1. Nice, likeable men of good character; fine husbands & fathers Elder qualifications

2. Nice, likeable men of good character; fine husbands & fathers Elder qualifications ?

3. Purpose of our studies will be to “balance the scales” regarding elder qualifications and explain the statement I made in previous lesson. Elder qualifications

4. I Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9 Elder qualifications

5. All Christians Phil. 2:15 Tit. 2:2 Tit. 2:2,5 1 Tim. 2:9 Rom. 12:13 Tit. 3:2 1 Pet. 2:12 Phil. 2:15 Rom. 12:9 Phil. 4:8 1 Tim. 2:8 2 Pet. 1:6 Elders 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:3 1 Tim. 3:7 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:8 Positive Characteristics Without reproach TemperateSobermindedOrderlyHospitableGentle Good testimony from without Blameless Lover of good JustHolySelf-controlled

6. All Christians Rom. 12:18 1 Tim. 6:10 Jas. 3:17 Col. 3:8 1 Tim. 6:10 Elders 1 Tim. 3:3 Tit. 1:7 Negative Characteristics No brawler No striker Not contentious No lover of money Not self-willed Not soon angry Not greedy of filthy lucre If these positive and negative character traits were all that were involved, every man at Parkway would be qualified to serve as an elder… And herein lies the “problem”: this is often all some look at when thinking of whether or not a man is qualified to be an elder.

7. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire With but one exception (desire) all men are to meet the standard of 1 Tim. 3 & Tit. 1 With no exceptions all women are to meet the positive and negative qualifications.

8. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire “Husband of one wife” means “a one woman man”  One not a polygamist  One who is faithful to his wife  If wife dies, having demonstrated this quality, he can continue to serve.  Doesn’t have two wives if he remarries

9. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire “Apt to teach” means one who is skilled at teaching but not necessarily one skilled at teaching publicly.

10. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire “Rules”= provides for “Children” not restricted to plurality “Faithful”=faithful to the father

11. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire “No novice”=one “newly planted”, i.e., a new Christian

12. All men Eph. 5:22-23 Heb. 5:12 Eph. 5:22-23 Eph. 6:4 Heb. 6:1 Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 5:12,14 Elders 1 Tim. 3:1 1 Tim. 3:2 1 Tim. 3:4 1 Tim. 3:6 Tit. 1:6 Tit. 1:9 1 Tim. 3:1 “Special” Characteristics A man Husband of one wife Apt to teach Rules well own house Children in subjection with all gravity No novice Faithful children Hold to faithful word Desire “Hold to faithful word”=one who knows and respects God’s will “Desire”=craving, longing

13. 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1 ? Primarily character qualities all Christians must have

14. ? 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1 Primarily character qualities all Christians must have

15. ? 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1 these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. Matt. 23:23

16. Names Work 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1

17. The names applied to congregational leaders Overseer/Bishop All passages Lk. 19:44; Acts 1:20; Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1,2; Tit. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:12,25 Elders do not have an “office” There is no word representing office Vine A man charged with the duty of seeing to it that things to be done by others are done rightly…one who watches over their welfare Thayer

18. The names applied to congregational leaders Pastor/Shepherd All passages Matt. 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mk. 6:34; 14:27; Lk. 2:8, 15, 18, 20; John 10:2,11,12,14,16; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25 Pastors guide as well as feed the flock…this involves tender care and vigilant superintendence. Vine The whole office of the shepherd, the guiding, guarding, feeding of the flock, as well as the finding of nourishment for it…those who are, or should be, the faithful guides and guardians of others committed to their care. Trench

19. The names applied to congregational leaders Elder/Presbyter Some passages 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:17; Tit. 1:5; Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2,4,6, 22,23; James 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1 emphasis upon maturity of judgment more than mere age… In some languages Presbuteros is best rendered as 'older leaders,' but in other languages the more appropriate term would be the equivalent of 'counselor,' since it would be assumed that counselors would be older than the average person in a group as well as having authority to lead and direct activities. Louw and Nida

20. The names applied to congregational leaders Elder/PresbyterOverseer/BishopPastor/Shepherd Qualities necessarily inferred Chronological age is relative; primarily dignity, maturity, spiritual experience Overseeing, superintending, taking charge, taking the lead Taking care of the flock, proving for all spiritual needs These qualities have nothing to do with moral character: being good men If these are names by which these men are called, should it not follow that these are qualities these men must have?

21. NamesWork 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1

22. The work of congregational leaders Acts 20:28 Take heed unto the flock...Feed the church  To turn one’s mind and attention to something. Lenski and Vine  Feeding the flock from the Word of God is the constant and regular necessity. Vine Acts 20:31 Therefore be on the alert  To give strict attention to, be cautious, active…be watchful. Thayer, Arndt and Gingrich

23. The work of congregational leaders Acts 20:35 Help the weak  It has reference to caring for God’s poor. McGarvey 1 Thess. 5:12 Labor...Over you...Admonish  To labor with wearisome effort, to toil…work hard, toil, strive, struggle Arndt and Gingrich and Thayer  To stand before, hence to lead, to direct, attend to. Vine  Warn, instruct…mainly has in view the things that are wrong and call for a warning. Arndt and Gingrich and Vine.

24. The work of congregational leaders 1 Tim. 3:1 Work  A task that calls for all of the man’s energy and not a mere honor to be enjoyed. Lenski 1 Tim. 3:5 Take care of the church  Involving forethought and provision. Vine

25. The work of congregational leaders 1 Tim. 5:17 Labor in word and teaching  To labor with wearisome effort, to toil…work hard, strive, struggle. Thayer and Arndt and Gingrich Tit. 1:9-11 Hold firm to trustworthy word…Give instruction in the sound doctrine... Rebuke those who contradict it  Be devoted to, cleave to Vine  To urge one to pursue some course of conduct. Vine  To bring to light, to expose. Thayer

26. The work of congregational leaders Heb. 13:17 Rule over...Watch in behalf of souls  To go before…leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel. Thayer  To be sleepless…the watchfulness of those who are intent upon a thing…to exercise constant vigilance. Vine 1 Pet. 5:2-3 Tend the flock...Exercise oversight of flock... Examples to the flock  Tend flock same as in Acts 20:28  To look upon, contemplate…It is not a matter of assuming a position, but of the discharge of the duties. Vine  An example to be imitated. Thayer

27. The work of congregational leaders Acts 20:28 Take heed, feed Acts 20:31 Watch Acts 20:35 Help weak 1 Thess. 5:12 Be over, admonish 1 Tim. 3:1 Oversee 1 Tim. 3:5 Take care of God’s church Tit. 1:9-11 Hold firm to word, give instruction, rebuke Heb. 13:17 Rule over, watch 1 Pet. 5:2-3 Take oversight, be examples It is not necessarily a reflection on a man’s character if he is unable or unwilling to do these things. One reason we say there is more to being an elder than having good character, being a nice man.

28. NamesWork 1 Tim. 3 Tit. 1 Proper balance and emphasis needed to have qualified men