From Oswald Sanders’ classic, Spiritual Leadership, I first learned that common Hebrew leadership designations like nagid (man at the top) and ro’osh (head) and Greek terms like arche (literally the one “above”) and hodegos (guide, leader of the way) are rarely used to describe leaders among God’s people. Instead, the most common terms of scriptural- and self-designation employed concerning godly leaders are these: servant (Hebrew: ebed; Greek: doulos, huperetes, oikonomos) and shepherd (Hebrew: ra’ah; Greek: poimein, poimaino). Further analysis of the usage of these terms suggests that a biblical conception of leadership revolves around three primary metaphors: steward, servant, shepherd.
The primary implication of stewardship is accountability. Stewards must account for how fittingly they represent their master’s regime and how faithfully they conduct their master’s business. Stewards do not pursue their personal agenda, assert personal authority, seek personal acclaim, and accumulate personal assets. Their honor derives from their master’s status and their success is defined by their master’s satisfaction.
--- Enlow Jr., Ralph E. The Leader’S Palette: Seven Primary Colors, 2013.
