We have  already  established that the eldership is in the plan of God and  that it is in effect today and  should be  in place in the Lord’s church. We want  to talk about  qualifications. If there is an  office,  there must be qualifications and duties. We  will discuss duties  in our  next article.  The   qualifications  for  elders are  listed in  1 Timothy 3 and in Titus 1.  Tom Thurman, in his  class  on  The Church  gave us this  lis on how to  parallel  the  lists of Timothy and Titus.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

• Without reproach.
• The  husband of one  wife
• Temperate
• Sober-Minded
• Orderly
• Given To Hospitality
• Apt to teach
• No Brawler
• No Striker
• Gentle
• Not Contentious
• No Lover of Money
• One Who Rules His Own House Well
• Not a Novice
• Good Testimony From Without

Titus 1:5-6

• Blameless
• The Husband of One Wife
• Self Controlled
• Sober Minded
• Given To Hospitality
• No Brawler
• No Striker
• Not  Self Willed
• Not  Greedy of Filthy Lucre
• Having Children   That Believe
• Not  Accused of Riot or Unruly
• Not Angry Soon
• Lover of Good
• Holy
• Holding to the Faithful Word

Accordong  to Boles there  is one important  thing  to  consider concerning these qualifications. “There are  fe qualifications listed  for elders which  do not belong  to all Christians.” J. W. McGarvey, in his book, The Eldership, divides the qualifications into  five areas.

1. Experience
2. Reputation
3. Domestic Relations
4. Character
5. Habits”

Concerning the importance of the  work and responsibility of elders we want again to  quote from the  book by Boles , The  Eldership  of the  churches of Christ. On page  24, Bro. Boles wrote these words, “When we look at  the work of elders and the responsibility that rests upon them we are  not  surprised at the high standard that the Holy Spirit has given elders.”