054. Elders-Their Qualifications (No 1)
054. Elders-Their Qualifications (No 1)
54 ELDERS - THEIR QUALIFICATIONS (
INTRODUCTION Many stumble on these; much confusion over them; they are simple.
I. SCRIPTURAL NAMES 1. Episcopos-bishop, overseer. (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:1; Php 1:1.) 2. Presbuteros-presbyter, elder. (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1.) 3. Poimeen-pastor, shepherd. ( 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:2; Ephesians 4:11.) 4. Proistamenos-ruler, president. (Romans 12:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17.) 5. Hegoumenoi-to lead, to rule , leader. (Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17; Hebrews 13:24.) II. QUALIFICATIONS POSSIBLE 1. Elders were appointed in New Testament times; men possessed them THEN; why not now?
2. The command to appoint elders implies that there are men qualified NOW.
3. God does not require an imp ossibility.
Ill. THE QUALIFICATIONS 1. 1 Timothy 3 : gives fifteen.
2. Titus 1 : gives fifteen.
3. Five in Timothy, not given by Titus; five in Titus not given in Timothy.
4. Twenty in all.
IV. THESE QUALIFICATIONS GENERAL 1. Any Christian should possess eighteen.
2. "A novice " and "being married" are the exceptions.
3. Elders come from the aged; being married and rearing children qualify one to rule others .