What are the qualifications for church elder?

The office of elder in the first century church was an important one. As such, Scripture includes specific qualifications for a church elder. To be clear, we should note that Scripture uses several words to refer to “elder” including bishop, overseer, elder, presbyter, shepherd, and pastor. These are all used interchangeably across different Bible translations from the same Greek words, “presbuteros,” “poimen,” and “episkopos.”

“Church” today has become a big business. Given the complex and legal challenges that a church might be faced with, it might seem logical to consider business, management, or even legal experience for church elder qualification. What does Scripture show us?

How Scripture answers "What are the qualifications for church elder?"

The church elder (e.g. overseer^1,2,4, pastor³, shepherd^4,5) is one of several official roles in the local church^3,4. The qualifications for a church elder that are found in Scripture are:

An office that is desired^1,5 and aspired toward².
A man^1,2 that has demonstrated he manages his household with all dignity² (since he will have oversight of God’s household)^1,2…
- …of one wife^1,2, with
- believing children¹ that are under control² and respect his authority¹.
From those outside the church he should have a perfect reputation¹ and well thought of² so that he does not fall into a trap by the devil².
His personal character should be hospitable^1,2 and looking for ways to do good¹, serious-minded², self-controlled^1,2 and temperate¹, gentle², and not arrogant¹, greedy or after money^1,2,5, hot-headed¹, given to wine^1,2, violent^1,2 or argumentative².
He must be upright and holy^1,5 in the faith and not a recent convert², being true to the word of the gospel and able to not only effectively teach the truth² but also stand against false doctrine^1,4.

It should be noted that we see no requirements around business, management, or legal experience. If these qualifications for church elder as laid out in Scripture seem inadequate in some way, maybe our understanding of “church” and the “body of Christ” need realignment?

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

1

Titus 1:5-9

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

What does it say?

I left you in Crete to put things in order and appoint elders in every town as I directed. They should be above reproach, the husband of one wife and believing children who don’t indulge in excessive sensual pleasure and respect authority. This is because an overseer is God’s steward, therefore he must have an impeccable reputation. He cannot be arrogant, quick-tempered, a drunkard, violent, or looking out for material gain. Instead, he should be hospitable, always looking to do good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must be true to the gospel, so that he can teach sound doctrine and oppose those that distort it.

What is the context?

Paul is writing to a young preacher, Titus. After giving these qualifications for a church elder, he continues to give instruction regarding behavior to certain segments/groups within the church: older men (2:2), older women (2:3), younger women (2:4), younger men (2:6) and finally slaves (2:9). With all of these, their behavior is to be exhibited as would “accord with sound doctrine” (1:9, 2:1, 2:10).

How does it apply here?

Paul gives explicit characteristics of elder qualifications.

2

1 Timothy 3:1-7

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

What does it say?

It’s a true statement that anyone reaching for the office of elder is a noble pursuit since an elder must be above any charge, a one woman man, serious, self-controlled, respected, gracious, able to teach, not given to wine or violent but gentle, not argumentative or in love with material things. He must manage his household well with honor, keeping his children under control because how else would he know how or be able to care for God’s household? He must not be new to the faith, otherwise he might become arrogant and become condemned. Finally, he must be well-respected in the community so as not to bring shame and be entrapped by the devil.

What is the context?

Paul is writing to a young preacher, Timothy. After giving these qualifications for elders, he also gives the qualifications for deacons in order that “you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” (3:15)

How does it apply here?

Paul gives explicit characteristics of elder qualifications.

3

Ephesians 4:11-12

And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

What does it say?

He [Christ] appointed some apostles, some prophets, some as evangelists [preachers], and others as pastors [elders] and teachers, in order that each might arm the saints for the work of gospel, for building up the church,

What is the context?

Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, is using a body metaphorically to describe the church. Jesus is the head that supplies all the other members of the body (vss 15-16).

This thought seems also to be a continuation of what he stated earlier in the letter (2:19-20), where he talks about the “household of God” whose foundation was laid by Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets.

How does it apply here?

The office of pastor (e.g. elder) is an official and distinct position in the church.

4

Acts 20:28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

What does it say?

Watch out for yourselves and the entire church. The Holy Spirit made you caretakers of the church of God which he purchased with the blood of his Son.

What is the context?

Paul is meeting with the elders of the church in Ephesus on the beach before boarding a ship back to Jerusalem. He is returning from his third missionary journey and does not expect he will see them again.

How does it apply here?

In Paul’s meeting with the elders at Ephesus, he charges them to guard “the flock” over which they “overseers” and “shepherds”. His concern is regarding “fierce wolves” (vs 29) that will come in “speaking twisted things” (vs 30).

5

1 Peter 5:1-4

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

What does it say?

I [Peter] encourage the elders in your midst, as a fellow elder and witness of Christ’s sufferings, as well as a fellow saint: shepherd that flock of God that you are charged with, not as if forced, but in Godly willingness, eagerly instead of for shameful gain, leading the flock by example instead of domineering. Do this, and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

What is the context?

Peter’s closing to his first letter written to Christians abroad (“the dispersion”, 1:1) that are suffering persecution in the name of Christ. He is giving some final instructions to church leaders (e.g. elders) and followers (vs 5).

How does it apply here?

An elder must be willing to serve in a Godly way, not under compulsion or for worldly gain, and not domineering but by way of an example.

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What are the qualifications for church elder?

How Scripture answers "What are the qualifications for church elder?"

Titus 1:5-9

What does it say?

What is the context?

1 Timothy 3:1-7

What does it say?

What is the context?

Ephesians 4:11-12

What does it say?

What is the context?

Acts 20:28

What does it say?

What is the context?

1 Peter 5:1-4

What does it say?

What is the context?

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