Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Instruction to Timothy

will “fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” in a far more de structive way than those he leads. If a pastor elder has a reputation among nonbelievers as a dishonest businessman, womanizer, or adul terer, the unbelieving community will take special note of his hypoc risy. NonChristians will say, “He acts that way, and he’s a church el der!” They will ridicule and mock him. They will scoff at the people of God. They will talk about him and will generate plenty of sinister gossip. They will raise tough, embarrassing questions. He will be dis credited as a Christian leader and suffer disgrace and insults. His in fluence for good will be ruined and he will endanger the church’s evan gelistic mission. The elder will certainly become a liability to the church, not a spiritual asset. But that is not all. Fully aware of the devil’s ways (2 Cor. 2211), Paul adds that the defamed elder will also fall into “the snare of the devil.” The devil is pictured as a cunning hunter (1 Peter 528). Using public criticism and the elder’s own inconsistencies, the devil will en trap the unwary Christian into more serious sin—uncontrolled bitter ness, angry retaliation, lying, further hypocrisy, and stubbornness of heart. What may begin as a small offense can become something far more destructive and evil. Therefore, an elder must have a good repu tation with those outside the Christian community.

QUALIFICATIONS DEMAND EXAMINATION

Thus far we have talked about the elders’ qualifications, but follow ing the list of qualifications Paul presents an equally important sub ject—the examination of elders. The fifteen qualifications for elders presented in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 are just empty words without the re quirement (v. 10) to examine a candidate’s qualifications for office. The text insists that no one can serve as an elder until he is first tested (examined) and approved:

And let these [deacons] also [like the overseers] first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach (1 Tim. 3210).

Starting in verse 8, Paul lists the qualifications for deacons, just as he has just done for elders. In the middle of the deacon’s list of

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