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ELDER ISSUES RESOLVED. A Closer Look at 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1. Two Lists – One Man. L ists are different in the specifics (each has five things the other does not have) L ists are the same in purpose Lists are sufficient & independent
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ELDER ISSUES RESOLVED A Closer Look at 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1
Two Lists – One Man • Lists are different in the specifics • (each has five things the other does not have) • Lists are the same in purpose • Lists are sufficient & independent • (Titus and Timothy would appoint same men without collaborating) • Both lists emphasize character (blameless) • Both lists emphasize proven character • Character is not the only issue • The testing ground is the home 1 Tim. 3:8-13
Titus 1:6-9 if a man is blameless,the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Titus 1:6-9 if a man is blameless,the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. • Why husband of one wife? 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 10-12 • Necessary part of ruling his house well • Necessary part of having children • Literally “a one-woman man” • Loyal and faithful to his wife (excludes polygamy) • What about a widower? • What about a widower who remarried? • What about a divorced man?
A One-Woman Man • Death of wife = disqualification? • A one woman elder whose wife dies is still the same man • 1 Tim. 5:9 thewidowis still a one-man woman • Remarriage = two wives? = disqualification? • A remarried widower is still a one woman man • Is remarriage approved by God or a reproach? • 1 Tim. 5:14; 1 Cor. 7:39; Romans 7:1-3 • Scripturally divorced man? Must be determined in light of 1 Tim. 3:5
Having Believing Children • Why having faithful children? • Provenspiritualleadership1 Tim. 3:4-5 • Faithful to father or to God? • Children in 1 Tim. 3:4 are submitting to father • Insubordination describes relationship with father Titus 1:6 • Father should be telling them to obey gospel, so it is a moot point • However, “believing children” =children who are believers1 Tim. 6:2 “believing masters”
Child or Children? • How do children fit into God’s requirement of proven spiritual leadership? • 1 Tim. 3:4-5 • How does the number of children fit into God’s requirement of proven spiritual leadership? • Greater number = more evidence • No children = no evidence • One child = no evidence? • Does“children” not apply to those with one child?Col. 3:21, 2 Cor. 12:14, 1 Tim. 5:4
What Kind of Believing Children? • Baptism & church attendance is not enough • Not accused of riot Eph. 5:18; 1 Peter 4:4 • Not accused of insubordination 1 Tim 1:9 disobedient Heb. 2:8 not in subjection Deut. 21:18-21 older kids (younger kids are a “work in progress”) • In subjection (obedient) • Respectful (respects others, esp. authority) • Sign of a well-ruled house • Which is a sign of ability to take care of God’s people 1 Tim. 3:5
What Kind of Believing Children? • Do adopted children count? • Of course! 1 Tim. 3:4-5 applies to all under the man’s authority • Begets another child after appointed? • Does not change his proven spiritual leadership, but a focus on a new soul in his family may affect his ability to focus on the church family • 100% faithful? • How does % faithful reflect spiritual leadership? • Does any unfaithfulness reveal absence of spiritual leadership or misguided spiritual leadership?
What Kind of Believing Children? • What about faithful at home but unfaithful after they leave home? • Behavior while under man’s authority (his house) • Believing describes the child • Need to consider why they fell away; could reflect faulty upbringing Col. 3:21 • Look at the big picture in view of effective spiritual leadership Matt. 7:20 known by results • Does believing children moving out disqualify him? How does it affect his proven leadership?