the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Language Studies
Greek Thoughts
Understanding ''Tois Hegoumenois'' in Hebrews 13:17
Our word this week is hegeomai, which means "to lead, to guide." The Hebrew writer in his closing remarks introduces a term that continues to evoke debates. The term is the substantive participle of the deponent verb hegeomai, "to lead, to guide." The word is used three times by the writer in this chapter, verses 7,17,24. The word is used by Luke in Acts 15:22 to refer to Barnabas and Silas, as "leading men" (Also, to refer to a high official in Acts 7:10).
In verse 7, the substantive is used to refer to leaders who have died. Simon J. Kistemaker adds, "They were, then, preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and had been instrumental in building the church, that is, the body of Christ" F4.The readers are told to consider (anatheorountes) the end (ekbasin) of their conduct and to imitate (mimeisthe) their faith.
In verse 24, the substantive is applied to those leaders who are alive and who the brethren must greet.
In verse 17, the text under consideration, encourages the readers to obey (peithesthe, pres. mid. Imperative, from peitho, "to obey") and submit (hupeikete, pres. act. Imperative, from hupeiko, "to yield, to submit to") to their leadership. Are these leaders elders? Or are they leaders in general?
F.F. Bruce asserts that these leaders are probably successors of the predecessors mentioned in verse 7 F1. George H. Guthrie takes it step further and refers to these leaders probably as early Christian elders F2. Donald Guthrie refers to these leaders as overseers F3.
It is true that the writer is a bit ambiguous, and does refer to the other functions that are clearly expressed in other NT writings. Is he referring to all their leaders and therefore decides to be ambiguous? Kistemaker comments, "The writer is not interested in the status of these leadershe gives no hint whether they were elders, overseers, preachers, or teachers" F4. Though one can make an argument for the ambiguity of the term for these church leaders, a careful look at the word translated "watch over" (agrupnousin) can provide some answers.
Are these leaders elders? Let us consider a few things. First, elders have the function of shepherding (poimaino, "to tend," Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). Second, elders must care for (epimeleomai, "to care for, to take care of) the church of God (1 Timothy 3:5). Third, elders must direct (proistemi, "to be at head of, rule, direct") the affairs of the folk (1 Timothy 5:17). Fourth, elders must pay attention to (proscheo, "to turn one's mind to, to be concerned about, care for") the folk (Acts 20:28). And finally, elders are among the leaders given by the Lord to prepare (pros tov katartismov, lit. "for the preparation") the people of God (ton hagion) for the work of the ministry…" (Ephesians 4:12).
Are the elders the same as the leaders in Hebrews 13:17? Though they might not be the same group, it is hard to deny that they are not in this group. Though I cannot conclusively demonstrate that these leaders are elders, I cannot dismiss their inclusion.
FOOTNOTES:
F1: The Epistle to the Hebrews-Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).
F2: Guthrie, Donald (1994), "Hebrews," The Tyndale NT Commentaries, Gen. Eds. Leon Morris, et. al (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), Vol. 15.
F3: Guthrie, George H. (1998), "Hebrews," The NIV Application Commentary, Gen. Eds., Terry Muck, et. al (Grand Rapids: Zondervan).
F4: Kistemaker, Simon J. (1984), New Testament Commentary-Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker).
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.
