Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Instruction to Timothy

household, his chosen instrument for proclaiming to men the saving truth of the revelation of the God-man, Jesus Christ.”5 As in any successful household, but especially God’s, proper struc ture, responsible behavior, discipline, and love are required. An un ruly, dysfunctional household ruins the lives of its members and is an offense to the community. God’s household should enrich and protect its members and be an inviting testimony of the gospel’s truth to the unbelieving world. High on Paul’s list for the proper governing of God’s household are qualified, godly elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7,10; 5:17-25). If the elders of God’s household deviate from sound doctrine or are of reproachable character, the entire household will suffer. Not only is the local church God’s household, it is “the pillar and support [foundation] of the truth.” The truth that the church holds up before the world and supports is the gospel message of Christ: And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He [Christ] who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory (1 Tim. 3216). The description of the local church as the pillar and foundation of the truth reveals the church’s mission: to safeguard and proclaim the gospel of Christ. Every local church is to be a gospel lighthouse, mis sionary agency, and gospel school. Hence, for the local church to be ridden with heresy and false teachers is unspeakable. Such a church delivers a bankrupted testimony to a world that needs the truth of Christ. The conduct of the believing community, therefore, must speak well of the gospel and of Jesus Christ. Of paramount importance, its spirit ual leaders must be men of irreproachable character (1 Tim. 322) and “have a good reputation with those outside the church” (1 Tim. 3:7). Elders cannot teach and defend the gospel if their lives discredit the gospel. So of utmost concern in the governing of the household of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth, is that its spiritual leaders are credible witnesses to the truth of the gospel. Although the church in Ephesus had been governed by elders for more than five years, problems existed within the eldership. Quite

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