Title Qualifications of Elders/Titus 4-9
Contents
qualifications of elders
Titus 4-9
Titus 4 How did Paul call Titus? (Verse 4)
1).Paul called Titus the 'true son'.
2).Paul also referred to him as ‘brother’ (2 Corinthians 2:13), ‘comrade’, and ‘co-worker’ (2 Corinthians 8:23).
3). And Titus helped Paul diligently in the midst of difficulties so that he could hear these words from Paul (2 Corinthians 7:5-6, 8:16-17)
4). In this way, servants of the Lord who do God's work have a duty to help and share love with one another.
Because only then can you become a true disciple of Jesus (John 13:35), and building parties, strife, and division are not actions that glorify God (cf. Galatians 5:20).
Titus 4 What did Paul pray for Titus, his co-worker? (Verse 4)
1).Paul prayed for God's grace and peace to Titus.
2). God's grace refers to the love that God gives regardless of the value or merit of the object.
3). Paul used the same expression when writing to Timothy and Philemon (1 Timothy 1:2, Mon 1:3).
4). Peter, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, also used this same word in his letter (1 Peter 1:2, 5:14, 2 Peter 1:2).
5). Jesus also sent out 70 people to preach the gospel, teaching them to pray for peace wherever they went (Luke 10:5-6).
(Luke 10:5) Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be with this house.”
(Luke 10:6) If there is someone there to receive peace, your empty peace will rest with him; otherwise, it will come back to you.
6). In this way, the saints must become people who give peace and grace when and where they listen.
Because strife and hatred are the image of the world and Satan.
Titus 5-16 What is the 'lack of work' in the Crete church? (Verses 5-16)
1). Based on the contents of this chapter, three things can be pointed out.
2). First, the church was not perfect because there were no elders yet (verse 5).
3). Second, the false teachers were so deceived that the church could not be corrected (verses 10-11).
4). Third, they confessed God with their mouth, but did not do good deeds according to their faith (verse 16).
5).Paul saw these points as lacking and demanded that they be corrected by his apostolic authority.
6). These contents are very similar to the problems the church has today.
7). Therefore, modern churches also need to make an effort to correct what is wrong.
We must do our best to put God's Word into practice without making excuses or giving up on being insecure as a human attribute.
Titus 5-9 Separately explain the qualifications of elders (verses 5-9)
1). Qualifications of elders can be broadly divided into family and social.
2). Among these, the family refers to the conditions under which a person who is in charge of governing the church should have a peaceful family and set an example (verse 6).
3).Socially, it means an attitude that will not be reproached by anyone externally (verses 7, 8).
4). The image of an elder like this shows that he not only manages himself well, but also has a personality that can be admired both at home and in person, and he works tirelessly to make sure he has no flaws.
5). Therefore, rather than emphasizing authority only, ministers should strive to serve the saints and spread the word and love of God in a good and righteous manner.
Titus 6 What should an elder's family look like? (Verse 6)
1). An elder's family should have the image of the elder's wife, who teaches good lessons, and the children of faith who serve God well in the Word and love, living in harmony.
2). A husband of a wife means that he is not partially injured and that he does not congratulate him.
3).The children of faith refer to children who do not dissipate in the eyes of others, obey their parents well, and have pure faith toward God.
4). As such, the home of an elder should be gracious and exemplary, giving joy and warmth to others.
5). Because an elder is a person in charge of governing the church of God, if he cannot properly govern his family, he is not virtuous.
6). Of course, today's clergymen should also strive to set such an example at home and to show God's glory throughout their lives.
Titus 7 What should be the relationship between elders and wealth? (Verse 7)
1). An elder must not covet unclean profits.
2). This means that you should not use the church for your own gain or do anything that is condemned by society for greed for wealth.
3). This view of money is not only applicable to elders, but is also required for deacons (1 Timothy 3:8) and general saints.
4). Therefore, believers need the attitude of believers to think about the glory of God first when collecting materials in a fair way and using those materials (1 Corinthians 10:31).
(1 Corinthians 10:31) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Titus 8 What does “holy” mean? (Verse 8)
1). The word holiness (Hell, Hosios) has the meaning of ‘religiously correct’, ‘establishing a right relationship with God’, and ‘pleases God’.
2). The holiness that an elder should have is to maintain a right relationship with God and please God.
3). Also horizontally, it means living a holy and high-level ethical life among humans.
4). This kind of 'holiness' has been required of the saints since the days of the Old Testament (Leviticus 11:44).
(Leviticus 11:44) I am the Lord your God; I am holy; set yourselves apart and sanctify yourself; do not defile yourselves by creeping things that creep on the ground.
5). Therefore, the saints of today must also strive to lead a holy life with integrity religiously and ethically (1 Timothy 4:5).
(1 Timothy 4:5) It is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Titus 9 What kind of task does an ‘elder’ carry out? (verse 9)
1). An elder is the office of perfecting faith by admonishing believers with sound teaching in the church and rebuking those who speak against them.
2). Since this office has many similarities when comparing the duties of a bishop in 1 Timothy 3, it can be said that it is an office that serves the same role (cf. Introduction Q11).
3). As an elder is in charge of the church and exhorting believers, there is a risk of making the mistake of asserting ‘self-obstinence’ or making the mistake of ‘getting angry in a hurry’ (verse 7) with authority only.
4). Therefore, elders always try to humble themselves (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). Exhorting with love (1 Corinthians 16:14). We must strive to become like Christ and be kind (Micah 6:8).
(Mic 6:6) What shall I bring before the LORD, and worship the high God? shall I go before him with a calf a year old for a burnt offering?
(Micah 6:7) Shall the LORD take pleasure in oil like a thousand rams or ten thousand rivers of water? Will I give my firstborn son for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sins of my soul?
(Micah 6:8) O man, the Lord has shown you what is good. What does the Lord ask of you, but not to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Titus 9 What is ‘sound teaching’? (Verse 9)
1). ‘Right teaching’ means the gospel of God’s glory (1 Timothy 1:11).
2). That is, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings on godliness (1 Timothy 6:3).
3). The content of these gospels
①. Inspiration of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16),
(2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
(2 Peter 1:20) First of all, know that no prophecy of the scriptures is a matter of private interpretation.
②.The divinity of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3),
(1 Corinthians 12:3) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
③. The incarnation of Christ (1 John 4:1-6),
(1 John 4:1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(1 John 4:2) By this you know the Spirit of God, that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
(1 John 4:3) Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist.
④. The death of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3),
(1 Corinthians 15:3) First of all I have told you what I have received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
(1 Corinthians 15:4) After being buried, he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures.
⑤. The Second Coming of Christ (2 Peter 3:3-13),
(2 Peter 3:3) Know this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, and mockingly.
(2 Peter 3:4) He said, Where is the promise of the coming of the Lord?
(2 Peter 3:5) This is so that they may forget that the heavens existed from ancient times, and that the earth came out of water and was formed by the word of God.
(2 Peter 3:6) Because of this the world at that time was destroyed by overflowing waters.
(2 Peter 3:7) Now, by the same word, the heavens and the earth were kept for fire, reserved for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
(2 Peter 3:8) Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord's promise is not slow, as some consider slowness, but is patient with you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and in that day the heavens will depart with a loud noise, the elements will be dissolved with scorching fire, and the earth and all that is on it will be revealed.
(2 Peter 3:11) When all these things will be solved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
(2 Peter 3:12) Look forward to the coming of the day of God and yearn for it, for in that day the heavens will be dissolved with fire, and the elements will melt with scorching fire
(2 Peter 3:13) According to his promise, we look to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
⑥. The salvation of those who believe (John 3:16, Acts 16:31), etc.
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(Acts 16:31) He said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved.
4). As such, the only thing the elders exhort and teach is the Gospel of Orji, and the saints must live by this Gospel.
5). Also, in the Bible, for personal gain, they add anything wrong to the gospel or distort the content, so they are 'rebels' (Galatians 1:7) and 'blasphemers' (1 Corinthians 9). :12) pointed out.
6). Therefore, as Calvin said, we must have a view of faith that ‘goes where the Bible goes, and the Bible stops’.
This is because the Bible is the only standard of faith and life for believers.