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2 Qualification Of Elders“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

3 Qualification Of Elders“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

4 Qualifications Of Elders: CharacterDesire Holy Just Gentle Good Behavior Lover Of Good

5 Qualifications Of Elder – ReputationBlameless Good Testimony Hospitable Not Quarrelsome Not Greedy Not Covetous Not Violent

6 Qualification Of Elders – His HabitsSelf-controlled Sober-minded Not Quick-tempered Not Self-willed Not Given To Wine

7 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man

8 A Man “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1).

9 A Man “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1).

10 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

11 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

12 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4).

13 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4).

14 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4). “if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (Titus 1:6).

15 A Man 1) Notice the qualifications.“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4). “if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (Titus 1:6).

16 A Man 2) False teaching on this point.“The Council is the leadership body of the congregation, each member of which is called and ordained by God through the Spirit-led prayer and discernment of the congregation. The Council meets often (along with the minister) to talk and pray; additionally, council members regularly share in pastoral and administrative tasks that they do outside of council meetings…At present our church council consists of Don Bayer, Sue Bayer, Methel Gale, Hubert Gibbons, and Donna White” (West Islip Church of Christ).

17 A Man 3) Promoting gender justice.A Definition of Gender Justice – “In general, gender justice means recognizing that men and women are created by God, redeemed by Christ, and gifted by the Spirit truly without distinction or partiality. In Christian community, gender justice means encouraging both men and women to exercise their Spirit-given gifts in the church’s work, worship, and leadership, and celebrating the truth that the Spirit grants such gifts without respect to gender. Concretely, gender justice in the Church of Christ includes opening traditionally masculine leadership roles and activities (deacon, elder, minister, worship leader, preacher, teacher, etc.) to women, and encouraging men to discover and cultivate their gifts for activities traditionally performed by women” (gal328.org).

18 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife

19 Husband Of One Wife “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

20 Husband Of One Wife “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

21 Husband Of One Wife 1) A definition of this expression.“The statement of Paul here when translated into English means that the bishop must be: THE – a definite, specific – HUSBAND – a married man, joined to a woman by lawful marriage – OF – having the relation of forming a part of, or belonging to – ONE – a single in number; more than none and less than two – WIFE – a woman lawfully joined to a man by the bond of marriage. The bishop cannot be a husband without marriage, he would be an unmarried husband, which is ridiculous. It would be as ridiculous as single wives or married bachelors” (H.E. Philips, Scriptural Elders And Deacons, p. 99).

22 Husband Of One Wife 2) Who does this exclude? (a) A woman(b) An unmarried man (c) A polygamist

23 Husband Of One Wife 3) Questions – what if? (a) An elder’s wife dies?(b) He now remarries? (c) A man has divorced his first wife for sexual immorality and remarries?

24 Husband Of One Wife 4) What about Paul?“For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5).

25 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife Faithful Children

26 Having Faithful Children“if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (Titus 1:6). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4).

27 Having Faithful Children“if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (Titus 1:6). “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4).

28 Having Faithful Children1) Words defined (Titus 1:6). Faithful – “one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and the author of salvation” (Thayer, p. 514). Dissipation (riot, KJ) – “an abandoned, dissolute, life; profligacy, prodigality” (Thayer, p. 83). Insubordination (unruly, KJ) – “that cannot be subjected to control, disobedient, unruly, refractory” (Thayer, p. 52).

29 Having Faithful Children2) Definition of words (1 Timothy 3:4). Rules – “to be over, to superintend, preside over” (Thayer, p. 539). Submission (subjection, KJ) – “obedience, subjection” (Thayer, p. 645). Reverence (gravity, KJ) – “in an ethical sense, “gravity”…“honor, probity, purity” (Thayer, p. 573). “He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way” (1 Timothy 3:4, ISV).

30 Having Faithful Children3) Child – children? “She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age” (Genesis 21:7). Bible sometimes uses the plural for the singular.

31 Having Faithful Children4) Another illustration. “The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother” (Matthew 22:23,24). “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her” (Deuteronomy 25:5).

32 Having Faithful Children4) Another illustration. “The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother” (Matthew 22:23,24). “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her” (Deuteronomy 25:5).

33 Having Faithful Children5) Reason for this qualification. “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).

34 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife Faithful Children Temperate His Experience

35 Temperate “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

36 Temperate “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

37 Temperate 1) Definition (vigilant, KJ).“In N.T. the meaning of the verb is always metaphorical, to be calm, dispassionate, and circumspect” (Vincent, Vol. 4, p. 229).

38 Temperate 2) Elders are to be vigilant & watchful.“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:28-32).

39 Temperate 3) Comment on this word.“An elder must be characterized by the ability to think and reason clearly – that which the man who is filled with wine certainly cannot do. This is the idea the apostle wished to convey by the language here used. The word vigilant, when carefully considered, may more nearly convey the idea intended by the apostle than one would think at first glance. In the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (New York, 1969), there is a discussion of the synonyms of word aware. The following statement is made: “Watchful and vigilant imply acute perception of what is dangerous or potentially so.” Is that not precisely the idea the inspired writer intended to convey” (The Elders Which Are Among You, Bobby Duncan, pp. 23 & 24).

40 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife Faithful Children Temperate Not A Novice His Experience

41 Not A Novice “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).

42 Not A Novice “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).

43 Not A Novice 1) Word defined.“Newly sprung up or, figuratively, one who is but lately converted to Christianity and newly implanted in the Church, newly instructed or a novice” (AMG). Says the synonym of this word is “inexperienced.”

44 Not A Novice 2) The apostle gives the reason.“not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).

45 Not A Novice 3) Notice this comment.“In the first place the elder must be well versed and experienced in the Scriptures so as to be “apt to teach.” This requires some time of study and development. Then he must have a well rounded knowledge and experience in dealing with people of various ages so that he can rule well the congregation over which he serves, Also he must be experienced in business so that he can carry out properly the business affairs of the church” (H.E. Philips, Scriptural Elders And Deacons, p. 182).

46 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife Faithful Children Temperate Not A Novice Apt To Teach His Experience His Ability

47 Able To Teach “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” (Titus 1:9-11).

48 Able To Teach “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” (Titus 1:9-11).

49 Able To Teach 1) Expressions defined.Able to teach – “Didactic, able to communicate Christian teaching, apt or skilled in teaching” (AMG). Exhort – “to admonish, exhort, to urge one to pursue some course of conduct” (Vine, p. 400). Convict – (convince, KJ) “used of the exposure and confutation of false teachers of Christianity” (Thayer, p. 562).

50 Able To Teach 2) Notice these comment.“Expositors says, “The shepherd must be able to tend the sheep, and to drive away the wolves” (Wuest's Word Studies – Volume 2). “Two things are implied in connection with the requirement to be “apt to teach”: (1) a good knowledge of the word of the Lord, and (2) some skill in imparting that knowledge to others. Just one of these without the other is not sufficient” (The Elders Which Are Among You, Bobby Duncan, p. 43).

51 Able To Teach 3) The need to feed the flock.“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly” (1 Peter 5:2).

52 Qualification Of Elders – Domestic RelationshipA Man One Wife Faithful Children Temperate Not A Novice Apt To Teach His Experience His Ability

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