The Qualifications of the Office of Elder (7): His Relationship to Others
This article examines the biblical qualifications for the office of elder, specifically focusing on Scriptural requirements regarding an elder's relationships with others both within and outside the church. Kuiper emphasizes that the qualifications concern character and virtue rather than personality type, arguing that both outgoing and reserved men can be faithful elders if they genuinely love hospitality and good men. The resource provides practical exegetical guidance on 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, helping churches understand what to look for when selecting qualified leadership.
Previous article in this series: August 2014, p. 446. Studying the qualifications of elders in Christ's church, we have already examined those qualifications regarding his gender (he must be male), his blamelessness (the fundamental spiritual qualification), and his relationship to his wife and children. Several of the qualifications mentioned in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 regard the elder's relationship to others, both within and outside of the church. Both passages emphasize that he must be a...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org