Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul 's Instruction to Titus

Your words have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strength ened feeble knees” (Job 423,4). But the greatest example of one who loved goodness is our Lord Jesus Christ, who “went about doing good” (Acts 10238b). An elder who loves goodness seeks to do helpful, kind things for people. He will be loving, generous, and kind toward all and will never sink to evil, retaliatory behavior (Acts 11:24; Rom. 12:21; 15:2; Gal. 6:10; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Peter 3213). In contrast, Paul prophesied that in the last days more people will be “lovers of self, lovers of money. . .without self-control. . .haters of good.” (2 Tim. 323). A soci ety that is led by lovers of good rather than haters of good is truly blessed. SENSIBLE: For some unexplainable reason, the New American Stan dard Bible translates the same Greek term, sophnOn, as “prudent” in 1 Timothy 3:2, and “sensible” in Titus 1:8. Sensible is the better choice of the two English translations. See comments on the word “prudent” in 1 Timothy 3:2. JUST: “Just” (dikaios) means “righteous” or “upright.” To be right eous is to live in accordance with God’s righteous standards, to be law-abiding. John writes that “the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 327). An elder who is righteous can be counted on to be a principled man and to make fair, just, and righteous decisions for the church (Prov. 2927). Job is a good example of a just man: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil (Job 121).

“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.

I was eyes to the blind, And feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know. And I broke the jaws of the wicked, And snatched the prey from his teeth” (Job 29:14-17).

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