1 Timothy 3:1-7 - Elders in the Church

It is always nice singing a song where you feel like you just did a complete Bible overview as you sing the lyrics. If you have your Bibles, open them with me to 1 Timothy chapter 3.

Before we dive into the text, let me just say welcome to The Well. I am so thankful you are here. If last week happened to be your first week with us, I am especially thankful you came back! Last week might have been one of the hardest messages we have ever taught. We walked through a theological minefield, and our hope was that we handled the text correctly, taught it with a pastor’s heart, and communicated the true value Scripture intends for that topic.

A gentleman on our staff some years ago made a comment that has always stuck with me. He said, “Soft teaching produces hard hearts, but hard teaching produces soft hearts.” I am so deeply grateful for a church that has an appetite for the Word of God—a church that hungers for the Scriptures and allows the Spirit to produce soft hearts in us.

Looking Under the Hood: The Church’s Source Code

One of the quiet heroes on our staff is a guy you will probably never meet in person. If you have ever visited our website, you have experienced the fruit of his labors. His name is Jeff Richmond. Jeff operates out of what we call the “Creative Cave” back in the corner. You very rarely hear Jeff’s voice; he rarely speaks out loud. He is our web designer. He sits there with his headphones on and about forty monitors, just working inside the matrix all day, every day.

The thing I appreciate about Jeff is that he makes what appears on the outside look effortless. Yet everything you see on the front end is driven behind the scenes by an immense amount of source code. Every once in a while, I will say, “Hey, show me how that works,” and he pulls up a screen that is literally another language. I quickly tell him, “Okay, that’s enough!” I appreciate the finished product, but the source code can be a little laborious. I am just glad somebody knows how to do it, because I am certainly not that person.

In many ways, 1 Timothy 3:1–7—and really the entirety of chapter 3—is the source code of the church. It is the behind-the-scenes blueprint of how a church functions. We are going to look at the issue of elders: What is an elder? How does an elder operate? What are the biblical qualifications for an elder?

It so happens that just a couple of weeks ago, we affirmed a new elder here at The Well. Before we talk about our local leadership, let’s read the foundational text in 1 Timothy 3.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB)

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires [to do]. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. [He must be] one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), [and] not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside [the church], so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Who Truly Leads the Church?

Before we walk through these qualifications, we have to ask and answer a critical question: Who holds the ultimate authority in a local church? It would be very easy to read 1 Timothy 3 and conclude, “Well, I guess the elders are the ones ultimately in charge.” But that is not true.

From a biblical perspective, the ultimate authority of the church is Jesus Christ. He is what the Bible explicitly calls the head of the church.

Colossians 1:18 (NASB)

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Ephesians 1:22 (NASB)

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

The chief authority in a local church is not the elder board; it is Jesus Christ. He is called the Head, and He is also called the Chief Shepherd. When Peter writes to elders in 1 Peter 5, he refers to them as under-shepherds. An under-shepherd simply means someone who reports directly to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus.

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NASB)

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to [the will of] God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

Jesus is also named the builder and architect of the church in Hebrews 3:3, and the chief cornerstone in Luke 20:17. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared, “Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Matthew 16:18 (NASB)

’I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

If Jesus is the head and the ultimate authority, the Holy Spirit is the engine and the divine empowerment of the church. When we trust in Jesus Christ, we are permanently sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Without the work of the Spirit of God in our lives, we would have no victory over our flesh. We would succumb to sin over and over again. But the Holy Spirit operates like bolt cutters in our lives, breaking the power and mastery of our old slavery to sin. He empowers us to live a life pleasing to Jesus. Throughout the Book of Acts, the Spirit directs the church: “Set apart for Me these men,” “Go to this region,” “Do not enter that city.” The Spirit of God is the One who directs, unites, saves, and transforms us.

So, Jesus is the Head. The Holy Spirit is the engine that drives the church. And a group of appointed elders is given the earthly stewardship of driving the bus. Elders are men responsible to the Lord, sensitive to the Holy Spirit, called to be faithful under-shepherds of the local flock.

What Is an Elder?

In the New Testament, two primary Greek words are used for this office. The first is episkopos, often translated as “overseer” or “bishop.” It describes a role of oversight, leadership, and humble service. The second word is presbuteros, which is translated as “elder.” This word was also used in the Gospels to refer to Jewish community elders. In the New Testament epistles, episkopos and presbuteros are used interchangeably to describe the exact same office: an elder.

How does a man become an elder? It begins with embracing the gospel. First and foremost, an elder must possess a genuine, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. He must have recognized the depth of his sin, cast himself upon the mercy of Christ, and received His righteousness by faith. Furthermore, he must continue embracing the gospel daily over time. Our elders are not perfect; they are in process just like everyone else. That is precisely why Peter says they must serve as examples among the flock.

Second, there must be an internal sense of calling. Paul writes, “If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” The clear implication is that not every man will desire or be called to this particular office.

Third, biblical elders are appointed by existing leadership. You do not find congregational voting for elders in the New Testament. If you come from a church background that voted on things, there is no explicit command that says “Thou shalt not vote.” But scripturally, we see a consistent pattern of appointment.

Acts 14:23 (NASB)

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Titus 1:5 (NASB)

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

When a man trusts Christ, walks in maturity, and displays an elder’s heart, the existing elders recognize that he is already “eldering” among the flock and appoint him into that office.

The Biblical Qualifications of an Elder

The qualifications for eldership are laid out in two primary passages: 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. When we combine the two lists, we identify 23 distinct qualifications. We have a detailed position paper on our website under the “What We Believe” tab if you want to explore these further, but let’s walk through them:

1. Above Reproach: An elder must be a model of integrity, blameless in reputation, with no credible accusation of disqualifying misconduct standing against him. It does not mean sinless perfection; it means he is not cutting shady corners in public while playing church leader on Sunday.

2. The Husband of One Wife: Literally translated from the Greek, this means a “one-woman man.” An elder must be fully devoted, faithful, and pure in his marriage, without adulterous relationships or attitudes. While this does not strictly forbid a single man from serving, it sets a high bar for marital fidelity. Where divorce has occurred, it requires careful examination of the circumstances, because an elder must model what it means to be a godly, sacrificial husband.

3. Temperate: Also translated as “sober-minded.” An elder must be even-tempered, clear-headed, and calm under pressure. He cannot be a man who flies off the handle, screams at people, or loses his mind in traffic.

4. Prudent: Self-controlled, reasonable, and discerning. He is a man who thinks situations through carefully and seeks God’s wisdom before reacting.

5. Respectable: An elder leads an orderly, balanced life. When his name is mentioned in the community or the marketplace, people say, “That is a good man. He walks with God. If he shakes your hand on a deal, he keeps his word even when it hurts.”

6. Hospitable: He opens his home and his heart to others. An elder is an under-shepherd, which means he must smell like the sheep. He does not live in an isolated ivory tower; he invites people into his life.

7. Able to Teach: He must possess a firm grasp of sound doctrine and have the ability and willingness to communicate truth to others. Not every elder is called to regular pulpit preaching, but every elder must know the Word well enough to correct error, counsel the hurting, and lead God’s people in truth.

1 Timothy 5:17 (NASB)

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

8. Not Addicted to Wine: He cannot be a drunkard or controlled by alcohol or any other substance.

9. Not Pugnacious: He is not combative, violent, or physically aggressive. He does not pick fights or use intimidation.

10. Gentle: An elder must be fair, yielding, patient, and considerate. He does not rule by dictate, raw power, or force; he leads by humble example.

11. Peaceable: He is not argumentative or quarrelsome. He refuses to use abusive, harsh language.

12. Free from the Love of Money: He is not consumed by the pursuit or accumulation of wealth. Scripture does not say money is evil; it says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. If God has blessed a man with business acumen, that is a wonderful gift, provided his ultimate hope and treasure remain in Christ.

13. Manages His Own Household Well: He is skillful and loving in leading and providing for his family.

14. Keeping His Children Under Control with All Dignity: A father’s primary ministry is his home. If an elder’s dependent children living under his roof are living in wild, unchecked rebellion, he is not qualified to lead the broader church family.

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

1 Timothy 3:5 (NASB)

(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

My old seminary professor, Howard Hendricks, used to say, “If it ain’t working at home, don’t export it!” That is spot on. If a man’s home is falling apart, the right, honorable thing to do is step down from eldership, get his family in order, and let God bring healing.

15. Not a New Convert: Eldership requires seasoned spiritual maturity. That is why Paul warns Timothy later in the letter not to rush the process.

1 Timothy 5:22 (NASB)

Do not lay hands upon anyone [too] hastily and thereby share [responsibility for] the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Appointing an elder hastily is dangerous. I often tell church planters that appointing the wrong elder is like marrying the wrong spouse: once you are in it, untangling it is incredibly painful.

16. Good Reputation with Outsiders: Those outside the church walls—unbelieving neighbors, coworkers, business partners—must respect his character. If our community looked at our elders and said, “Wait, that guy is leading your church? He cheated me on a contract!” we would bring reproach upon the name of Christ.

From Titus 1, we find several additional qualifications:

17. Not Self-Willed: He cannot be arrogant, stubborn, or overbearing. At The Well, we make decisions through consensus and prayer. If someone constantly digs in his heels and says, “My way or nothing,” unity is destroyed.

18. Not Quick-Tempered: He is not prone to sudden outbursts of anger. Our elder team has plenty of passionate discussions and disagreements, but disagreement in an atmosphere of love is healthy conflict. It allows us to sharpen one another without exploding.

19. Not Fond of Sordid Gain: He is not a cheat, a crook, or financially dishonest. Every tithe dollar given to this church is stewarded under the elders’ oversight. If you cannot trust an elder board’s integrity with finances, you should not give to that church.

20. Loves What Is Good: He genuinely treasures things that are holy, pure, and honorable.

21. Just: He leads a righteous life and treats people fairly in every situation.

22. Devout: He is dedicated to personal holiness and guards his private walk with the Lord.

23. Holding Fast the Faithful Word: He is thoroughly committed to the authority of the Scriptures as the guiding truth for his life and doctrine.

Look at that list. That is a breathtakingly high bar. That is why Paul adds this sobering warning in verse 7:

1 Timothy 3:7 (NASB)

And he must have a good reputation with those outside [the church], so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Historically, churches have made the grave mistake of finding the wealthiest businessman or the most charismatic community leader and immediately appointing him an elder. That is a recipe for disaster. Character must always come before platform.

Key Biblical Principles for Elders

When you step back and look at the New Testament’s broader teaching on elders, several clear patterns emerge:

First, elders are biblically qualified men. As we explored last week, this is not a question of intelligence, spiritual gifting, or personal worth. Both men and women are created equal in image and dignity before God. But God has ordained specific roles of spiritual authority and headship in the home and the church, calling qualified men to carry that mantle.

Second, elders are appointed by existing leadership. Titus 1:5 commands Titus to appoint elders in every city. This protects the church from popularity contests and political factions. I ran for senior class president, ASB president, homecoming king, and formal king in high school—and I lost every single one of them! It was a very dark time in my life. But we all remember how school elections divide people into competing camps. A church vote can quickly become a church split. We avoid that by following the biblical model of elder appointment.

Third, eldership is always expressed in plurality. You never find a single-pastor dictatorship in the New Testament. Leadership is always shared among a team of elders. Why? Because I don’t trust myself alone, and you shouldn’t trust yourself alone either! There is immense safety, wisdom, and protection in plurality.

Proverbs 20:18 (NASB)

Prepare plans by consultation, And make war by wise guidance.

When a team of elders gathers around a table, you want inquiry, not advocacy. In a room dominated by advocacy, everyone is just lobbying for their personal preference: “I think this!” “Well, I think that!” But in an environment of inquiry, men lean in and say, “Help me understand your perspective. What are you seeing in Scripture that I might be missing?” That posture uncovers the mind of Christ.

Fourth, elders serve at the pleasure of the Chief Shepherd. Elders are accountable to Jesus Christ for how they shepherd His flock. Hebrews 13:17 issues a sobering reminder that elders will one day stand before God and give an account for the souls under their care.

Hebrews 13:17 (NASB)

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Finally, elders are responsible for guarding sound doctrine. In Acts 20, Paul warns the Ephesian elders to guard themselves and all the flock against false teachers.

Acts 20:28 (NASB)

’Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Eldership at The Well

How do we flesh these biblical principles out practically here at The Well?

In terms of tenure, Scripture does not establish artificial term limits. We believe an elder is appointed for a life sentence, provided he continues to meet the character qualifications and has the capacity to actively contribute. Every late fall, our elder team gathers for an annual recommitment. We look each other in the eye and evaluate our character, our family health, and our contribution. If a man’s life season has changed—such as demanding family needs or travel schedules—he can take an honorable off-ramp.

Currently, our active elder team consists of myself, Danny Herwald, Darren Meyer, Scott Shehadi, and Michael Steyn, whom we recently affirmed. We also have three respected Elder Emeritus members—men like Bob Gore, Rob Hanson, and Santino D’Nisi—who served faithfully for years and stepped back due to life seasons. Furthermore, we utilize a role we call Advisors—men like David Jimenez, Matt Ratzlaff, and Russ Tatum—who participate in our meetings and provide wisdom as potential future elders.

People sometimes ask, “If the elders are responsible for teaching, why isn’t every staff preacher an elder, and why isn’t every elder preaching?”

Scripture makes it clear that while every elder must be able to defend sound doctrine, not all elders are called to pulpit teaching. Conversely, not everyone who exercises a teaching gift is called to the office of elder. In the New Testament, individuals like Apollos or Priscilla and Aquila taught without being identified as official elders of a local church.

Ephesians 4:11 (NASB)

And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers,

Our philosophy is simple: Where Scripture is clear, we hold the line unconditionally; where Scripture leaves room, we operate in wisdom. If we required every person on our pastoral and teaching staff across our campuses to sit on the elder board, we would have thirty people around the table. You cannot get three people to agree on lunch, let alone thirty people to shepherd a church! That would be unwise. Instead, our elders oversee and shepherd our staff, empowering them to fulfill specialized ministry roles.

Why This Matters for All of Us

What does the “source code” of 1 Timothy 3 mean for you sitting here today? How does this apply to your everyday life?

First, pray for your elders. 1 Timothy 2 commands us to pray for those in authority. Leading a multi-site church across multiple properties and seven weekend gatherings involves tremendous spiritual weight. We desperately need your prayers for wisdom, protection, and humility.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Second, support and follow your elders’ leadership. Nobody naturally likes the concept of submission, but Scripture calls the church to follow its leaders so that their work may be a joy rather than a burden. Our elders will not make perfect decisions every single time, but I can promise you that every decision is made through prayer, Scripture, plurality, and deep love for God’s people.

Third, men, make these qualifications your personal target. If you want to know what biblical maturity looks like, look at 1 Timothy 3. Take this list of qualifications, sit down with your wife, and ask her, “How am I doing in these areas? Where can I grow?” Set your sights on being a man worthy of the office of overseer, whether God ever officially calls you to that office or not.

Finally, women, use this list as your gold standard. If you are single, do not settle for a man who does not exhibit the character of an elder. If you are married, pray these character traits into your husband’s life. If you are raising sons, raise young men who love God’s Word, manage their emotions, practice hospitality, and pursue holiness.

In any organization—a business, an athletic team, or a church—as the leadership goes, so goes the organization. I am deeply thankful to report that there are no hidden “junk drawers” on our elder team. We are led by a glorious Chief Shepherd, empowered by His Holy Spirit, and cared for by imperfect men who are completely surrendered to Jesus. Let’s thank God for His design.