When God designed the church, He placed within it different offices, or roles. One of those is the office of elder. Today, we begin an examination of the necessary qualifications for the men who hold this important office in the Lord's church.
An Elder Must Be a Man. "If a man desires the position of a bishop..." {1 Timothy 3:1} "If a man is blameless..." {Titus 1:6} In today's world, more and more women are filling leadership roles. They are leading companies, as CEOs; they are leaders in the civil and federal governments; and they are even serving as military officers. Yet, God did not authorize women to have a leadership role in the local church. Truth compels us to acknowledge that many in the modern-day religious world are ignoring God's wishes in this matter. Denominational churches are ordaining women to serve, not only as preachers, but also as bishops. In the literal language, the words "if any..." and "if anyone..." are the same Greek word, and the original Greek language did NOT say "man" or "men." Why, then, do we conclude that the office is restricted to men and that women CANNOT serve as leaders in a local church?
In 1 Timothy 3:1, "he" is in the masculine form. This shows that the one desiring the office is a male. Then, the verse says he must be "the husband of one wife" (more on this later); only men have wives. Also consider 1 Timothy 2:12: "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." In the church, women are not to have authority over men. The office of elder involves some authority-the type women are forbidden to have {1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17}. According to Ephesians 5:22,23, the man is the spiritual head of the home, and the woman is to be in subjection to that headship. Men are not to have "effeminate" qualities {1 Corinthians 6:9}. The elder must be an older man who is mature in the faith. He is to rule his own house well.
He Must Desire the Work. "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work." {1 Timothy 3:1} The eldership position is not to be thrust upon a man against his will because all else has failed to produce a candidate. He must demonstrate whole-hearted consent. If he has the attitude, "Nobody else will do it, so I will," he's not qualified. Two words are used to describe this qualification.
"Oregetai"-stretches forward, is defined as "the mental effort of stretching oneself out for a thing, of longing after it, with stress upon the object desired" (W.E. Vine, Vol.1:298). Not only does this word express mental desire, it also includes acting toward the goal.
"Epithumeo"-"To set one's heart upon, to have a desire for, long for; to desire" (Thayer). "To desire earnestly, stresses the inward impulse rather than the object desired" (Vine's). Some English words that can help us understand-coveting, desire, fain, and lust. Please consider the other passages where this word appears: Matthew 5:28; 13:17; Luke 15:22.
Before a man can be an elder, he must desire to be one. Without this type of desire for the office, he would not be able to do the work of an elder as the Lord expects. "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly." {1 Peter 5:2}
An Elder Must Be Blameless. "A bishop then must be blameless..." {1 Timothy 3:2} "if a man is blameless...For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God..."{Titus 1:6,7} This passage uses two different Greek words.
"Anepilampton"-is defined as "...that cannot be laid hold of, hence, not open to censure, irreproachable.; (W.E.Vine, Vol. 1:140); "not apprehended, that cannot be laid hold of; hence that cannot be reprehended, not open to censure, irreproachable" (Thayer's). This word appears in 1 Timothy 3:2.
"Anegelatos"-"...that which cannot be called to account...with nothing laid to one's charge." It implies not merely acquittal, but the absence of even a charge or accusation against a person" (W.E.Vine, Vol.1:140). This word appears in Titus 1:6. Is there a significant difference in the two words?
I quote from brother H.E. Phillips: "It may be adduced from the definitions of these two Greek words that the term in Titus is a little stronger than the word in Timothy. In Timothy the word appears to mean that the person has lived so that men WILL NOT accuse him of evil; while in Titus the word appears to mean that the person has so lived that men CANNOT accuse him of evil" (H. E. Phillips, Scriptural Elders and Deacons, page 94).
To become an elder, a brother must live in such a way that no charge of guilt can be proven against him. Surely one can see that it is not discussing blameless in an absolute state. All men sin {Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8; 1 Timothy 5:20}. This passage is not speaking of one against whom no one has ever made a charge. Even Christ was falsely accused at times during His sojourn on earth {Matthew 27:12; 26:59,60}. When applying this qualification, we need to remember that each of us must be equally blameless in our own lives. The office does not require one who is sinless and perfect.
It's very clear that the Scriptures demand a clean, honorable, influential Christian life of every man who enters the eldership. This does not mean a brother must be sinless to be appointed as an elder, but he must have a repentant attitude toward his shortcomings and be willing to try harder to do what is right in God's sight.
Does this mean that one who made a serious mistake and sinned in the past is automatically disqualified? Some think so. According to them, he is damaged goods and may never be worthy of attaining to this lofty office. Yet, a study of God's word shows that all men can repent, confess the wrong, correct it, and live better lives in the future. What would these people say about Peter? Peter became an elder {1 Peter 5:1-4}, after he denied the Lord three times! We all agree that, after the mistake, a person would have to exhibit a pattern of better decision-making. But let's not hold the bar for the office higher than the Lord made it. Blameless does not mean perfect-if it does, the Lord's church would never have elders. Brethren must be careful not to hold an elder to a higher standard than they themselves could achieve in their own lives. Shouldn't we all have this character trait?
We will continue this in the next article.