Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Instruction to Titus

the fundamental qualification under which all other qualifications are subsumed. John Calvin’s summary of this overarching qualification is worth repeating: “By anegkle'ton, blameless, he does not mean some one who is free from every fault, for no such man could ever be found, but one marred by no disgrace that could diminish his authority—he should be a man of unblemished reputation.”4 Paul immediately lists two critical areas of the prospective elder’s life that especially must be above reproach: the elder’s marital-sexual life and the management of his children. HAVING CHILDREN WHO BELIEVE: Not only is an elder to be maritally faithful, “a one-woman man,” he must also have proper con trol of his children. The translation, “having children who believe,” is better rendered as “having faithful children,” which is the choice in the Authorized King James Version. The Greek word for “believe” is pistos, which can be translated either actively as “believing” (1 Tim. 6:2) or passively as “faithful,” “trustworthy,” or “dutiful” (2 Tim. 222). The contrast made is not between believing and unbelieving chil dren, but between obedient, respectful children and lawless, uncon trolled children. The strong terms “dissipation or rebellion” stress the children’s behavior, not their eternal state. A faithful child is obedient and submissive to the father. The concept is similar to that of the “faith ful servant” who is considered to be faithful because he or she obeys the Master and does what the Master says (Matt. 24:45-51). The parallel passage in 1 Timothy 324 states that the prospective elder must keep “his children under control with all dignity.” Since 1 Timothy 3:4 is the clearer passage, it should be allowed to help inter pret the ambiguity of Titus 126. “Under control with all dignity” is closely parallel with “having trustworthy children.” In the Titus pas sage, however, the qualification is stated in a positive forrn—the elder must have children who are trustworthy and dutiful. Those who interpret this qualification to mean that an elder must have believing, Christian children place an impossible burden upon a father. Even the best Christian fathers cannot guarantee that their chil dren will believe. Salvation is a supernatural act of God. God, not good parents (although they are certainly used of God), ultimately brings salvation (John 1212,13). THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE: See comments on 1 Timothy 3:2.

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