Hi, I have become a faithful reader of GGO. I have a question for you. How important is it for a congregation to have elders?? If they are “getting along” just fine doing business by means of a men’s business meeting are elders necessary or just an option? Also if a man is qualified to be an elder with the exception of having one adult child who does not attend the assembly, is not a member at all, or is divorced does that totally disqualify the man? Thanks. Darletta Myers
Sometimes a congregation cannot have an eldership at a certain juncture in its history because it does not have two or more men who are biblically qualified, willing to serve as elders and men that the congregation respects well enough to follow their guidance. The biblical qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 both include certain male Christians and exclude other male Christians for consideration as appointment to be elders. However, when two or more men satisfy the biblical qualifications for appointment as elders, God’s divine plan for the guidance of a congregation is for it to have elders.
Notice Titus 1:5: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (emphasis added). By inspiration, the apostle Paul referred to a congregation without elders as “wanting.” The same Greek word translated “wanting” in Titus 1:5 appears as “lacking” in Luke 18:22, “lack” in James 1:5 and “destitute” in James 2:15. Review each of these verses and determine if “wanting,” “lacking” or “lack” and “destitute” matters. “Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food” (James 2:15). Yes, “wanting,” “lackest” or “lack” and “destitute” matters.
Barnes, Poole and Wycliffe equate “wanting” in Titus 1:5 as “left undone” respecting the appointment of elders. Adam Clarke uses the word “defect” to describe a congregation without elders. Matthew Henry dismisses the possibility of the appointment of elders as being an optional matter: “Where a fit number of believers is, presbyters or elders must be set; their continuance in churches is as necessary…” Accordingly, it was the procedure of the apostle Paul to appoint elders in every congregation he established. “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed” (Acts 14:23). “There is not a single argument made against the appointment of qualified elders in every church that will stand the test of God’s word” (Phillips 275).
The second question pertains to the qualifications of elders, namely the one that reads: “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Tim 3:4-5) and “having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly” (Titus 1:6).
First, our brethren are not in complete agreement as to whether these verses respecting the conduct of an elder’s children primarily refer to those residing in his home (e.g., before they leave the home to establish their own homes and families). So the question is whether the qualification pertains to the way in which and time during which the children were reared, or does it include adult children who are not residing at home any longer.
Second, it can be established from Scripture that having a single child satisfies the biblical requirement of “children” (Genesis 21:2, 7). Therefore, having one or more “faithful children” though one or more children are not “faithful” would not necessarily disqualify a man from consideration for appointment to an eldership. However, a congregation must have confidence in the men under consideration besides their biblical qualifications (Acts 6:3, 6).
Third, though in every divorce at least one party to the divorce bears the guilt and sin for the divorce, in some divorces there is an innocent spouse (Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15). What God styles as innocence should not be held against one where God does not.
Every fully organized congregation will have biblically qualified elders serving and overseeing it (Acts 20:28). Any congregation that does not have elders is not fully organized according to the pattern for primitive Christianity discernible in the New Testament. Although the biblical qualifications for elders should not be taken lightly, it is possible to misconstrue them, making them so stringent that no mortal could qualify to be an elder. God designed local congregations of the churches of Christ to be ruled by elders who themselves are accountable to God for each soul of the congregation (Hebrews 13:17). That is divine law and pragmatic also for the well being of any local church.
Works Cited
Barnes, Albert. Barnes’ Notes. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1997.
Clarke, Adam. Adam Clarke’s Commentary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1996.
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible. New Modern Edition. CD-ROM. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991.
Phillips, H.E. “No Elder Theories.” Paul’s Letters to Timothy and Titus. CD-ROM. Joplin: College P., 1975. 264-275.
Poole, Matthew. Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the New Testament. CD-ROM. Escondido: Ephesians Four Group, 1997.
Wycliffe Bible Commentary. CD-ROM. Chicago: Moody, 1962.
