Must an elder have every qualifications himself? Or can all the elders share together all the qualifications?

Read the context of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 very carefully.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 states: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having hischildren in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

It is very clear from the context that the qualifications must be met by one man, not be shared by a group of men. Each man must possess all of the qualifications mentioned here in order to enter into the eldership.



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