Page 48 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

7.3 Leadership qualities - continued

[9] 1 Timothy 3:3. Not violent. Titus 1:7. Not violent.

An elder must control his anger so that he doesn’t respond to someone else’s provoking
him to anger. An elder is humble and is not always argumentative and looking for a verbal
fight. He is not known as an angry man.

Proverbs 3:29. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

[10] 1 Timothy 3:3. Gentle. Titus 1:7. Not overbearing.

The word points to the man who is “gentle.”
Proverbs 15:1. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

[11] 1 Timothy 3:3. Not quarrelsome.
The Greek word refers to a man who does not need to prove how tough he is. An elder should not get
into fruitless quarrels, whether over theology or anything else. He is not out to prove his manhood by
force or authority. He’s not a spiritual bully or an angry man.
Proverbs 26:21. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person
for kindling strife.

[12] 1 Timothy 3:3. Not a lover of money. 1 Timothy 3:8. Not pursuing dishonest gain. Titus 1:7. Not
pursuing dishonest gain.

The Bible has much to say about money. It does not say that God wants every believer to prosper
financially – even though there is a lot of bad theology out there today known as health, wealth and
happiness – but it is bad theology.

Riches are not wrong by themselves - but they may be spiritually dangerous for some.
This quality is not greedy and is never looking for ways to hide income rather than reporting it.
Everything he does is legal and above board.
Every Christian, but especially the men who lead the church, must be clear that we cannot serve God
and money.
Hebrews 13:5. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what
you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Since leaders could be involved in handling church finances, they need to be men of their word.
Philippians 1:10. So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ.

[13] Titus 1:8. Disciplined.

A godly elder must be able to stay focused. This is especially important in the situation on Crete. Paul's
letter to Titus will continue to speak about the need to teach God's truth and refute those who
opposed it.

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