ELDER (PASTOR) (BISHOP) (OVERSEER) QUALIFICATIONS

ELDER QUALIFICATIONS

 

 

1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9

"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding 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."

 

1. Life - "blameless" mentioned 3 times - lit. Giving no handle (Tit 1:6-7, 1 Tim 3:2). Of good behavior - orderly (1 Tim 3:2). Righteous - holy (Tit 1:8).

2. Temperament - No striker - not a brawler (1 Tim 3:3). Not self-willed - not soon angry (Tit 1:7. Patient - gentle (1 Tim 3:3. Temperament - self-controlled (Tit 1:8).

3. Disposition - Not given to wine (1 Tim 3:3 ARV marg.) Given to hospitality - Not greedy of filthy lucre - No lover of money (1 Tim 3:3). Not given to unfair gains (Cambridge Bible) Abuse of spiritual office for financial gains (Ellicot). A lover of good (Tit 1:8).

4. Family relations - Husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6) - For various interpretations see Cambridge Bible. Modern divorce produces the most vicious type of polygamy. One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (1 Tim 3:4). For reason see 1 Tim 3:5. Having faithful children to the faith, not accused of riot or unruly (Tit 1:6 - children that believe the faith - not accused of riotous living, Cambridge Bible).

5. Reputation - In good report of them that are without (1 Tim 3:7) - Most damaging situation to have an elder to be ungodly by outsiders.

6. Faith - Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught (Tit 1:9). See ARV - "according to the teaching." The elder needs this qualification that he may be able "by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." See ARV - "convict." This is tremendously important. The elder must be settled on every great fundamental doctrine, with no mere loose grip or smattering of the truth. Such an eldership can hold a church from drifting into apostasy. Christ does not change, so the doctrine does not change (Heb. 13:7-9). Men of the world are erudite, clever, and intellectual; why should not this be true of God's ministers.

7. Judgment - Vigilant - temperate - not hasty - sober minded of sound mind.  A man who can think a problem through and arrive at a sound conclusion (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).

8. Ability - Apt to teach (1 Tim 3:2). Some have this ability as a natural gift. Others must develop it. It certainly assumes a knowledge of what is to be taught. If one is to be apt to teach, he must be apt to learn.

9. Experience - Not a novice (1 Tim. 3:6). He should be an experienced Christian. Why? A novice cannot be entrusted with authority (cf. latter part of 1 Tim 3:6). College and seminary education provide a good training ground and period of probation. It eliminates many and safeguards from trouble. The apostles had 3 years training with the Best Teacher possible. Problems were discovered and eliminated in that period.

10. Sex-Gender - The elder must be a man. No woman is eligible. No woman elder appears in the New Testament record. Furthermore, the nature of the office excludes women. Since it is a function of the office to rule, a woman elder must violate the divine order of the sexes in the church (1 Tim. 2:11-12).

NOTE: Does the New Testament furnish any basis for demanding educational preparation. Does Christ and His preparation of the apostle’s suggest thorough preparation? Yes, because such qualifications as Faith, Judgment, Ability, and experience can be developed by education of the right sort. (Cf. Tit. 1:9 "as he has been taught") 2 Tim 2:2 - Here is the principle and we have the example taught and led by Christ with those He was about to entrust with the foundation of the church.

NOTE: According to Acts 20 Paul in vs. 17 called for the elders (presbuteros) of the churches. In vs 28 he calls these same men overseers (episkopos) or bishops. He then calls them pastors (poimaino) that feed the flock. So the same man is the elder, overseer, bishop and pastor. There goes the church hierarchy.