Considerations of the Eldership


  1. The Importance of the Eldership
    1. Titus 1:5
      1. "set in order" = setting a broken BONE
      2. "The things that are lacking" = NEEDFUL / NECESSARY
      3. "Appoint elders in EVERY city" cf Acts 14:23 they appointed elders in every CHURCH
    2. Sometimes we think only of the apostles directing the affairs of the early church. However, elders played an integral role in the affairs of the early church as seen in the following passages:
      1. Acts 11:30 - relief sent to elders at Jerusalem
      2. Acts 15:1-4, 22-23 -- Antioch report - to apostles & elders
      3. Acts 21:18 - "all the elders were present"
      4. Peter was an APOSTLE and ELDER (1 Peter 1:1; 5:1) Even though apostles were set first in the church:
        1. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11
        2. Ephesians 2:20
    3. God's church cannot properly function without elders.
      1. In Congress, the way to kill legislation is to send to committee -- the same is said for the church.
      2. (Note dangers of the one man = one vote administration)






  1. The Challenge of Qualification -- 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:3-9
    1. In his HOME:
      1. "The husband of one wife" = a married man
      2. Having faithful children; one who ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all reverence.
        1. children - not necessarily more than one
          1. Genesis 21:8 Sarah "nursed children"
          2. Matthew 19:29 "hath forsaken . . . children"
          3. Matthew 22:24 "having no children"
        2. faithful - to God or their father?
    2. In his HABITS:
      1. Blameless; of good report among those who are without = of unimpeachable character, even among non-Christians, above any charge of unfaithfulness.
      2. Not self willed, a lover of good men- Diotrophes 3 Jn 9-10
      3. Not soon angry, no striker, temperate, sober
      4. Not given to wine or filthy lucre
      5. Just, holy
    3. In HOLDING FAST the faithful word:
      1. He has "laid hold" of the faithful word (e.g., "not a novice")
      2. He should be ABLE - dunamis = as possessing POWER
      3. He uses "sound doctrine" to oppose the gainsayers. "gainsayers" - lit. "those who speak against"