Church of Christ @ Enumclaw

Titus 1:5 "For this reason I left you in  Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you," Paul continues on giving directions to the type of men who are to be placed in the 'WORK'. (Titus 1:6-9). and the "Work"  they are to do is described in (Titus 1:9b-11).

The qualification of "holding fast the faithful word which is in accord with the word" is germane to the work of an elder, . On one hand he is to be able to exhort in sound Doctrine.  On the other being able to refute those who teach things that are contrary. Or silence those that oppose the doctrine of Christ. You can't refute or exhort if you don't hold the correct understanding in the first place.

Age or time does not garentee that the person is qualified as the Hebrew writer points out in (Heb. 5:11-14). The need for qualified men are seen in Paul's warning to Timothy. (2 Tim. 4:3,4).

One might also reference (Acts 20:28-32) Paul's warning speach to the Elders of Ephesus. And then the letter to Timothy a few years later giveing him directions for the selection of elders at Ephesus.

The Desire to Serve as Elder:

One of the qualifications which need to be examined is the DESIRE the person has to be an Elder in the church. Has the person grown in his capabilities to lead the body of christ? Has he made the effort in his own life? The  greek word is defined below:

— 1 Tim 3:1-15 (NASB) 3:1 b Acts 20:28; Phil 1:1 - ASPIRES, {OREGATI}, - DESIRES — {EPITHUMEO} -- [3977] ὀρέγω oregō - to extend, to stretch out; {mid} to stretch one's self out, to reach forward to,   to desire earnestly, to long after, 1 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 11:16; by impl. to indulge in, be devoted to, 1 Tim. 6:10* [3713]  --- [2121] ἐπιθυμέω epithumeō 16x with the gen. or acc., to set the heart upon; to desire, long for, have earnest desire, Mt. 13:17; Lk. 15:16; to lust after, Mt. 5:28; spc. to covet, Rom. 13:9 [1937] See covet; desire; lust.

     One gets the idea that the man wants the job and seek after it with desire. This brings up a thought of how much does he want it and for what purpose. If one desires it to do God’s work to glorify God then he is qualified. If he does it to control the church, to bring glory to himself then he is not qualified. Note Peters words to the christian of northern Asia (Turkey), — ( 1 Peter 5:1-3) “ shepherd the flock, .. exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to God, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; no yet as lording it over those allowed to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. see  (2 Corinthians 1:24 ).

       John give us an example of one who had the wrong idea about serving as an elder:  3 John v9,10  “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. Note John's words "Who Loves to BE First" -- Compare this to Pauls words in  Colossian 1:18.  Who is to have First Place in the church? --