Answer: Yes, a man must be properly qualified (having
these qualifications in advance) to take on the important work of
an overseer (elder/shepherd). These qualifications are listed
in this reading, (verses 2 through 7).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
(Also see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Peter
5:1-4.)
SCRIPTURAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERS:
Note: The qualification as listed in the NIV will
appear first, followed by the qualification as listed in the KJV
[in brackets], if the word(s) appears differently in the two
translations. Also, the Scripture reference(s) will appear in
(parenthesis). From time to time, the meaning of the original
Greek word is explored and the meaning quoted from reliable
Greek-English lexicons, namely Vine and Bauer.
1. "Above reproach"
["blameless"] (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus
1:6-7)
A. Unimpeachable character. Known for his
spotless integrity and pure life. Not open to censure,
irreproachable.
B. Sinlessness IS NOT meant as a part of this
qualification.
2. "Husband of one
wife" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus
1:6)
A. It excludes unmarried men. A man can be a good
Christian and not be married, but he cannot be an elder.
B. He must have one wife and
be faithful to her.
C. Marriage must meet
Scriptural reasons in case of previous marriage.
3. "Temperate"
["Vigilant"] (1 Timothy 3:2)
A. To be soberly watchful of himself and the
congregation. Not as one drunken, but alert; acting in
moderation in all things.
4. "Self-Controlled" ["Sober"]
(1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
A. Original literally means "sound
mind." Has to do with common sense. Able to think
rationally and come to a decision.
B. Not flighty, flippant, but dignified.
5. "Respectable" ["Of good behavior"]
(1 Timothy 3:2)
A. His kindness, wisdom, and self-restraint must show
forth in his outward deportment and manner.
B. To conduct himself in decency and propriety.
6. "Hospitable"
["Given to hospitality"] (1 Timothy
3:2) ["Lover of hospitality"]
(Titus 1:8)
A. Hospitality is being friendly to visitors and
manifesting a personal interest in others (Hebrews
13:2). One who is willing to share with others the
comforts of his home.
B. An elder must not be introvert, shy or
withdrawn.
C. A door that is ever open for counsel, strength and
encouragement.
7. "Able to teach" ["Apt to
teach"] (1 Timothy 3:2). Note that while
not specifically stated, this qualification is also implied in
Titus 1:9 and 1 Peter 5:2
A. "Skilled in
teaching" (Vine).
B. It refers to one with an aptitude to teach and with
necessary knowledge to execute it. He is able to teach, he is
willing to teach, he is eager to teach. This is an intense
part of his pasturing or shepherding the flock.
C. His aptitude should include the ability to teach
privately, as well as publicly.
1. To teach others to become
Christians and to renew the weak and fallen.
2. Should be able to exhort
the brethren.
8. "Not given to much wine" ["Not given to
wine"] (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus
1:7)
A. From the Greek -- me paroinon --
literally meaning, "tarrying at wine, given to wine"
with a secondary sense of "the effects of wine-bibbing,
abusive brawler" (Vine).
B. "Not drunken or addicted to wine"
(Bauer).
9. "Not violent" ["No striker"]
(1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)
A. One who is violent or a striker is one with an
ungoverned temper who is ready to respond to insult or wrong by
striking back with words, or even fists.
1. A reviler--one who repays evil for evil with sharp
words (1 Peter 3:9).
2. "A pugnacious man, a bully" (Bauer).
10. "Not pursuing dishonest gain"
(Titus 1:7) ["Not greedy of filthy
lucre"] (1 Timothy 3:3); ["Not given to
filthy lucre"] (Titus 1:7)
A. Not desirous of base gain. Not desirous of any
gain that is dishonorable.
B. Examples might include such things as the
following:
1. To seek to use
influence as an elder to profit would be an example.
2. To desire the office
of elder for financial return is another.
3. To be employed in
doing that which may be considered un-Christian.
11. "Gentle" ["Patient"]
(1 Timothy 3:3)
A. Distinguished for meekness and consideration.
Longsuffering. Not harsh or stern, not bitter or unkind even
to the unpleasant (see 2 Timothy 2:24-25).
B. One who can endure without becoming bitter, even in
the face of provocation and disappointments, of which there are
many when serving as an elder.
12. "Not quarrelsome"
["Not a brawler"] (1 Timothy 3:3)
A. Literally, "not to fight." It is used
metaphorically here.
1. This doesn't mean not to contend for the
Truth, but many contend over unimportant matters (Titus
3:9).
2. That which is forbidden is the contentious
spirit. Such people do much to tear down good will as they
argue with everyone they meet. The peace of the church
suffers also.
13.
"Not a lover of money" ["Not covetous"]
(1 Timothy 3:3)
A. One who loves souls more than dollars, and loves the
church more than worldly gain.
B. "Not avaricious; not loving money; not greedy"
(Bauer).
C. In general, one who lays up treasures in heaven
(Matthew 6:19-21).
14. "Must manage his own family well--his
children obey him with proper respect" ["Ruleth well
his own house, children in subjection"] (1 Timothy
3:4)
A. Must be the head of his house and fulfill that
responsibility in a successful manner.
1. Could not be dominated by his wife. Able to
judge and decide on matters affecting the church without her
consultation (Ephesians 5:23).
2. His children will respect him and be subject to
him. He will have fulfilled the injunction to fathers in
Ephesians 6:4.
B. "How can he take care of God's
church?" (1 Timothy 3:5). The test of a
man's ability to oversee the church is seen in his success or
failure in ruling his own family. Such will prepare one for
oversight of God's family.
15.
"Whose children believe" ["Having faithful
children"] (Titus 1:6)
A. An elder must have successfully reared his children to be
believers.
1. Requires that he have children, and that they be
Christians (believers).
a. The term "believers" or "them that
believe" signifies Christians (Acts 5:14;
1 Corinthians 1:21; Acts 16:1).
b. An elder is an "aged man"--such
would have older children.
2. Whether they are "believers" tests his
ability to influence and to convert those with whom he has had the
greatest opportunity for such.
a. One who cannot take and mold the mind of his own
little children is not prepared to deal with adults who have their
own minds made up.
B. "[Whose children are] not open to the charge
of being wild and disobedient" (Titus
1:6). One with children guilty of such would have a
limited influence.
16. "Not a recent convert" ["Not a
novice"] (1 Timothy 3:6)
A. Must not be one newly or recently converted.
1. Such a one would not have the Bible knowledge, nor,
particularly, the experience and subsequent wisdom, to handle the
affairs of the church and be made to be responsible for the souls
of men.
2. Such a one, though he may be prominent in business
and society, is unprepared to serve as a spiritual
overseer.
B. "He may become conceited and fall..."
(1 Timothy 3:6)
1. It is a dangerous--often disastrous--thing to
elevate youth above its own age.
2. To do so is to set one up to fall under the same judgment
as the devil.
17. "A good reputation with outsiders"
["Good report from without"] (1 Timothy
3:7)
A. It is important that an elder be respected by those
outside the church.
1. An elder with a bad reputation will reproach the church
(Matthew 5:16).
B. One who has a generally bad reputation, and whose
influence is nil because of it, does not qualify to be an
elder.
18.
"Not overbearing" ["Not self-willed"]
(Titus 1:7)
A. "Self-pleasing, denotes one who is dominated
by self-interest and is inconsiderate of others, arrogantly asserts
his own will" (Vine). "Self-willed, stubborn,
arrogant" (Bauer).
B. A man must conquer his own will before he can be an
elder.
1. He must be steadfast in purpose, but not unmindful
of the will and wishes of others. Such a one [an overbearing,
self-willed elder] wants only his way.
2. An elder is one who has learned to put his own will
(personal desires) last--God and the church first.
19. "Not quick tempered" ["Not soon
angry"] (Titus 1:7)
A. One who can hold and control his
"temper."
1. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak, and slow to become angry" (James
1:19).
2. Not irritable or given to revengeful passions
against any who revile or wrong him.
20. "Loves what is good" ["Lover of good
men"] (Titus 1:8)
A. Love that which is good--men or things.
1. Such a one is interested in the association of
Christians, in doing good deeds, and in all that is noble and
generous.
21. "Upright" ["Just"] (Titus
1:8)
A. "Righteous, a state of being right, or right
conduct" (Vine).
B. One who is fair and impartial in all his dealings.
C. One who conforms to divine law--practices what he
preaches.
22. "Holy" ["Holy"] (Titus
1:8)
A. Devoted and consecrated to God; pure in life.
1. "Holy" denotes man's duty to God
as "just" denotes his duty to man (see 1 Peter
1:15-16).
2. By this, one is known as God's man; without
holiness, such cannot be true.
23. "Self-controlled" ["Temperate"]
(Titus 1:8)
A. Able to control fleshly desires, every faculty which
God has given man, but which can be abused.
1. Not merely strong drink, but the temper, tongue, eye, ear,
passions--all.
B. One who is not given to extremes or dogmatism, but
exercises moderation in all things (see Philippians
4:5).
24. "Hold firmly to the trustworthy Message"
["Holding fast the faithful Word"] (Titus
1:9)
A. An elder must have a knowledge of the Word and hold
loyally to that "Sound Doctrine"--"as it has
been taught."
1. The source of an elder's knowledge is the faithful
Word.
2. He should conduct all his affairs by it.
3. A "thus saith the Lord" for every doctrine and
practice.
B. An elder must be able to exhort, and convict false
teachers.
1. Again, this can be accomplished only by knowledge of
the Word and an ability to expound "Sound
Teaching."
