Below are the qualifications of for an Elder as espoused in Ist Timothy 3 and Titus chapter 1. Immediately we notice that the qualifications mentioned in Timothy are different than those mentioned in Titus. From my observation as to what seems to be happening out in the congregations, the two list are joined together to make mega-list. Being a trained exegete, I have problems with that method simply because Titus was written to different people about different circumstances than was Timothy. I received this list from a cousin of mine, (Kent) so I need to give him credit. Since receiving this list I came across others of similar nature and given time we will examine some of those list.
Elders (as given in the KJV)
Qualifications of Elders
|
1 Timothy 3 |
Titus 1 |
|
Be Blameless |
Be Blameless (twice) |
|
Be the husband of one wife |
Be the husband of one wife |
|
Be Sober |
Be Sober |
|
Be hospitable |
Be a lover of hospitality |
|
Not given to wine |
Not given to wine |
|
Not greedy of filthy lucre |
Not given to filthy lucre |
|
Be apt to teach |
exhort and convince gainsayer with sound doctrine |
|
Not a striker |
Not a striker |
|
Be patient |
Not soon angry |
|
Has his children in subjection with all gravity |
Has faithful children not accused of riot or unruly |
|
Be a man |
Be a man (implied as "husband") |
|
Not be a brawler |
|
|
Not covetous |
|
|
Rules well his own house |
|
|
Not a novice |
|
|
Desires the work |
|
|
Has a good reputation with outsiders |
|
|
Be vigilant |
|
|
Be of good behavior |
|
|
|
Be Holy |
|
|
Be Just |
|
|
Be temperate |
|
|
Not self willed |
|
|
Hold firmly to the faithful word as he's been taught |
|
|
Be a lover of good men. |