Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul 's Instruction to Timothy

In summarizing verse 3, George Knight observes, “In short, the bishop’s life is not to be dominated or controlled by wine or money, nor may it be one of strife, but rather it must be one of peace and gentleness.”ls In contrast, a man who is controlled by money or alco hol is not controlled by the Holy Spirit. He is not stable, self-con trolled, sound—minded, or respectable. He is controlled by base desires that will inevitably lead to other sins and public reproach. A MAN WHO MANAGES HIS HOUSEHOLD WELL: A prospec tive elder must be able to manage (prohiste'mi2 lead and care for; see 1 Thess. 5: 12) his household “well.” The key measurement when evalu ating a man’s management of his household is his children’s behavior. So Paul requires that he keep “his children under control with all dig nity.” This means he must be a responsible Christian father, husband, and household manager. He must have a reputation for providing for his family, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Concerning this qualification, Donald Guthrie, former professor at London Bible Col lege, remarks, “A most important principle, which has not always had the prominence it deserves. Any man unable to govern his children graciously and gravely by maintaining good discipline, is no man for government in the Church.”16 A well-managed family means that the children obey and submit to the father’s leadership. The way in which that relationship is mani fested is especially important: it is to be “with all dignity.” The father is not to be a spirit-crushing tyrant who gains submission by harsh punishment. Elsewhere Paul writes, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 624). Thus a Christian father must control his chil dren in an honorable, respectful, and dignified way. Of course there are no perfect, problem-free children in this world. Even the best Chris tian fathers and mothers have child-rearing problems, but these par ents resolve the problems and are involved with their children in re sponsible, caring ways. They guide their children through the many storms of life. We must note that the children referred to in verse 4 are children who live at home, under their father’s authority: “keeping [present tense] his children under control with all dignity.” In the Titus 1:6 passage, the verb in the phrase “having children who believe” also indicates that the children are presently in the home and under the father’s authority.17 I

199