Today, we continue our examination of the qualifications necessary for those who serve as elders in the Lord's church.

An Elder Must Be the Husband of One Wife. "...the husband of one wife..." {1 Timothy 3:2}; "...the husband of one wife..." {Titus 1:6} The literal text says "Of one wife a husband." Another source says "one woman's husband." From this text, we learn that the elder MUST BE married. He cannot be a husband unless he is married. It is unscriptural to consider a bachelor for the position. Sadly, we must add that he must be married to a WOMAN. Since some states have legalized marriages between two men or two woman, we need to make this point. This qualification demands that he not be a polygamist. A man is the husband of one wife if:

• He has a wife.
• Any previous marriage ended through the death of his spouse or a Scriptural (because of adultery) divorce.

Some have made the fact that-because of death or divorce -he has been married more than once an issue. The issue one needs to consider is whether the marriage is lawful in God's sight. If a man's first wife dies, does God recognize his second wife as his one wife? If he put away his first wife because of her adultery and married a second wife, how many wives does he now have? Both questions have the same answer-ONE. Brethren need to be very careful about binding their personal convictions on the elders' qualifications. How does his ability to lead become less effective if his previous wife died or committed adultery? How does this violate the one-wife qualification?

If an elder's wife dies, is he still qualified? This is a sticky question. I believe he has met the qualification that requires him to be married, but we need to consider some other things. He is no longer a husband; rather, he is now a widower. A wife herself fits some qualifications, and the elder needs her in some situations associated with his work. The qualification says HE MUST be the husband. While it's true that he hasn't forgotten what he learned and knew because he was a husband, his situation certainly has changed.

An Elder Must Rule His House Well. "One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)" {1 Timothy 3:4,5}; "...having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination." {Titus 1:6} This qualification demands that an elder:

• Have his own family.
• Have control and order in his home.
• Have children.
• Have children who are Christians.
• Rule his house well.

Before we consider this qualification (since it seems to get the most attention), let us look at some other translations:

• "And his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate." (RSV)
• "If any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly." (ASV)
• "One who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God)." (NASV)

We want to examine what this text teaches and does not teach. Too many have formulated conclusions that are purely assumptions based on personal convictions and not the Bible.

The elder must rule his family well. This includes his relationship with his wife {Ephesians 5:22-33}. The husband is the spiritual head in his home, and with this comes responsibility. Note the comparison between the marriage relationship and Christ and His church? Christ did not give the church foolish or hurtful commands? A husband should rule his home in the same way. A husband who does not treat his wife with respect, honor, and dignity is not fit to be an elder.

In like manner, he must rule his children well {Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:19-21}. In ruling his children, he must be careful not to provoke them to wrath by hateful actions. Surely we can see God's wisdom in making this a qualification for an elder. How can he rule the house of God if he can not rule over his own home? Not only must the elder rule in such a way that his children obey him, but they will also respect his authority. A father who is a bully or a tyrant does not meet this qualification; but neither does a father who does not have the spiritual rule over his children. This qualification demonstrates his leadership ability. It is altogether appropriate to look at how an elder's children behaved during his rule over them in his home.

Clearly, the Scriptures require an elder's children to be Christians. This shows and demonstrates his ability to lead them to Christ-something he needs to be able to do in the Lord's church. The elder's children should not be guilty of "riot." This word is defined as "the disposition of life of one who is abandoned, recklessly debauched; profligacy, dissoluteness." (Greek Lexicon, pg. 58) They must not be unruly-"not made subject, unsubjected. That cannot be subjected to control, disobedient, unruly, refractory, confused," (Thayer's) If they are not in subjection; if he cannot control them in his home, while they reside under his roof, he is not qualified to be an elder.

How many children? In some places, the plural and singular of the word child are used interchangeably. Consider the following: Genesis 21:7; Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24; 1 Corinthians 7:14. Whatever the meaning, it must also be applied to the word child in 1 Timothy 5:4,10.

"There is always a safe course to pursue in every questionable issue of Christianity. We have always contended for that safe course in all matters pertaining to remission of sins and worship and work of the church. Why not in the qualifications of the eldership? Will anyone say that it is wrong in any sense to appoint men who have a plurality of faithful children, and who are qualified in all other respects? Since this course is always safe we encourage it in all places where the question of a single child prevails. However, we do not want to allow ourselves top be pushed into prejudice in a position of legislation where God has not legislated and bind conditions on earth that have not been bound in heaven." (H.E. Phillips , Scriptural Elders and Deacons, pg.152)

We must be certain we do not base the number of children on human-instead of divine-wisdom. Is a man who has one child as much a father as one who has a dozen? The qualification says he must have children-not how many.

We will continue this in the next article.