The Qualifications of Elders
Michael E. Grooms
Introduction:
A. It is God’s will that a congregation be overseen by qualified men who serve in the office of the eldership
B. An eldership of godly, well-qualified men is a mark of a spiritually mature church
C. Some mistakes often made by congregations need to be avoided:
1. The temptation to “rush in” to the selection of elders should be resisted
2. Forming an eldership to “fix” problems in the church
3. Calling and culling - Members are called to submit names and “nominees” are culled (victimized)
4. Selecting men who are good business men or “good ole’ boys” but not scripturally qualified
D. A study of the following passages will reveal God’s qualifications for elders:
1. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
2. Titus 1:5-9
3. 1 Peter 5:1-4
I. Desire
A. 1 Tim. 3:1 “If any man desire the office of a bishop”
B. 1 Peter 5:2 “taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly”
C. If a man truly desires to lead God’s people, he will demonstrate such in his involvement
II. Blameless
A. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6, 7
B “Above reproach”
III. Vigilant (Temperate)
A. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8
B. Exercising moderation, self control
IV. Sober (Prudent)
A. 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8
B. Self controlled, wise in handling affairs
V. Of Good Behavior
A. 1 Tim. 3:2
B. Respectable
VI. Given to Hospitality
A. 1 Tm. 3:2 “given to hospitality”
B.
VII. The Husband of One Wife
A. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6
B. One - “mia” one or first
C. Some common understandings:
1. Having one wife at the time (Polygamy forbidden)
2. Having been married only once
D. NRSV translates; “married only once”
E. Translated “one” the majority of times in KJV
F. Translated “first” six times
1. Five of these times refer to the “first day of the week”
2. We place great emphasis on translating this word “first” in 1 Cor. 16:2
3. The other time it is translated “first” is in Titus 3:10
“A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject”
G. The Greek does allow for an understanding either way (as NRSV) thus it is safer to take the more limited
VIII. Apt to Teach
A.1 Tim. 3:2
1. Rendered in various versions (8):
a. “Apt to teach” KJV, ASV, YLT
b. “Able to teach” NKJV, NIV, NASB, NCV
c. “An apt teacher” RSV
B. Acts 20:28 “feed the flock” -
1. “feed” does not mean teach
2. Greek – “poimaino"ô means “tend” or “care for” or “to rule”
3. From , poimeôn,Paul’s reference to elders meaning “shepherd” (Eph. 4:11)
4. It is translated “feed” or “feeding” 6 times in KJV
5. It is translated “rule” four times in KJV
6. It involves caring for the needs of the flock, which would include seeing that they are well taught
7. “To supply the requisites for the soul’s need” (Thayer’s)
C. Look at definitions of “apt”
C. Titus 1:9 places these prerequisites upon the elder:
1. He must “hold fast” the faithful word (sound in doctrine)
2. He must be one who is well taught
3. He must be able to answer false doctrine:
a. To exhort – To call to repentance, to instruct
b. To convince – Expose, convict, reprove, rebuke
4. This passage is parallel to 2 Tim. 3:2
a. It places “apt to teach” in the context of one who can instruct and refute error
b. It does not specify what capacity this is to be done in, that is up to the eldership
D. The only other usage of this term in the N.T. agrees with this understanding
IX. Not Given to Wine (1 Tim. 3:3;
A. Does not allow for “some” wine
B. Wine is inherently evil Prov. 20:1; Prov. 23:29-32
C. Wine is only allowed for medicinal purposes
D. “Oinos” may refer to fermented or unfermented wine
E. Wine in Bible times was not distilled, it was ten times weaker than today’s wine
F. No more allows for some wine than:
1. not greedy of “filthy lucre” allows for greed of honestly earned money
2. Not a brawler allows for an occasional fight
X. No Striker (1 Tim. 3:3) – Quarrelsome person, ready to fight
XI. Not Greedy of Filthy Lucre (1 Tim. 3:3;
A. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10)
B. Must be able to contend with others who are greedy of filthy lucre (Titus 1:11)
XII. Patient (1 Tim. 3:3;
A. “Not soon angry” in
B. One who would be an elder will need much patience in dealing with imperfect people!
XIII. Not a Brawler (1 Tim. 3:3) – A fighter, contentious person, goes around with chip on shoulder
XIV. Not Covetous (1 Tim. 3:3) – Lover of money, not wanting what others have
A. Prestige
B. Power
C. Favor
D. Wealth
XV. One That Ruleth Well His Own House (1 Tim. 3:4-5;
A. He must be the head of his house
B. Having his children
1. The Greek is translated in both the singular and plural in
a. In most cases “teknon” is translated “child” and “tekna” is translated “children”
b. In
2. There is no indication of number here
3. “The emphasis in this verse is not upon procreative ability, but upon the ability to rule” (Coffman)
4. “Children” is used to refer to a single child in Gen. 21:7
5. Those who insist that the plural form must mean more than one will have a problem with
5. With such biblical precedence, let us cast this argument aside!
C. In subjection with all gravity
1. The commands to “obey” and “honor” in Eph. 6:1-4 apply here
2. The burden of this responsibility falls ultimately upon the father
3. One must have proved himself faithful in this responsibility before taking oversight of God’s flock
D. Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly (Titus 1:6)
1. “Faithful” can mean under subjection to the father as head
2. In 5 of the 8 translations compared, it is translated “believers” or “children that believe” or the like
3. A child must be of age to make the choice to believe, which mandates obedience
E.
1. The above considerations are best answered with this in mind
2. A man may be “proved” by one child as well as 10
3. It matters not whether the child/children is born to the father or adopted, if he/she/they is/are faithful
XVI. Not a Novice (1 Tim. 3:6)
A. Not a “young” Christian (regardless of age)
B. This is indicated in the very term “elder”
C. Spiritual maturity is necessary as a safeguard against prideful arrogance
XVII. Must Be of Good Report (1 Tim. 3:7)
A. “Blameless” as in
B. He must be a man of impeccable reputation in the community
C. Thus he will not bring reproach upon himself or the church
XVIII. Not Self Willed (Titus 1;7)
A. God's man serves out of self-sacrifice, not selfishness
B. This man will look out for the needs of those in his care above his own
XIX. Lover of Good Men (Titus 1:8)
A. Will appreciate and empower good men as they serve under him
B. Will lead by example to develop good men
XX. Just (Titus 1:8)
A. At times an elder will be called upon to settle matters between members
B. He must be just - showing no partiality
C. He must be willing to administer discipline in a loving, fair-minded fashion
XXI. Holy (Titus 1:8)
A. We are called to be holy because we serve a holy God 1 Peter 1:15, 16
B. The elder's life should be an example of holiness
Conclusion:
A. We must not expect any person to be the perfection of all these qualities, yet they must possess them
B. We must avoid the temptation to concede on God's qualifications in order to fill vacancies in the eldership
C. Those who meet these qualifications need to be encouraged to step forward and faithfully lead God's flock
Titus 1:5 through Titus 1:11 5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
1 Pet. 5:1 through 1 Pet. 5:4 1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.