That They All May Be One

W. Carl Ketcherside

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     This is the account of the work of an evangelist in planting a congregation of saints and training them for service. At the present time he is conducting a study of the qualifications of elders, looking forward to the selection and appointment of men to this sacred office.

1. Is there general agreement as to the qualifications?
        No! On the contrary, they have formed a fruitful source of conflict and dispute, almost since apostolic days. It is not to be expected that we will be able to bring about harmony amidst the diversity of opinions. Instead, we shall merely state our humble views and trust that brethren will weigh them objectively.
   
   
2. Is there danger of interpreting the qualifications too rigidly?
        Yes, although the other extreme is usually followed. Some explain them so loosely that anyone can qualify; others so rigidly that no one can. These are qualifications for men--not angels. "If a man desire the office of a bishop." No man is sinlessly perfect. Elders will make mistakes as do other men. No one who meets the requirements of God should be kept out of office on the basis that he may not remain qualified.
   
   
3. Must a man have all of the qualifications?
        Yes. The list in 1 Timothy 3 begins and closes with the word "must." Verse 2 says, "A bishop must..." and verse 7 says, "He must have..." It is not a question of what he might be, could be, or ought to be. He must have the character delineated in these verses.
   
   
4. Would this not require a state of perfection?
        No. The degree of the qualifications is not expressed, with one exception. Inasmuch as the word of God does not specify that they must be in the superlative degree we have no right to require it. It is expected that an elder possess the qualifications in an exemplary degree (1 Peter 5:3) but this is a relative term. Certainly a man in office will grow in these various departments as he grows in knowledge of the truth.
   
   
5. If no man has the qualifications. but several men taken together have them, can they be appointed?
        Certainly not! The qualifications are for individuals, not for a group. They are for presbyters, not a presbytery. The record does not say, "If a group desires the office" but "If a man desires the office." In Titus 1:7 we read that "A bishop must he" the type of character specified. Any other conclusion would destroy the government of the church of God.
   
   
6. Should a man who shows promise be appointed in anticipation of his developing the qualifications?
        No. The qualifications must be had prior to the office, and not vice versa. A man must not be given the office to qualify him, but he must qualify himself before he can be given the office. The book says, regarding the deacons, "Let these also first be proved; then let them use the office." This principle will apply to the office of bishop in the same way.
   
   

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7. Should one be appointed who might be offended if left out of the office?
         Indeed not! In some places when two men are qualified and appointed, a third may also be put in because he would become angry and quit if he did not get the appointment. This is a flagrant disregard of the divine constitution. Such a character is not qualified to shepherd the flock of God. He is too little for the responsibility and the fact that he has to be pampered and petted to keep him in the congregation shows he was never really converted to our Lord. The sacred office is not a sop of appeasement to be thrown to a perpetual pouter. We should not play politics with the arrangements of the King.
   
   
8. Should a man be appointed as a reward for his faithful attendance and service?
        No person should be appointed on any other basis than his possession of the qualities enumerated in the book. The office is not to be passed out like an award to a scholar for good attendance. The fate of the congregation rests with its leadership. A congregation cannot rise above its leaders!
   
   
9. Do the qualifications come under various categories?
        For convenience we can classify them as moral, domestic, intellectual and executive. The first deals with behavior and conduct; the second with the marital and home status; the third with the attainments in aptitude and knowledge; and the last with the ability to govern or rule. It should be stated that these are our own classifications, as the word of God merely sets forth the qualifications with no particular regard as to sequence or relationship.
   
   
10. Which classification will be discussed first?
         We will begin an exploration of the moral qualifications in our next study, and will seek to determine the meaning of the terms employed by the Holy Spirit.