This is part two of the study. This one is the completion of my dad, Randy Wyatt, and his study on this. I am intending to put together a third part to the study that will be done from Samuel Miller's Book "The Ruling Elder". As for my dad's study: It is not intended to be delicate reading and simply glossed over. It is intended to break down precisely what the bible has commanded in 1 Timothy and Titus as to the biblical qualification for the office of elder. It is worth your time to read these and evaluate if the elders you are voting for are actually qualified to fill that office and if they are faithfully carrying out the duties of that office once they are there.
Titus 1:5
ORDAIN: (kath-is-tay-mee; 2525) To designate; to appoint.
ELDER: (pres-bu-tar-os; 4245) Older; senior; a person who is older; used of ancestors; predecessors (Gen. 50:7).
1.One who enjoys the natural dignity of age.
a. Those appt. by Moses (Num. 11:16, 17)
b. The older of two in comparison (Luke 15:25)
c. John called himself an elder (1 & 2 Jo. 1-not an apostle, what his age, not office, acknowledged)
NOTE: With this word, priority of offices usually implied that of age also. Elder, as an office, can be teaching or ruling or both, but age was considered part of what gave them respectability.
Titus 1:6
BISHOP: (ee-pis-ko-pos; 1985) Superintendent; officer of the church; overseer.
1. Elder denotes dignity of office, bishop denotes duties.
NOTE: Age denotes experience, wisdom needed for the respect necessary to add credit to the office of superintendent.
BLAMELESS: (an-eg-klay-tos; 410) Not accused; irreproachable; untainted; without a stain on there character; unquestionable integrity; a good reputation.
1. Not merely unaccusable, but not accused, not “you can’t prove anything” but
there is nothing to prove. (1 Cor. 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:10)
HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE: Moral integrity, custom of the day, was to arrange marriages, men had multiple wives, (polygamy), mistresses, prostitutes.
1. If divorced, must be legitimate, not a polygamist, not morally loose.
NOTE: A man of that time may have had more than one wife when he got saved, he would not be forced to pick one and get rid of the rest but it did disqualify him for becoming an elder. Qualification then was one wife, if married, no sexual infidelity.
FAITHFUL: (pis-tos; 4103) Believing; saved; trustworthy.
1. Faith is a belief as to the truth of God’s Word, and relying upon it.
2. A Christian, a believer (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Cor. 6:15)
NOTE: Until recent times, this was believed to mean someone who had came to know Christ as Lord and Savior. Recent translations are using trustworthy.
NOTE: The reason for the change is the issue of a parent not being responsible for the child’s salvation because of election, which is true. It is just saying your child,. if of age, must be saved if you are to be an elder. Again, respect and example are at issue. This is in complete accord with our belief that God is Sovereign and man is responsible.
RIOT: (as-o-tee-a; 810) Unsaved lifestyle; living in excess; debauched; dissolute life.
1. Extravagant; squandering (Eph. 5:18; 1 Pet. 4:4).
2. One who slides easily under the fatal influence of flatterers and the temptation with which he has surrounded himself and spends freely on his own lust and appetite.
NOTE: Used of false teachers (Tit. 1:12; 1 Pet. 4:4; and of the prodigal son in Lk. 15:13). Emphasis is on ability to make choices and exercise independent will, not of a child under your roof in general necessarily.
1. Example of this 1 Sam. 2, 3-Eli and his son. He had no control of them but is held responsible by God for them.
UNRULY: (an-oop-oo-tahk-tos; 506) Disobedient; insubordinate; unwilling to be put under authority (Heb. 2:8; 1 Tim. 1:9).
NOTE: An elder’s ability to counsel and teach will be effected by what people see in his life. We as parents take full responsibility for all the good things our children do but no responsibility for the bad. Good and bad social traits are a result of parenting, even between siblings.
Titus 1:7
STEWARD: (oy-kon-ou-mos; 3623) Manager; fiscal agent; governor.
1. Administrator; one who watches over the domestic affairs of the family, city, the church, etc.
2. Applied to apostles and ministers (1 Cor. 4:1)
3. Applied to private believers (1 Pet. 4:10)
SELF-WILLED: (an-thay-dees; 829) Self-pleasing; arrogant; one who is pleased with himself and despises others.
1. A person who obstinately maintains his own opinions or inserts his own right and is reckless in regard to the rights, feelings and interests of others. (2 Pet. 2:10)
2. Aristotle used this word for a man who will not converse or associate with other’s.
3. Philodemus says this individual had equal parts of conceit, arrogance and contemptuousness.
4. Barclay says he is an intolerant man, who condemns everything that he does not understand.
NOTE: Intolerant of any opinion but that of his own; arrogant, conceited, selfish, incapable of common decency and politeness. A man does not earn the trust of those he treats with contempt and considers inferior to himself therefore others will not follow.
SOON ANGRY: ( or-gee-los; 3711) A quick, hot boiling up of wrath.
1. Root word orgee, is invenerate anger; someone who gets instantly mad and nurses a seething, deliberate, antagonism towards another.
2. This would be to hold a grudge and burn with anger over a supposed wrong.
NOTE: Goes hand and hand with self-willed. This person is filled with rage when challenged, holds grudges, everything is a personal attack that cannot be tolerated.
NOT GIVEN TO WINE: ( oy-noos; 3631) Addicitve nature; over indulgences in wine, in particular, but all excessiveness; drunkenness.
1. Not to be given to drunken, outrageous conduct.
2. Jews used it in the aspect of outrageous actions. (ie: marriage to a Midianite)
3. Christians used it to describe of those that crucified Christ.
4. Word came to describe the character of the man who, even in their sober moments, acted with the lack of self-control and the outrageousness of a drunken man.
NOTE: An emotionally unstable, irrational person with an addictive nature, attacks everything and is unable to adhere to socially acceptable norms.
NO STRIKER: (pleek-tees; 4131) Pugnacious; quarrelsome; one who will physically assault another.
1. In the early church, over zealous bishops would physically assault erring believers.
2. Greeks expanded meaning to verbal abuse also.
3. Present meaning: man who abandons love and resorts to violent action and or speech to control those around. No self-control, this is a hard demanding individual who controls by threat and intimidation. (3 Jo. 9 & 10)
NOT GIVEN TO FILTHY LUCRE: (ais-chroo-ker-dees; 146) Sordid, questionable financial gain, the gain being more important than the means of the gain.
1. The culture of that day placed accumulation of wealth above how it was obtained.
2. The office of a Bishop was not to be used as a job or a means of getting rich.
NOTE: Someone who will do anything to get rich has misplaced affections and God’s glory becomes a secondary purpose NOT Sola Deo Gloria! Point being, being blameless is the standard. Any flaws disqualified. This is not perfection but an extremely rare group of qualified individuals. No one is a failure if they do not have the qualifications, it just is not their calling. It is not unfair but meant to hold the highest respect and trust possible because of the gravity and responsibility of this position.
Titus 1:8
LOVER OF HOSPITALITY: (fil-ox-en-os; 5382) To be fond of; a positive natural desire.
1. Literally means fond of strangers; to have a natural, genuine affection for others.
NOTE: People should see a genuinely affectionate leader who puts others at ease, may even be drawn to him.
LOVER OF GOOD MEN: (fil-ag-ath-os; 5358) Fond of or a promoter of good, beneficial, virtues in men.
1. An unselfish man willing to recognize good where ever it is to be found
NOTE: This individual promotes and encourages beneficial actions in others.
SOBER: (so-frone; 4998) Safe; sound in mind; self-controlled; moderate as to opinion or passions; discreet; prudent.
1. The spirit shunned evil, not only when evil could be seen, but even when nobody else would ever see it.
2. To have command over the passions and desires so that they receive no further allowance than that which the law and right reason admit and approve.
NOTE: Having come to a place in their spiritual life where they have control over mind and body. They do what is right regardless if anyone else ever knows or sees it.
JUST: (did-a-ios; 1342) Equitable in character or action; innocent, conforming to, or pertaining to; right
1. One who conforms in his actions, to his constitutionally just character. The rules for these actions are self-imposed.
2. This word is more of a social sense than a divine reference.
NOTE: A character to emulate, whose respect for others and reverence for God have transformed his character and actions.
HOLY: (hos-ee-os; 3741) Right by intrinsic or divine character; pious; merciful
1. Unpolluted by wickedness; one who is right standing with his fellow man.
NOTE: Our righteousness towards man is in directly proportional to our relationship with God.
TEMPORATE: (eg-krat-ace; 1468) Mastering self-control
1. This is complete self-mastery of emotions, thoughts, actions, attitudes, etc.
NOTE: Never surprised, nor devastated; always the cool voice of sound reason.
Titus 1:9
HOLDING FAST: (an-telh-om-ahee; 472) Strongly adhere to; care for; support.
NOTE: The depth of this individual’s character and conviction as to the truth of God’s word, compels the mature believer to base everything in their lives on God’s word.
FAITHFUL: (pis-tos; 4103) Trustworthy; reliable; dependable
WORD: (lo-gos; 3056) Second person of the Trinity; divine expression; written word of God; scripture; thoughts and words of Christ expressed to us.
NOTE: Here the foundation of the elder’s life is the trustworthiness of the inerrant, infallible word, of which they must direct their lives.
THOUGHT: (did-a-kay; 1322) Instructed in doctrine.
1. The act of instruction; tutoring (Mark 4:2)
2. The teachings of Jesus (2 Jo. 9, 19; the Lord (Acts 13:22); the Apostles (Acts 2:42).
NOTE: The elder has over time, been taught and accepted as correct, the doctrines of our faith. He is not “growing” into the position of an elder, his every thought is a reflection of this doctrine.
ABLE: (doo-nat-os; 1319) Adequate; capable and skilled in.
SOUND: (hoog-ee-ah-ee-no; 5158) Uncorrupted; true; wholesome.
DOCTRINE: (did-as-ka-lee-ah; 1319) Learning; instruction
1. Refers not only to that which is taught but also to the authority of the teacher and not just subject taught but also the act of teaching.
NOTE: The elder must have a firm, reliable understanding of what they believe so they with conviction and confidence and authority, teach another.
EXHORT: (par-aka-lee-o; 3870) To call near; invite; beseech; comfort.
1. Call to one’s side, to aid, encourage and uplift.
NOTE: Present tense, infinitive mood-this is something done all the time, not a defensive mode but one meant to help, support and encourage.
CONVINCE: (el-eg-ko; 1651) Admonish; convict; refute; reprove.
1. To correct for the purpose of restoring one to a proper understanding and purpose.
GAINSAYER: (an-til-ego; 483) Someone who disputes; refuses truth; disputes; contradicts.
NOTE: Present tense participle-repeated, continuous action. The elder must continuously help the confused, deceived, contentious person. Maturity is necessary to continuously help the erring individual without the elder himself becoming overwhelmed or discouraged.
CONCLUSION: The ruling elder must be older, mature, well-grounded man, able to assess the preaching and correct the errant. Over time, because so much emphasis has been placed on education, the men have become increasingly younger as preachers. Now knowledge has replaced maturity and it is expected that these younger men will make mistakes as they “grow into” their position. There is going to be growth throughout our entire spiritual walk with the Lord but the office of an elder requires these qualities to be already present in their character prior to assuming the office. In the beginning, this was not the expected rule. The elder had to be the “now” requirement. They were the examples, teachers, fathers in the faith, expected to be exactly what everyone was striving to emulate. Now it is even more important that the ruling elders are aged, responsible, mature men to give stability, wisdom and guidance to the congregation and the Pastors. They are the Pastors co-equals, not subordinate to him, needed to ensure the purity and correctness of the continuance of the faith.
