Christian's Expositor Journal

When Paul lists the prerequisites for the eldership, he lays out several qualifications that are reflective of a man’s character and motivation. To be qualified to lead and feed the church of God, Paul states that an elder must not be “covetous” (1 Tim. 3:3) nor “greedy for money” (Tit. 1:7). While these two concepts are closely related, they are two separate qualifications that speak to a man’s attitude towards money and his actions in obtaining it. Someone who is…

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NKJV ESV NASU 1 Timothy 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetousTitus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God not self willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine not violent, not greedy for money, 1 Timothy 3:3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  Titus 1:7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He…

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Many westerners view nearly all ruling figures as corrupt authoritarians. Americans, whose history is saturated with Boston Tea Party-like events and revolutionary fervor, are often repulsed by the idea of voluntary submission to those in positions of power. Tragically, this worldview has dramatically impacted the lens through which Christians view the eldership. It is likely that one of the reasons many congregations have exerted so little energy and effort towards establishing an eldership is the result of American anti-establishmentarianism and…

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As the faithful men entrusted with decision-making authority, the authority to delegate responsibilities, and the spiritual counseling of the congregation in which they serve (Heb.13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:3-4; Acts 20:17,28; 1 Thess. 5:12-13, 14-15), elders must be qualified men who by their study and teaching of God’s Word and by their own exemplary behavior have demonstrated to their congregation their dependable leadership skills. Most of the qualifications imposed upon these men by Paul in his letters to Timothy (1 Tim….

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