Page 45 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

[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, but rather to report 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 oppose it.

[14] 1 Timothy 3:4. He must manage his own family well.

Titus 1:6. A man whose children believe and are not wild and disobedient.
This includes all aspects of a man’s family life - his relationship with his wife, their finances, etc. But especially
Paul singles out having his children in submission. Paul does not mean that an elder’s small children should never
disobey or that they must always be perfect little examples. There are no children (except Jesus) born without sin
natures.

Paul simply means that an elder’s family life should be a model for the rest of the church. If a man’s children are
rebellious and/or spoiled little brats who reject the Lord, don’t increase his area of responsibility to the entire
church. The same weaknesses that made him a poor father will make him a poor church leader. If his own
children disrespect him, he will not have the respect he needs to shepherd the church.
This verse demands that the other elders have an urgency that comes before ministry to the church – it is
ministry to our families. It is a tragedy for a man to be so involved in church work that he neglects his family, with
the result that his children grow up to hate the church and the Lord because of it.

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