6d • Theology
Qualifications of Church Elders
In the early Church, it was the practice of the early Apostles, like Paul, to appoint church elders in each area where they planted churches.
These were the ones who had the responsibility of governing local church affairs and the teaching responsibilities in the church.
They couldn't be just anybody in the church. They had to meet certain qualifications that would make them suitable for such a role.
1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9 gives us the lists of qualifications for choosing local church elders.
"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."
1 Timothy 3:2-7
"If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
Titus 1:6-9
Here I've combined the passages into one list:
1) Above reproach- means they much live a life that their actions would not be called into question.
2) The husband of one wife
3) Self-controlled
4) Respectable
5) Hospitable
6) Able to teach
7) Not given to drunkenness
8) Gentle and non-violent
9) Not quarrelsome
10) Not greedy or lover of money
11) Must manage his own household well
12) Children must be submissive, not given to rebellion and not given to debauchery
13) Must not be a new Christian
14) Good reputation among non-Christians
15) Humble
16) Not quick-tempered
17) Lover of good
18) Upright
19) Holy
20) Disciplined
21) Must hold firmly to the trustworthy word (as it was taught by the apostles and Jesus)
22) Must give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it
23) Must be a man as "he" is used continually and "man of one wife" indicates male eldership
These qualifications are written in the present tense; meaning they had to be traits that an elder held at the present time. It does not indicate that an elder had never been without one of these qualities in the past (almost no one would fit these qualifications if that were true), but rather elders currently maintained or possessed these qualities.
Quite a list!
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Qualifications of Church Elders
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