MUST AN ELDER BE A FAMILY MAN?

Hugo McCord

A question has come: may a good man be selected as an elder of a congregation with or without a family? The Spirit-endowed Paul in this matter left no option: he used the word dei, “must” (1 Timothy 3:2-4), the same word that is used about the necessity of the new birth (John 3:7), the necessity of baptism (Acts 9:6; 22:16), and the necessity of worship being in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

Since the church is God’s spiritual family (Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:15), it is not surprising that an overseer over a congregation must have a family. However, many men have families who are not qualified to be elders. A man must have the right kind of family, a scriptural family.

First, a man must be a “husband” (1 Timothy 3:2), but not just any kind. Some husbands, in second or third marriages, are living in adultery (Matthew 19:9). But if a man’s first wife has died, and has remarried an eligible lady, he is still a scriptural husband.

Second, a man must be the husband of “one” wife (1 Timothy 3:2), but not just any kind. If the wife was an unscriptural divorcee, his marriage with her is adultery (Mark 10:12).

Third, a man must have children, but not just any kind. They must be obedient children, thus proving that he is able to take care of God’s spiritual family (1 Timothy 3:4-5). How many children is not specified. Grammatically, the word “children” is plural, but biblically (Genesis 21:7; Matthew 22:24; Mark 12:19) the word means one or more.