wrote:

“Remember them which have the rule over you: Or more literally, Remember your leaders (hegoumenon) who spoke (elalesan) to you the word of God; carefully considering the issue of their manner of life; imitate their faith. The reference is to such men as Stephen, James the brother of John, and other faithful preachers of the Gospel who had formerly proclaimed to the Hebrews the good word of God…”. (Commentary on Hebrews, p. 375}.

Milligan did not understand these verses as granting authority to groups of elders in congregations as is conceived in the twentieth century. He did see that among groups of Christians there were those who would be respect-fully followed as spiritual leaders, among which would be preachers and teachers of the word of God.”