The Eldership Qualifications and Work

Process requested by the Elders Take the process seriously Talk privately Do not allow the process to become adversarial No objections should be raised if qualifications to serve are present Remember principals of: Love, Humility and Patience

The Nature of the Elder’s Work Elder (presbuteros) (Acts 20:17) –An older man –Premium on age & experience (maturity) Bishop (episkopos) (Acts 20:28) –An “ overseer ” –Refers to type of work undertaken Pastor (poimen) (Ephesians 4:11) –A shepherd –Refers to way work is carried out, with care and tenderness in feeding flock

The Authority of Elders (Hebrews 13:17), “ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. ” Rule is discretionary, not legislative Hence, the need for wisdom, and willing submission on our part

The Nature & Purpose of Qualifications Definition: “ any quality, knowledge, ability, experience, or acquirement that fits a person for a position, office, profession, etc.; a requisite ” (Webster ’ s) List of Qualifications –Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9 Considerations to Contemplate –Not “ suggestions ”, rather requirements –Divine: Not man-made requirements –They ensure that a man put into the office is capable of service.

Character Qualifications Blameless Temperate Sober-minded Not given to wine Not Violent Not Greedy for money Gentle Not Quarrelsome Not Covetous Not self-willed Not quick-tempered A lover of what is good Just Holy Self-controlled A good testimony among those outside As a steward of God

Character - Reputation Vines: lit., that cannot be laid hold of, hence, not open to censure, irreproachable, unrebukeable, irreprehensible. Blameless (Titus 1:6), anegkletos. Same basic point. Nothing can be laid to one ’ s charge as a result of public investigation. Blameless (1 Ti. 3:2) anepileptos

Character - Reputation From 1 Timothy 3:7 References the reputation of the man, external to the church “ Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ” Reproach: A defamation (Vine ’ s) The elder ’ s reputation has an effect upon the church! A Good testimony among those outside

Character - Reputation Steward (oikonomia) (Vine ’ s): Lit. “ to arrange a house. ” The manager of a household or estate. Indicates the nature of the work. An elder is to show himself blameless in regard to the affairs to which he has been appointed steward by God. As a steward of God

Character - Demeanor Temperate (1 Ti. 3:2) (nephalios). (KJV – vigilant). Lit. free from the influence of intoxication. Used to denote watchfulness Soberminded (1 Ti. 3:2; Tit. 1:8) (sophron). Vine ’ s: sober. Self- controlled. Of sound mind. Not Violent (1 Ti. 3:3; Tit. 1:7) (plektes). Not a striker or a brawler. Temperate, Soberminded, Not Violent

Character - Demeanor Gentle (1 Ti. 3:3) (epieikes). Vine ’ s: Equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing. Indicates consideration. Not Quarrelsome (1 Ti. 3:3) (amachos). Vine ’ s: Not a fighter. Metaphorically, not contentious Not Self-Willed (Tit. 1:7) (authades). Not dominated by self interest. Considerate of others. Not arrogant. Gentle, Not Quarrelsome, Not Self-Willed

Character - Demeanor Not Quick-tempered (Tit. 1:7) (orgilos). (KJV – not soon angry). An elder must be in control of emotions Just (Tit. 1:8) (dikaios). Vine ’ s: righteous, a state of being right (by the divine standard). Self-Controlled (Tit. 1:8) (enkrates). KJV – temperate. Vine ’ s: strength, self-control. Not Quick-tempered, Just, Self-Controlled

Character - Moral Not Given to Wine (1 Ti. 3:3) (paroinos). Vine ’ s: Lit. tarrying at wine. Given to wine. (Note: Social drinking condemned in 1 Peter 4:1-3, “ drinking parties ” ) Not Greedy for Money (1 Ti. 3:3; Tit. 1:7) (aischrokerdes). Vine ’ s: denotes greedy of base gains. (An example of this would be gambling). Not Given to Wine, Not Greedy for Money

Character - Moral Not Covetous (1 Ti. 3:3) (aphilarguros). A grasping for money. Can cause cruelty and dishonesty. Lover of Good (Tit. 1:9) (philagathos). Vine ’ s: tender affection for that which is good in character or constitution. Holy (Tit. 1:8) (hosios) Vine ’ s: pure from evil conduct and observant of God ’ s will. Not Covetous, Lover of Good, Holy

Ability Qualifications Hospitable Able to Teach Not a Novice Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught

Ability - Hospitality Hospitable (1 Ti. 3:2; Tit. 1:8) (philoxenos). Vine ’ s: ‘ philo ’ (tender affection); ‘ xenos ’ (stranger). Came to mean our common concept of hospitality. This trait indicates a special character as a lover of God ’ s creation. Hospitable

Ability - Doctrinal Able to Teach (1 Ti. 3:2) (didaktikos). Skilled in teaching. (Varying degrees of skill). Not a Novice (1 Ti. 3:6) (neophutos). A new convert, neophyte, novice. Holding Fast the Faithful Word (Tit. 1:9). To hold firmly to the reliable and trusted, revealed will of the Lord. Able to Teach, Not a Novice, Holding Fast the Faithful Word

Domestic Qualifications The husband of one wife Rules his own house well; children in subjection with all reverence; faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination

Domestic (1 Ti. 3:2; Tit. 1:6) Excludes: Polygamist, Bachelor, Adulterer Would not seem to exclude a widower who has remarried, or one who has divorced and remarried for just cause (cf. Matthew 19:9). Why? They are “ the husband of one wife. ” Husband of One Wife

Domestic (1 Ti. 3:4; Tit. 1:6). Perhaps most difficult, because of differences. Excludes a childless man. (No opportunity to prove self. “ for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? ” ) Would not necessarily exclude a man with only one child (cf. 1 Tim. 5:4,10) Faithful children would seem to indicate that they must be Christians. Faithful Children

Potential Pitfalls (from 5/00) Impatience – “ Oh no, here we go again! ” Apathy – “ Things are fine as they are. ” Perfectionism – Putting peculiar slants on qualifications, or adding personal preferences to the attributes established by God. Compromise – “ He ’ s not qualified, but he ’ s the best we have, so let ’ s appoint him. ”