Church of Christ @ Enumclaw

We have often looked at the qualifications of the office of an Elder. Less or seldom have we taken a look at the work they are to do. The accounts of their qualifications are found in Titus 1:5 -16, and 1st Timothy 3:1-10. These passages includes to some degree their work also. More is scattered through-out the epistles. But lets look at some of their work!

Note that 1 timothy 3:1 states “if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do”.

So the one who fills the “office” of overseer has “a fine work to do”. The greek word is {kalos}.

Mounce defines this word this way [“(MED) beautiful; good, of good quality or disposition; fertile, rich, Mt. 13:8, 23; useful, profitable, Lk. 14:34; καλόν ἐστι(ν), it is profitable, it is well, Mt. 18:8, 9; excellent, choice, select, goodly, Mt. 7:17, 19; καλόν ἐστι(ν), it is pleasant, delightful, Mt. 17:4; just, full measure, Lk. 6:38; honorable, distinguished, Jas. 2:7; good, possessing moral excellence, worthy, upright, virtuous, Jn. 10:11, 14; 1 Tim. 4:6; τὸ καλόν, and τὸ καλόν ἔργον, what is good and right, a good deed, rectitude, virtue, Mt. 5:16; Rom. 7:18, 21; right, duty, propriety, Mt. 15:26; benefit, favor, Jn. 10:32, 33.]

          One could conclude that if the work is defined as Mounce does then the men who fill this office should be of like quality. And this seems to be the point of all these qualifications that the apostle lists in these verses. They can be broken down into character traits of the man in his relationship to others, to his family, & to God. These traits would then show what kind of overseer he would be to the church. 

Next we will look at some scriptures that speak to the ‘work he is to do.’

SHALLUM & JEREMIAH:

In the 22nd chapter of Jeremiah: In his words to Judah he has a few about Shallum. But who is this guy? This is said to be a prophesy about Jehoahaz so most of the commentaries say. At the death of Josiah in 609 BC the Jews were lamenting and making a reminder of his passing for future generations…. [i Chron. 3:15; 2 Chron. 36:1-4; Ezek.. 19:1-9; Isa. 57:1,2]. And Jeremiah makes the following prophesy about Josiah & Shallum.

Jeremiah 22:10 (NKJV) 10 Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him; Weep bitterly for him who goes away, For he shall return no more, Nor see his native country.

Jeremiah 22:11-12 (NKJV) 11 For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, who went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, 12 but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

Shallum the son of Josiah (4th son of Josiah in 1 Chron. 3:15). Could either be Johoahaz, or it could be Zedekiah. Each of the statement that Jeremiah makes would fit the words of scriptures in 2 Kings 23:31; 2 Chron. 36:1-4 for Jehoahaz. And 2 Kings 24:17

Both were sons of Josiah —

Reigned instead of  his father — (allthough Jehoahaz is more likely here)

Who went forth from this place—

Shall not return — Nor see his native country again —

A)  [Jehoahaz did return & see Jerualem /Judah for a little while on his return from Riblah, before going on to Egypt & to die there].

B) [Zedekiah after capture was blinded & taken to Babylon where he died].

C) The Age of each assuming 1st Chronicles 3:15 is correct would support Zedekiah over Jehoahaz.

Perhaps the word apply to both men: