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.
- Experience
- Reputation
- Domestic Relations
- Character
- 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.”
