“Elders or Overseers”
Chapter 1:5-9
Introduction:
Rabbi the Apostle Paul always carried around within him a burden for all of the assemblies he had established. In his second letter to the Assembly at Corinth Paul had described his suffering as an apostle, unlike those today claiming to be ‘apostles.’ Paul actually lists the things he had suffered as an apostle for the proclamation of the gospel. He had experienced prison, flogging, exposed to the possibility of death over and over again, whipped and beaten by rods, once he was stoned but survived, shipwrecked three times spending a night and day in the open sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from his own unsaved countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the cities, in danger in the countryside, in danger at sea and in danger from false brethren. He had laboured and toiled in his apostleship, had often gone without sleep. He had known hunger and thirst and had often gone without food. He had been cold and naked. However, besides all of these things, he carried daily the very heavy burden of the pressure of his concern for all of the assemblies (2 Corinthians 11: 23-28).
When he was leaving the assembly at Ephesus he addressed the elders or overseers. They were to keep watch and vigilant over themselves and over the flock of which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers or elders and to be shepherds of the sheep the Messiah had purchased with His atoning and cleansing blood. Paul knew that after he had left savage wolves, would by stealth, infiltrate the assembly with spiritually deceptive doctrines and not spare the flock and that even from their own number some would arise and distort the truth to gain followers. In light of these matters the elders were to be on their guard against such evil wicked and unprincipled men of whom Paul had warned the elders day and night with tears for the three years he had spent at Ephesus, such was his fatherly care for the assembly the Holy Spirit had empowered him to establish (Acts 20:28-31). Let’s now look at our text…
Chapter 1: 5-9
(Vs.5-9) “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Exposition:
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.”
Paul was writing to Titus to make sure that those who had been appointed as elders in the towns located on the island of Crete, being the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, were spiritually mature and sound in doctrine and met the qualifications to be an elder. After Paul was freed from a Roman prison he travelled to the Island of Crete, where he had met Titus his co-labourer in the work of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Paul was quite familiar with the island, having landed on it during his fourth missionary journey.
Paul found that the believers in the assemblies on Crete were not organized in a manner that would promote spiritual growth. The Cretan brethren were sorely lacking instruction for conducting themselves in their daily lives as well as their regular assemblies. Unlike the assemblies in the Gentile regions where Paul had preached, the assemblies on Crete had no elders to serve as overseers and teachers. Paul set about to resolve this problem. Paul and Titus travelled from city to city, establishing elders in each local fellowship. Those who were chosen to serve as elders were required to meet the qualifications that were set forth by Paul. The apostle Paul did not remain in Crete long enough to complete the process in every city. After leaving he wrote this letter to Titus.
In this letter, Paul exhorts Titus to be diligent to complete the task they had begun. Titus was to see that elders were appointed, or established, in those fellowships that had none. Titus was to appoint or ordain elders in every town. As an apostle Paul had bestowed this spiritual authority upon Titus. It is interesting to note Paul’s instructions to Titus were not a directive to set up a hierarchical ministry or a hierarchical ecclesiastical body. Rather, as Paul and Barnabas ordained or appointed elders (Acts 14:23), who had been chosen by the people, so Titus was to do, keeping in mind the proper qualifications. The establishing of elders in the assemblies on Crete was completed by Titus exactly as Paul had directed. Paul also writes the specific qualifications for one to be appointed or ordained as an elder of overseer. Lets’ look at the qualifications for one so ordained by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).
“An elder must be blameless,” describes “one who cannot be held to account for misdeeds” or “one above reproach and not open to accusations” or “blameless in any given situation involving him.” As an overseer he must be an example to the flock of believers as a shepherd of the flock in the same way sheep follow their shepherds in the Middle East. Whether in the assembly, or at his place of employment, if he is not paid by the fellowship, and when he is with others in a social setting outside of the fellowship among unbelievers he must be above reproach in his speech and conduct so as not to disgrace his office or bring into repute the name of the LORD by the unsaved and consequently being ensnared in the devils’ trap (1 Timothy 3:2a; 7).
“He must be faithful to his wife,” or as we read in Timothy; “the husband of but one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). Polygamy was practiced in many pagan cultures in the time of Paul as it is today in certain cultures in the Middle-east and in other places where it is part of their culture. It can also refer to one who does not “play the field” as it were where other women are concerned especially in the local assembly. He may not be involved in sexual activity but he has a way of flattering himself in the eyes of other women in the fellowship. He is to be “faithful” to his wife and have her only as his wife. He must hold her in the highest esteem and be totally committed to her and not open to the advances of any other women. Some have used this text to prevent a divorced man from being an overseer, however, the text does not specifically teach this. In the case of a divorced believer his case must be carefully considered of course.
“…a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.” His children are to be believers if they are of the age when faith is possible. Notice they are those who “believe;” The word describes those “who show themselves to be faithful, that can be relied upon and easily persuaded by the godly example of their father and mother, those who trust in God’s promises, who are believing in the Lord Jesus for salvation and become convinced the Lord Jesus has been raised from the dead and who has become convinced that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah and the author of salvation.” Of course the capacity to believe depends on how old the children are and their level of comprehension. Having said this we are reminded of the little children who flocked around the Lord Jesus, and of whom He said were prime examples of true faith and confidence in Him, and that as His followers we should also have a childlike trust in Him and be transparent with Him as well as with others as little children are transparent with their parents.
As for teenagers and those who are older, they also must not only believe but be those who are also “not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.” The word “wild” describes “one who lives an abandoned, dissolute life where there is no restraint on indulging all of the pleasures of the fallen fleshly nature being careless and living a waisted lifestyle that is without shame and is immoral, a wasteful extravagance especially where money is concerned.” A man who has these kinds of children under his roof at home cannot be an elder, shepherd or overseer. Now he may have spiritual gifts such as prophecy and teaching, and he is not to be restricted from ministry in relation to his calling and gifting, however, to be a pastor or overseer of a local assembly with spiritual oversight if he cannot manage his own children at home then how can he manage or take care of the members of the local assembly of believers.
The word “disobedient” is directly connected to being wild. The word “disobedient” describes; “one who is not in subjection to appropriate authority and will not subject himself or herself to it.” It is an attitude of continuous wilful disobedience to God, to his laws and to their parents. It expresses itself in unruliness and insubordination. If a child is disobedient to their godly parents who are not harsh (in a normal protective and loving environment in the home) then disobeying loving parental authority is an expression of disobedience to the LORD. One who desires to be an elder, which is commendable or even excellent in God’s sight (1 Timothy 3:1), then he must have children who are obedient and not open to the charge of a wild and disobedient lifestyle and who obey him with proper and due respect (1 Timothy 3:4).
“Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.”
While an overseer must be one who manages God’s household. The word “manages” describes; “one who can be trusted to manage those under his authority well and to super tend all of the affairs of the local assembly over which he has spiritual oversight whether in spiritual or temporal matters.” Now notice he is not to be overbearing. The word “overbearing” describes; “one who is not self-pleasing, self-willed or arrogant.” We could also say “one who is not into heavy shepherding, or who lords it over the flock.” One who indulges in this kind of shepherding may be well intentioned, however, self-aggrandisement, the fixation with being a leader, may be an expression of arrogance that is not detected in the one who is entangled in this web of Satan. Pride is the greatest enemy to spiritual growth especially in the lives of those in ministry or those called into leadership positions.
Those who have spiritual oversight must know themselves well and their fleshly tendencies to draw attention to themselves and their gifts and the inherent danger of being drawn into heavy shepherding. In their preaching and teaching an elder must hold the balance between mercy and judgement, between exhortations, admonition and rebuke when necessary. Having said this the Apostle Peter writes; “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 2:2-4).
“…not quick-tempered,” The word describes; “One prone to anger; easily provoked or inflamed to anger; choleric; irritable.” One who is an elder, overseer, shepherd, bishop or a pastor (the words are interchangeable) must know how to handle opposition, criticism, differences of opinion, difficult church members, exasperating situations and all kinds of spiritual conditions within the members of the assembly over which he has spiritual and even temporal oversight. We are told in scripture that, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute” (Proverbs 15-18).
“…not given to drunkenness” or it can be translated; “not given to wine.” When a person is drunk on wine their capabilities to judge and to think is blurred and distorted. Their minds will see things and their words will express all kinds of uncontrolled emotions. One can become addicted to wine or alcohol. Now there is nothing wrong with drinking a glass of wine with one’s meals. The Lord Jesus turned water into wine at one time at a wedding feast and it was his first public miracle. To say at the wedding that they were only drinking non-alcoholic wine is not what would have been happening at a wedding feast in the Middle-East at that time. Drinking wine was part of the culture in the times of the Lord Jesus and has been down through history. The scripture tells us to be aware of the effects of wine when taken in excess and the alcoholic content of it that can so easily cause one to stagger and to experience a lack of self-control.
We read in the Book of Proverbs; “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. “They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink (Proverbs 23:29-35).
Nowhere in scripture are we told not to drink wine, however, there are warnings about drinking too much of it. Wine in small quantities actually can have a therapeutic and medicinal benefit in the case of a bodily infirmity of the stomach as we see in the case of Timothy where Rabbi the Apostle Paul told him; “Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23).
The word “drunkenness” can also be used metaphorically for those who get into an excess of emotional uncontrolled euphoria in a public meeting in an assembly where one sees pastors and leaders and their congregations laughing uncontrollably, sliding down in the church pews, rolling on the floor, making animal like noises and falling backwards such as we saw with the laughing revival ‘thing’ some years ago under Rodney Howard Browne who called himself; “The Holy Ghost Bartender.” Orderly worship in every assembly of the Messiah without exception is commanded in scripture and even though at times it will be quite free and spontaneous it will always be under the control of the Spirit. When things are out of control it has two sources, it can be the latent power of the soul unchecked or of a demonic nature.
As scripture teaches “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints… But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner” (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of self-control not confusion. Self-control is one of the spiritual fruits of the Spirit and always produces in us personally or corporately as the local Body of Messiah as spirit of love, power and self-control or one of a sound mind. As it is written; “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (a sound mind or way of thinking)” (2 Timothy 1:7). It has been said that “many Christians when they come into the church building to worship that they leave their minds in the car park!” An overseer must not be addicted to wine; neither must he be addicted to a sense of euphoric emotional excesses that causes him to act out of control and to lead his flock into the same state of uncontrolled and un-monitored emotional euphoria.
“…not violent” The word “violent” describes; “one who is a bruiser of the emotions of others, a contentious and quarrelsome person, combative in nature, belligerent and always looking for an argument as one disposed to or given over to quarrels, aggressive and even hostile.” This violence is not just the standard word for physical violence only. There is physical violence or emotional violence as well. An overseer must be free from both of these character flaws. As the Apostle James writes; “My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20).
“…not pursuing dishonest gain.” In the Bible we are told that Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honour (the words “double honour” includes money), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). The grain mentioned metaphorically is the spiritually nutritious grain of the Word of God (Luke 8:11). The ox metaphorically is the one who dispenses the grain of God’s Word regularly and faithfully being yoked to the Holy Spirit as his teacher is spiritual matters and in explaining the Word of God as he rightly divides the Word of God.
Today in wider Christendom we have many hirelings and false shepherds who are not able to teach the Word of God effectively or to actually exegete the scriptures but are into motivational ‘sermons’ laced here and there with Bible verses, often out of context, to support their teaching and they rake in the dollars. The internet is full of these ‘shepherds’ who are ‘fleecing the sheep’ of their hard-earned dollars. Many are in reality pursuing dishonest gain and using their appeals for money as a mask for covetousness, greedy ‘shepherds’ who feed only themselves, being experts in greed, an accursed brood (Ezekiel 34:2) (Jude 1:12) (2 Peter 2:14b). For one seeking to be ordained as an overseer it is vitally important for them to be tested as to how they see money in relation to their ministry.
“Rather, he must be hospitable” or generous to guests in the assembly and in his home when appropriate to do so. His door must always be open to the needs of the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made him an overseer or elder. He must not be a stingy man.
“…one who loves what is good” or “one who continuously loves doing what is good” or “one who is loving goodness itself.” An elder or overseer must love what is good, profitable and helpful to others over which he has spiritual oversight for their spiritual well-being in every area of their lives. He will be one who loves goodness and will work tirelessly for the spiritual and temporal matters of the sheep under his care. He will also act protectively when ‘the wolves are circling the flock’ that are seeking to snatch the ‘lambs’ to entice them into doing evil instead of the good they should be pursuing. The faithful shepherd will always protect the flock and seek to restore ‘the lambs’ that have strayed from the fold.
“…who is self-controlled” The word “self-controlled” denotes “one who is of a sound mind, who is sane and balanced spiritually, emotionally and mentally and whose sense gates are sound and balanced, curbing one’s desires and impulses, and temperate.” Self-control or balanced and sane thinking is a fruit of the Spirit and a definite necessity for one desiring to be an overseer or elder. He will be one who cannot be easily affected by every wind of doctrine that may blow his way.
“…who is upright” used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who not have things that need to be rectified in his heart or in his lifestyle. He will not be perfect of course but will be living a life that God approves of and attested to by others with whom he has fellowship in the assembly. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil which is pride (1 Timothy 2:6).
“…holy and disciplined” describes “one who is undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, reverently seeking to observe every moral and ethical obligation, pure, set apart to the LORD in mind and in heart, consecrated to God in purity from defilement.” Such will be the character of one seeking to be ordained as an elder or overseer. It is a noble task he desires, one that God the Holy Spirit approves of and ordains for this task which is not an easy one, especially when having to deal with all different kinds of personalities and problems that present themselves in the local assembly. The Lord Jesus said; “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23). This statement has an application to us personally in that what we watch with our eyes will affect what happens on the inside of us and ultimately lead to outward actions. For example if we watch pornography then eventually it will become acted out in our life. This parable of the Lord Jesus also has a wider application. Who are the ones who give spiritual light and insight to the Body of Messiah?
The elders are the ones, or ‘the eyes’ that give ‘light to the body’ of Messiah corporately. If the ‘eyes’ are dark, defiled and not clear in what they see in spiritual matters, then the body itself will not be full of spiritual light, but full of spiritual darkness. Just as physical eyes give light to the physical body, so elders or overseers are the ‘eyes’ of the local assembly. If what the elders teach is not according to the Word of God then the results will be spiritual darkness in ‘the body’ of the local assembly over which they preside as overseers.
The elder must not only be one set apart to the LORD but also “disciplined” from which we can also get the word “disciple” or “a disciplined one.” The word for “disciplined” describes; “one who is strong and robust spiritually, one having power or a possession over their fleshly appetites, mastering, controlling one’s self, curbing and restraining the tendencies and appetites of the fleshly fallen nature and temperate in all things pertaining to daily living.” Discipline is not easy for any born again New Covenant believer living in this fallen world among a crooked and perverse generation. Scripture teaches “Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). One who is void of spiritual discipline in their daily living does not as yet qualify for the office of an overseer or elder. One who is holy (set apart to God) will also desire to be disciplined, not perfect of course, but seeking to live a consistent disciplined life in spiritual matters as holiness and discipline are connected here in the text.
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
An elder or overseer must be able to teach the Bible, Not all elders are gifted as public teachers from the pulpit. Some are not pulpit expositors but are very effective in teaching small Bible Study groups, while others may be best at one on one teaching and counselling. One who cannot teach the Bible should not be an elder. Some elders, not all, are gifted in preaching and teaching publically while others are not, however they all have a message from the LORD that they have to be able to pass on to the fellowship over which they have spiritual oversight.
“He must hold firmly” describes “one who holds something or cleaves to something and pays heed to something, and who supports and adheres to it and cares for it, or holds fast to it.” It is a continuous action of holding fast to something without wavering or turning aside from it. In the text that something is “the trustworthy message as it has been taught” This message is the Word of God being a trustworthy message and not a false message. The word “trustworthy” relates of course to the teaching in this context or to that which is being taught. It relates to one who can rightly divide the Word of truth. In his second letter to his protégé Timothy Rabbi the Apostle Paul writes; “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
One who is an elder will hold firmly and cleave to the Word of God and always seek to handle it as it should be handled. It is a trustworthy message as it has been taught by those original apostles who wrote the New Testament. Paul had undoubtedly passed his message to Titus and to those elders whom had already been ordained before Paul left Crete. Titus was to complete this task in Paul’s absence. However, in his letter Paul gave instructions as to the qualifications for one seeking to be ordained as an elder. Titus was to follow these instructions especially in light of false teachers that were always seeking to infiltrate the assemblies by stealth which Paul also deals with in this letter.
An elder who exercises a trustworthy message will encourage others in the local assembly “by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” The word “sound” itself describes; “one who is in good health physically” or metaphorically “one whose opinions are free from any mixture of error, of one who keeps the graces given to him by the Holy Spirit and is strong in these graces.” Specifically in this text it relates to doctrine, that which is taught by the apostles. Today we have the apostle’s teaching in the Word of God in the New Testament and we are told that “All Scripture is God- breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
An elder must be trusted by the fellowship members to accurately teach the Word of God in light of its context and co-texts and to make the Bible the foundation for all doctrine and Christian living. Not only must an elder be able to teach what is in line with sound Biblical doctrine but also be able to refute doctrinal error when it arises in the local assembly. The word “to refute” describes “to convict, generally with a suggestion of putting to shame the person convicted, to bring the false teaching to light to expose it, to find fault with it and to correct it. The word also carries the idea by the spoken word; “to reprehend severely, to show one his fault, to admonish and to reprove, to call to account and to demand an explanation” and also by the actions; “to chasten or to punish.” This matter comes up in our text in the next study.
At the judgement seat of Messiah those of us who preach and teach will be judged with a greater strictness than those who do not teach. As we read in scripture; “Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). So then the position of an elder carries with it a great responsibility before the LORD, and one so called must know he is called and gifted by God for that office and affirmed in this ministry by the wider Body of Messiah for this task, as it is written; “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the LORD commends” (2 Corinthians 2:18).
