Scriptural Qualifications of Elders:

Qualifications of Godly Integrity

Introduction

Text: 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9.
No man is a fit example to others (nor is he capable of the elder's work) if he himself has not developed the qualities of Christlikeness - 1 Pt. 5:3. Cf. 1 Cor. 11:1.
In thought and deed, the elder must exemplify what it means to love and obey God.

I. CHARACTER

Negative requirements -- what the elder must not be.
1. In relation to temporal gain.
  1. "Not covetous" (1 Tim. 3:3 - NKJV, KJV). Cf. no "lover of money" (ASV, RSV, ESV).
    1. Aphilarguros = not greedy, avaricious. Cf. Hb. 13:5.
    2. The elder must adhere to the principles in Mt. 6:24,33; Col. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:6-10; etc.
    3. Cf. Ac. 20:33-35.
  2. "Not greedy for money" (Tit. 1:7 - NKJV). Cf. "not given to filthy lucre" (KJV), "not greedy for filthy lucre" (ASV), "not greedy for gain" (RSV, ESV), not given "to questionable money-making" (Rhm). (This term is also found in some Greek texts in 1 Tim. 3:3.)
    1. Me aischrokerdes = not greedy of base or dishonest gain. Cf. Tit. 1:11; 1 Pt. 5:2.
    2. Both inordinate desire for money and ungodliness in gaining money are excluded by
      this term.
2. In relation to other persons.
  1. "Not self-willed" (Tit. 1:7 - NKJV, KJV, ASV). Cf. "arrogant" (RSV, ESV), "stubborn" (Wms).
    1. Me authades = lit., not self-satisfied, self-complacent > not assuming, presumptuous, obstinate. Cf. 2 Pt. 2:10.
    2. The elder cannot be overbearing, headstrong, unyielding.
    3. Cf. "lords" (1 Pt. 5:3). Cf. Phil. 2:3,4.
  2. "Not quick-tempered" (Tit. 1:7 - NKJV, RSV, ESV). Cf. "not soon angry" (KJV, ASV), not "short-tempered" (NEB).
    1. Me orgilos = not irascible, quickly moved to wrath.
    2. Both anger and the desire for revenge are involved.
    3. The elder cannot be hot-headed, short-fused, violent in temperament. Cf. Jas. 1:19,20.
  3. "Not quarrelsome" (1 Tim. 3:3 - NKJV, RSV, ESV). Cf. "not a brawler" (KJV), "not contentious" (ASV), "not pugnacious" (Wey).
    1. Amachos = lit., without battle > peaceable, disinclined to fight. Cf. Tit. 3:2.
    2. While some strivings are necessary, many are not and are unprofitable to all concerned.
      Cf. Tit. 3:9-11; Jd. 3.
    3. The elder must be conciliatory, averse to strife -- and he must know how to contend without being contentious.
    4. The elder cannot be a belligerent controversialist, bellicose, disputatious. Cf. Eph. 4:1-3; Jas. 3:17,18.
  4. "Not violent" (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7 - NKJV, RSV, ESV). Cf. "no striker" (KJV, ASV).
    1. Me plektes = not a bully, pugnacious, combative; not given to blows, not ready to wound.
    2. This characteristic may be the outward expression of the previous one.
    3. The elder must not have a tendency to fight, verbally or physically, at the slightest provocation, for he will be provoked in his work as an elder from time to time.
Positive requirements -- what the elder must be.
1. His principles.
  1. "Holy" (Tit. 1:8 - NKJV, KJV, ASV, RSV, ESV).
    1. Hosios = careful to do what is religiously right, devout, pleasing to God, scrupulously religious; "the condition of one who has committed no crime, but religiously observes every duty and fulfills every obligation" (Bullinger). Cf. "holy hands" (1 Tim. 2:8).
    2. The elder must be spiritual, rather than worldly, but he must not show off his spirituality.
      Cf. Mt. 23:5.
  2. "A lover of what is good" (Tit. 1:8 - NKJV). Cf. "a lover of good men" (KJV), "a lover of good" (ASV, ESV), "a lover of goodness" (RSV).
    1. Philagathos = loving good things and/or people. Cf. 2 Tim. 3:3.
    2. What people, deeds, etc. a man delights in says much about his character. Cf. Phil. 4:8.
    3. The elder "must be ready to welcome goodness wherever he sees it" (Barclay).
  3. "Just" (Tit. 1:8 - NKJV, KJV, ASV). Cf. "upright" (RSV, ESV).
    1. Dikaios = fair, impartial; "fulfilling all claims which are right and becoming" (Bullinger).
      Cf. Mt. 20:4; 27:24.
    2. The elder, like the evangelist (1 Tim. 5:21), must not act prejudicially or with favoritism, but on the basis of what is right.
2. His temperament.
  1. "Self-controlled" (Tit. 1:8 - NKJV, ASV, RSV). Cf. "temperate" (KJV), "disciplined" (ESV).
    1. Egkrates = lit., in strength, mastery; with a firm hold > being master of one's self; disciplined.
    2. The elder must be level-headed, self-restrained -- not rash, impulsive. Cf. Prov. 16:32; 25:28; Jas. 1:19,20; 2 Pt. 1:6.
    3. This would include power over temper and tongue. Cf. Prov. 10:19; 17:27; etc.
      1. The elder will often be the object of petty criticism. He must be able to restrain himself from the impulse to debate every accusation made against him.
      2. Wisdom encourages self-control in the face of unfair talk about oneself - Prov. 19:11; Eccl. 7:21,22. Cf. Mt. 5:44,45; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12,13.
  2. "Temperate" (1 Tim. 3:2 - NKJV, ASV, RSV). Cf. "vigilant" (KJV), "sober-minded" (ESV).
    1. Nephalios = moderate, especially in respect to wine > watchful, circumspect.
    2. The reserved, well-balanced temperament of the elder contributes to an alertness to danger, a healthy wariness. Cf. Ac. 20:28-31; Hb. 13:17.
    3. Like an aircraft pilot, the elder can ill afford to have his attentiveness impaired by any kind of intemperance.
  3. "Soberminded" (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8 - NKJV, ASV). Cf. "sober" (KJV), "sensible/master of himself" (RSV), "self-controlled" (ESV).
    1. Sophron = discreet, prudent, thoughtful, serious-minded. Cf. Mk. 5:15; Ac. 26:25; Rom. 12:3; 1 Pt. 4:7.
    2. Cf. "wise in the art of living" (Barclay).
    3. The elder must be clear-headed, possessed of good judgment, not "intoxicated" physically or mentally.
    4. This trait is characteristic of age, maturity -- it is the opposite of what is normally associated with youth and immaturity.
  4. "Gentle" (1 Tim. 3:3 - NKJV, ASV, RSV, ESV). Cf. "patient" (KJV).
    1. Epieikes = yielding; "fitting upon, i.e. fit, meet, suitable; hence, fair, reasonable . . . considerate, forbearing, kind, fair" (Bullinger). Cf. Phil. 4:5; Jas. 3:17.
    2. This quality does not imply weakness or compromise in dealing with sin, but rather a wholesome, considerate regard for the feelings of others. Cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
    3. Gentleness engenders confidence -- brethren will be willing to come to such a man with
      their problems.

II. BEHAVIOR AND REPUTATION

Behavior.
1. "Not given to wine" (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7 - NKJV, KJV). Cf. "no brawler (not quarrelsome over wine)" (ASV), "no drunkard" (RSV, ESV).
  1. Me paroinos = not addicted to wine > not exhibiting the noisy quarrelsomeness of the drinker.
  2. Cf. Eph. 5:18.
2. "Hospitable" (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8 - NKJV, RSV, ESV). Cf. "given to hospitality/lover of hospitality"
  (KJV, ASV).
  1. Philoxenos = lit., loving strangers > welcoming strangers in one's home.
  2. Cf. "opening his house freely to guests" (New Testament in Basic English).
  3. Cf. Rom. 12:13; Hb. 13:2; 1 Pt. 4:9; etc.
3. "Of good behavior" (1 Tim. 3:2 - NKJV, KJV). Cf. "orderly" (ASV), "dignified" (RSV), "respectable" (ESV).
  1. Kosmios = orderly > respectable, honorable, well-behaved. Cf. "modest" in 1 Tim. 2:9.
  2. There must be a decorous, well-arranged regularity and beauty to the elder's conduct -- including his speech, habits, dress, and manners.
  3. Like all Christians, the elder must be a person who lives in such a way as to "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Tit. 2:10).
Reputation.
1. "Blameless" (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6,7 - KJV, NKJV). Cf. "without reproach/blameless" (ASV), "above reproach/blameless" (RSV), "above reproach" (ESV).
  1. Anepileptos (1 Tim. 3:2) = irreproachable; "not to be caught anywhere by an antagonist (used in wrestling of a man defended and prepared at all points); hence, one in whom there was no just cause for blame" (Bullinger). Cf. 1 Tim. 5:7; 6:14. Cf. Daniel in Dan. 6:4,5.
  2. Anegkletos (Tit. 1:6,7) = unimpeachable; "not accused, with nothing laid to one's charge, . . . though blamed yet undeserving of blame" (Bullinger).
  3. The elder must be a man of impeccable character and unquestioned integrity -- "above suspicion of moral fault" (Barclay). Cf. Phil. 2:15.
  4. The elder must be able to teach and admonish without hypocrisy. Cf. Mt. 7:3-5; Rom. 2:21.
2. "A good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:7 - NKJV). Cf. "A good report of them which are without" (KJV).
  1. Cf. Mt. 5:16; Tit. 2:8,10; 1 Pt. 2:12,15; 3:16.
  2. The word translated "good" in "good testimony" is kalos = not merely good in the strict legal sense, but that which is widely acknowledged to be fine, beautiful, noble, honorable.
  3. The world tends to judge the church by its leaders -- the elder must not furnish "ammunition" that can be used by Satan and the opponents of the faith. (But consider also the point made in Lk. 6:26; Rom. 12:18; etc.)
  4. The devil is always seeking to ensnare the Lord's people, and especially those in the position of oversight, in some accusation which he can manipulate to the evil advantage of his cause. To avoid this trap, the elder must be a man above reproach both inside and outside the church.

Conclusion

The elder gives us real-life evidence that it is possible to be a faithful Christian.
More than that, the elder also gives us reason and motivation to be a faithful Christian - Hb. 13:7.

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