The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit should be evident in a person’s morally transformed character before he should be considered for the position of elder. His godliness should be evident to all, because an elder must not only lead by what he says; he should also be an example to the church about how a Christian should live in obedience to God.
As part of larger series of articles exploring church leadership according to the New Testament, this article considers the requirements or qualifications for church elders. Already we’ve considered the role of elders, as authoritative leadership and preaching that is always accountable to others. Put another way, the New Testament doesn’t suggest that any one elder is set apart from or above other elders. So an eldership or plurality of elders should lead a local church, rather than one man. Now let’s look at who qualifies.
The Bible insists that churches should be led by godly pastors and elders. This is what Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. He gave similar instructions to Titus in Titus 1:5–9. Notice from these qualifications or requirements that there are three areas in which a person must qualify in order to be an elder in the church.
1. Personal Godliness
In both of the lists of qualifications given to Timothy and Titus, Paul emphasised that the person being considered for the office of elder must be truly godly.
To Timothy he said, “An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:2–3). To Titus he wrote, “An overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self- controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:7–8).
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit should be evident in a person’s morally transformed character before he should be considered for the position of elder. His godliness should be evident to all, because an elder must not only lead by what he says; he should also be an example to the church about how a Christian should live in obedience to God.
2. Domestic Management
In both lists of requirements for the office of elder, Paul also mentioned the need for a person to prove himself through the way in which he manages his own family.