Page 40 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

The things listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are not mere guidelines – they are qualities that must be evident in
the life of every elder and deacon for that person to serve in leadership.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul gives us a picture of what an elder looks like. Paul tells us that … elders must be
spiritually mature men.
And in the following verses, Paul gives us sixteen qualities to look for - so that we have no doubts as to whether a
person is qualified.

Three Things to consider when qualifying an elder…
First of all, most of these qualities are listed elsewhere in the Bible for every Christian, including women. So, we
all should be seeking to grow in these areas.
Second, spiritual maturity takes time, effort, and discipline. There are no shortcuts. We live in a day when we’re
used to instant everything. In America, we have instant pudding, instant oatmeal, microwave popcorn, etc. We
want everything, and we want it right away.
But there is no such thing as instant godliness. The crucial question is, how are we currently involved in the
process of becoming more godly or more holy?
Third, no one is perfectly qualified to be a church leader. These qualities, for the most part, are not the kind of
thing where we can say, “No doubt about it – I am qualified.” There is always going to be room for spiritual
growth in all of our lives. If we require perfection, no one would qualify as an elder. But at the same time, an
elder should not be in obvious violation of any qualification. If he is weak in any area, he should be aware of it
and should be working on that area.
Every elder ought to have both a sense of inadequacy in himself, but also a sense that God has called him to
serve in this important and needed ministry.
 Let’s look at the list of qualities that Paul gives us, and I will give a summary of what each quality means. We
may not look at each quality, but we will look at most of them. The two lists (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) are very
similar. I do not know why they are not identical, and I have not read anyone who answers that question. The
lists are probably not meant to be exhaustive. The significant thing about both lists is that, except for the ability
to teach God’s Word, both lists focus exclusively on godly character, not on spiritual gifts or other abilities.

[1] 1 Timothy 3:2. Above reproach. Titus 1:6. Blameless.
The Greek word has the idea of not having anything in our lives that Satan could accuse us of. [In other words, an
elder must not be living a double life. In his home life, personal life, and business life, he is living in obedience to
God’s Word.] An elder doesn’t live one way on Sunday morning and a different way the rest of the week. When
he sins, he asks forgiveness from both God and others. He is a man of integrity.
Ephesians 5:3. But among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind
of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

[2] 1 Timothy 3:2. Husband of one wife. Titus 1:6. Faithful to his wife.
I have heard it argued and/or discussed that this means (1) an elder must be married and (2) he can never have
been divorced (either before or after the conversation). But that is not what this means. It literally means “ a
one-woman man.” Some take it to mean that an elder must be married, not single, but this would disqualify Paul
and Timothy.
The best interpretation that I am aware of is that a “one-woman-man” is a man who is intimately related only to
his wife. He is a faithful husband. He is not a flirt, nor is he hooked on pornography or lust.  Whether single or
married, he has an extended track record of mental and physical sexual purity.
Hebrews 13:4. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will
judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

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