Requirements for Church Elders
Serve the LORD with gladness;
come into His presence with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2
1 Timothy 3:1–7
1. This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
2. An overseer, then, must be:
above reproach
the husband of but one wife
temperate
self-controlled
respectable
hospitable
able to teach
3. Not:
dependent on wine
violent
greedy for money
But instead:
gentle
peaceable
free of the love of money
4. He must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
5. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?
6. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
7. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-9
5. The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6. An elder must be:
blameless
the husband of but one wife
having children who are believers
having children who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination
7. As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—
Not:
self-willed
quick-tempered
given to drunkenness
violent
greedy for money
8. Instead, he must be:
hospitable
a lover of good
self-controlled
upright
holy
disciplined
9. He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
Does the Bible require pastors/elders to be
married and have children?
Some churches teach that an elder must be married and have children, but Scripture does not actually require this. When Paul says an elder must be the “husband of one wife,” the Greek phrase literally means “a one-woman man”—a description of moral character, purity, and faithfulness, not a requirement to be married. If Paul meant “must be married,” he would have used different wording in the Greek New Testament. Paul himself was unmarried, yet he planted churches, appointed elders, and modeled godly leadership. Jesus also was single, which shows that marital status is not a prerequisite for spiritual authority or holiness.
Likewise, when Titus 1 mentions “children who believe,” Paul is giving guidance for men who already have children, not commanding that an elder must produce them. The grammar is conditional: if he has children, they must be faithful. The family qualifications simply show how a man manages his household if he has a wife or children. In the end, biblical eldership is about character, integrity, self-control, and the ability to teach—not about being married or having children.
Does the Bible require pastors/elders to be ONLY MEN?
Elders in the Old Testament:
In the Old Testament, the elders of Israel were presented as men. The Hebrew terms זָקֵן (zaqen) and זְקֵנִים (zeqenim) are masculine forms, and the biblical examples of elders involve male heads of families, tribes, cities, and national leadership. Elders functioned within the patriarchal structure of ancient Israel, where public leadership, legal authority, and representation of clans were ordinarily carried out by men.
At the same time, the Old Testament also shows that women could possess wisdom, influence, and leadership in other ways. For example, Deborah served as both a prophetess and judge over Israel in Judges 4–5, and wise women are mentioned in several passages. However, the specific office or role identified as “elders of Israel” is consistently described in male terms throughout the Old Testament narrative.
Priest in the Old Testament:
In the Old Testament, the official priesthood established under the Law of Moses was limited to men from the tribe of Levi, specifically the male descendants of Aaron. The priesthood was hereditary and governed by detailed instructions given in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The Hebrew language used in these passages consistently employs masculine terms, grammar, and descriptions when referring to priests and priestly duties, making it clear that the Levitical priesthood was intended for male descendants of Aaron. The instructions repeatedly refer to “sons,” “males,” and masculine priestly qualifications, leaving little ambiguity within the Hebrew text regarding who was permitted to serve in the priesthood under the Mosaic covenant.
Elders in the New Testament:
In the New Testament, elders became recognized spiritual leaders within the early church. The Greek word most often translated “elder” is πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros), meaning “older man” or “elder.” Like the Old Testament concept, the term carried the idea of maturity, wisdom, dignity, and recognized leadership, but in the New Testament it became closely connected with shepherding and overseeing the church. Elders were appointed to teach sound doctrine, provide spiritual guidance, care for believers, and help govern local congregations. The apostles appointed elders in the churches, as seen in Acts 14:23, and qualifications for elders are described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. New Testament elders were expected to be spiritually mature, faithful in character, able to teach, and examples to the flock of God. The role is also closely connected with the terms “bishop” or “overseer” and “pastor” or “shepherd,” emphasizing spiritual care and leadership within the body of Christ.
Many scholars:
Many scholars note that clearer feminine terminology could have been used if women were intended to serve as elders. We reject the argument that the masculine language for elders is merely generic because Paul’s teaching is not based on grammar alone, but on context, creation order, qualifications, and consistent biblical pattern. In 1 Timothy 2:12–14, Paul grounds his instruction in the fact that Adam was formed first and Eve was deceived, appealing to creation and the fall rather than local culture. The qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 also describe an elder as “the husband of one wife,” a specifically masculine phrase meaning “a one-woman man.” Additionally, the Greek language had feminine forms available if female elders were intended, yet the New Testament consistently uses masculine terminology for the office. We therefore believe the combined evidence of grammar, context, theology, creation order, and the consistent biblical pattern of male priests, apostles, and elders demonstrates that the office of elder was intended for qualified men rather than as a generic reference including women.
Our Great Salvation:
Although salvation through faith in Jesus Christ delivers believers from the eternal penalty and condemnation of sin, the consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience are still visibly present and active in the world today. Humanity continues to experience death, suffering, pain in childbirth, hardship in labor, temptation, and the effects of a fallen creation as described in Genesis 3. We believe that certain distinctions regarding church order also remain in effect. In 1 Timothy 2:12–14, Paul connects his instruction concerning women not teaching or exercising authority over men in the gathered church to the creation order and Eve’s deception in the fall. For this reason, we believe that while men and women are equal in value before God and equally heirs of salvation through Christ, the office of elder and authoritative teaching within the congregational assembly is reserved for qualified men according to the pattern established in Scripture.
Why Now?
The early church emerged in a world where Greek and Roman religions had both male priests and female priestesses, and deities of both genders were honored. When Paul, a Jewish apostle, dedicated himself to the conversion of Gentiles, he was speaking to people who grew up with these traditions. As the church united diverse groups, Paul expounded on why the Christian understanding of leadership was distinct. While the cultures around them had female and male religious roles, Paul clarified that in the church, the role of elder—based on creation order and the fallout of Genesis—was entrusted to qualified men. This was not a reflection of their previous religious systems, but a unique expression of the church’s identity and order within the new covenant community.
Final Note:
So if you're confused about church government, you're not alone. Much of what Paul wrote in his letters focused on issues and confusion within the church. In Paul's final letters, he focused on church government and the roles certain individuals play within the church. So if you're confused, you're not the only one. It appears there was also much confusion in the early church.
One of the churches Paul spent much of his time ministering to was the church in Corinth, located in Greece and made up primarily of Gentile, non-Jewish believers who came from Greek and Roman cultural backgrounds. Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses confusion, disorder, and problems within the church. Near the end of the letter, when discussing orderly worship and church gatherings, Paul clearly instructs that women were not to teach or exercise authority over the congregation when the church assembled as a whole. Later, in 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul further explains the qualifications for elders, consistently describing the office in masculine terms and reserving the role for qualified men.