QUALIFICATIONS

Each elder must possess the qualifications described in 1Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.  He shall be . . .

1 ovre,getai, be eager for, long for, desire, aspire to, reach for, evpiqumei/, long for, desire; covet – 1Tim 3:1

• One who desires the office.  A man must first have a great desire to serve the church as an overseer.
  

2 avne,gklhtoj, beyond reproach, without fault, not called to account, unreprovable, irreproachable, blameless –Titus 1:6.  avnepi,lhmpton, above reproach – 1Tim 3:2

• Blameless; above reproach.  Accusations against him are baseless and there are no hidden sins.
  

3 mia/j gunaiko.j avnh,r, literally – "with one wife husband" i.e., a husband with a wife, the husband of one wife – Titus 1:6.  mia/j gunaiko.j a;ndra, a one woman man – 1Tim 3:2

• The husband of one wife; a one-woman man.  He has single-minded dedication to his wife.
  

4 tou/ ivdi,ou oi;kou kalw/j proi?sta,menon, in one's own house he is a leader, has authority over, manages; cares for, gives help; engages in – 1Tim 3:4

• One who rules his own house well and with dignity.  Those in his house are submitted to his leadership and he manages and cares for all his household.
  

5 te,kna e;conta evn u`potagh/|, his children are kept in; obedience, submission, subordination, subjection, meta. pa,shj semno,thtoj, with all; seriousness, gravity, proper conduct, respectability – 1Tim 3:4

• One who keeps his children in order.  His children are obedient to him and behave properly.
  

6 te,kna e;cwn, having children, pista,, faithful, trustworthy, reliable; believing; sure, true, unfailing – Titus 1:6

• One whose children are faithful.  His children are faithful to his leadership.
  

7 te,kna e;cwn, having children, mh. evn kathgori,a|, not accused of, avswti,aj, dissipation, reckless living, wastefulness

h' avnupo,takta, disorderly, disobedient; outside of control, not made subject, not subject to rule, unruly – Titus 1:6

• One whose children do not live in a rebellious, disorderly, lawless way.  His children are not accused of rebellion to him nor the laws of society.
  

8 evgkrath/, self-controlled, master of self – Titus 1:8.  nhfa,lion, temperate, sober – 1Tim 3:2

• Self-controlled, temperate, sober.  He has mastered his appetites and desires.
  

9 sw,frona, sensible, sound mind, sane – 1Tim 3:2 & Titus 1:8

• Sensible, sane, of sound mind.  He is in his right mind.
  

10 ko,smion, well behaved, respectable; befitting, modest, orderly, decent – 1Tim 3:2

• Well behaved, orderly, decent.  He is known for his good behavior.
  

11 filo,xenon, hospitable, loving strangers – 1Tim 3:2 & Titus 1:8

• Given to hospitality.  He is hospitable to friends and strangers alike.
  

12 evpieikh/, gentle, forbearing, considerate, equitable, fair, moderate, seemly, fitting – 1Tim 3:3

• Forbearing, considerate, moderate, gentle.  He is attentive and understanding with others.
  

13 a;macon, peaceful, abstaining from fighting, non-combatant, not contentious – 1Tim 3:3

• Peaceful.  He seeks peace and is not easily provoked.
  

14 mh., not, ovrgi,lon, quick-tempered, inclined to anger, passionate – Titus 1:7

mh., not, plh,kthn, a quick-tempered or violent man, a striker, a brawler – 1Tim 3:3 & Titus 1:7

• Not quick-tempered, inclined to anger, pugnacious nor violent.  He is not known for being a violent, fighting man.
  

15 fila,gaqon, loving what is good, loving goodness – Titus 1:8

• Loves goodness and what is good.  He loves people of good character and things of good quality.
  

16 kalh.n, good, marturi,an, testimony, witness, evidence; reputation with those outside the church – 1Tim 3:7

• Has a good reputation with those outside the Church.  His good character is consistent in every area of life and recognized even by unbelievers.
  

17 di,kaion, upright, righteous, good; just, right – Titus 1:8

• Just, fair, righteous.  He makes fair and impartial judgments based on righteousness.
  

18 o[sion, holy, devout, pious, righteous, religiously right – Titus 1:8

• Holy, devout, pious.  He strives to avoid sin and live righteously.
  

19 didaktiko,n, able to teach, apt at teaching – 1Tim 3:2

• Apt to teach.  He has a demonstrated ability to teach well.
  

20 dunato.j, able to, strong, mighty, powerful, parakalei/n, call for, summon, entreat, evoke, beg, urge; encourage, speak words of encouragement; request, ask, appeal, to; console, comfort, cheer up, didaskali,a|, what is taught, teaching, doctrine, instruction, u`giainou,sh|, sound, healthy, correct, well-grounded – Titus 1:9

• Able to persuasively teach correct biblical doctrine.  He is able to teach, exhort and persuade believers according to accurate and sound biblical doctrine.
  

21 avntile,gontaj, contradict, object to, oppose, resist, evle,gcein, show (him his) fault/error, convict of fault/error, convince of fault/error; show something up for what it is; prove guilty, condemn; rebuke, reprove – Titus 1:9

• Able to refute false teaching.  He is able to first recognize an then biblically refute unbiblical teaching.

22 avnteco,menon tou/ kata. th.n didach.n pistou/ lo,gou, loyal to the teaching of the faithful word – Titus 1:9

KJV, Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught; NAS, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching; ESV, He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught

• One who holds firmly to the faithful word as taught in the bible.  He is loyal to the word of God and sound theology.
  

23 mh., not, pa,roinon, drunkard, given to strong drink – 1Tim 3:3 & Titus 1:7

• Not a drunkard or given to drink.  He is neither a habitual nor excessive drinker of alcohol.
  

24 mh., not, aivscrokerdh/, greedy for material gain – Titus 1:7.

avfila,rguron, not greedy for money, without love of money – 1Tim 3:3

• Not greedy or covetous; not a lover of money; not fond of sordid gain.  He does not pursue materialistic accumulation of wealth and possessions.
  

25 mh., not, neo,futon, recently converted, novice – 1Tim 3:6

• Not a new convert; not a novice.  He has been a Christian long enough for his godly character to be evident to all.
  

26 mh., not, auvqa,dh, arrogant, self-willed, self-pleasing – Titus 1:7 

• Not arrogant or self-willed.  He is humble and prefers others before himself.