Elders (Part 3) - Qualifications Continued

This Sunday our church family will have the opportunity to elect 7 men to serve on our Elder Board. As a result, I am taking the time to give some thoughts from Titus and First Timothy regarding the Biblical qualifications of Elders. This posting is part three. You would do well to go back and read the first two parts before continuing on with this post.

Yesterday we saw the qualifications for an Elder that were on both Paul’s list to Titus and Paul’s list to Timothy. Here are the qualifications mentioned only in the list to Titus:

An Elder is qualified by “having children who believe” and who are “not accused of dissipation or rebellion” (v6). The word rebellion speaks of a refusal to submit to authority. “Dissipation” speaks of wasteful indulgence (even rioting) and was used to speak of drunken revelry at pagan festivals (see Ephesians 5:18)

An Elder is to be “not self-willed” (v7). In other words, he is not to have an arrogant self-interest resulting in his exerting his own will with no regard for how it affects others.

An Elder is to be “not quick-tempered” (v7). This speaks of having a propensity to anger, as opposed to occasional outbursts.

Here are a few more qualifications only found on Paul’s list to Timothy:

An Elder is to be “not fond of sordid gain” (v7) = not seeking wealth at any cost.
An Elder is to be “loving of what is good” (v8) = a strong affection for what is good.
An Elder is to be “sensible” (v8) = sober mind, cool-headed and in command of his mind
An Elder is to be “just” (v8) = seeking what is right, proper and fitting (idea of fairness)
An elder is to be “devout” (v8) = true to Divine direction and purpose
An Elder is to be “self-controlled” (v8) = holding his desires in check.
An Elder is to “hold fast the faithful Word” (v9) = strongly clinging to the Word

Below is a final list of qualifications mentioned only in the list to Timothy?

An Elder is to be “temperate” (v2) = unmixed
An Elder is to be “prudent” (v2) = well-disciplined; knows priorities
An elder is to be “respectable” (v2) = orderly
An Elder is to be “able to teach” (v2) = skilled teachers; studies hard
An Elder is to be “gentle” (v3) = considerate; gracious; forgiving
An Elder is to be “peaceable” (v3) = reluctant to fight
An Elder is to be “free from the love of money” (v3)
An Elder is to “manage his own household well” (v4)
An Elder is to “keep his children under control with dignity” (v4)
An Elder is not to be a “new convert” (v6)
An Elder is to have a “good reputation outside the church” (v7)