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CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERS

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7, TITUS 1:5-9, 1 PETER 5:1-6, ACTS 20:28-32

 
 
  I.    INTRODUCTION

        A. The Above Passages Mention Characteristics Or Qualities That Elders Should Have.  It Is Interesting To Note That

             The Majority Of These Characteristics Are Mentioned In Other Parts Of The N.T. As Qualities That All Christians

             Should Have.

        B. An Elder Should Be A Christian Man That Is Mature In Every Sense Of  The Term; He Is No Longer A Young Man

            And Has Proven, By His Example, That He Is Capable Of Being A Shepherd Of The People Of God.

 

I.   ACCORDING TO 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7, AN ELDER IS:

 

NASV

RSV

NIV

1. Above reproach

 Above reproach

Above reproach

2. Husband of one wife

 Husband of one wife

Husband of but one wife

3. Temperate

 Temperate

Temperate

4. Prudent

 Sensible

Self-controlled

5. Respectable

 Dignified

Respectable

6. Hospitable

 Hospitable

Hospitable

7. Able to teach

 Able to teach

Able to teach

8. Not addicted to wine

 Not a drunkard

Not given to drunkenness

9. Not pugnacious

 Not quarrelsome

Not quarrelsome

10. Not contentious

 Not violent

Not violent

11. Gentle

 Gentle

Gentle

12. Free from the love  of money

 Not a lover of money 

 Not a lover of money 

13. One who manages his own

      household well

One who manages his own household well

One who manages his own family well

14. One who keeps his children under

     control with all dignity

One who keeps his children submissive and respectful in every way

One who sees that his children obey him with proper respect

15. Not a new convert

 Not a recent convert

Not a recent convert

16. One who has a good reputation with

      those outside the church

Well thought of by outsiders

One who has a good reputation with outsiders

 

   

II. ADDITIONALLY, ACCORDING TO TITUS 1:5-9, AN ELDER:

 

NASV

RSV

NIV

1. Has children who believe and are

     not accused of dissipation or

    rebellion

Has children who are believers and are not open to the charge of being      profligate or insubordinate

Is a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient

2. Is not self-willed

Is not arrogant

Is not over-bearing

3. Is not quick-tempered

Is not quick-tempered

Is not quick-tempered

4.  Is not fond of sordid gain

Is not greedy for gain

Is one who is not pursuing dishonest gain

5. Loves what is good

Is a lover of goodness

Is one who loves what is good

6. Is just and devout

Is upright and holy

Is upright and holy

7.  Holds fast the faithful word which

     is in accordance with the teaching

Holds firm to the sure word as taught

Must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught

8.  Is able both to exhort in sound

    doctrine and to refute     those

    who contradict

Is able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it

Is able to encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it

       

IV.   APPLICATION FOR THE CHURCH

    When brothers are being considered for the work of an elder (bishop or pastor-shepherd), one     must remember that these lists

    do not represent a list of laws as such.  With regard to almost all of the characteristics, one must seek and exercise wisdom in

    order to "evaluate" the brother.  For example:  "able to teach."  How does one decide what "able" means?

 

    It is important to remember that while there are guidelines, there are no perfect brothers.     The Lord wants faithful and mature     brothers as shepherds of His family, the church.

 

MEMORY VERSE - ACTS 20:28

 

QUESTIONS - LESSON 2

1. T  F It is always easy to decide if a brother is "able to teach."

 

2. What characteristic of an elder is the most important - in your opinion?

 

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