ssignment: The Elder nd His Work by Robert R. Taylor, Jr. Chapter 6: Discussion Questions: 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 C 1. The negative precept of not covetous means: a. not soon angry b. not lascivious c. no lover of money d. not ignorant C E 2. novice is: a. a newborn Christian b. an imbiber of alcoholic beverages c. a self-willed church dictator who either rules or ruins d. a lover of money e. a seasoned veteran in the faith 3. Diotrephes is remembered in the Bible as: a. a great preacher b. one of the twelve apostles c. one who loved pre-eminence and determined to have his own way d. a gentle elder of the Ephesian congregation 4. The first universal Pope of Rome was a. Pope Paul VI b. Pope John Paul I c. ugustus Caesar d. Peter, the postle e. Boniface III 5. [ ] has been referred to frequently as the Wisest of the ges. a. Solomon b. Rehoboam c. Judas Iscariot d. hab Page 1
T 1. Brawling and wine consumption are intimately related. F 2. Liquor consumption and eldership service are beautifully blended and stand in holy harmony. F 3. It is wrong to pay elders who labor both in the word and doctrine. F 4. Sinful anger and righteous indignation are the very same. F 5. Jesus was wrong in Mark 3.5 to look upon certain ones with anger because of the evident hardness of their hearts. Discussion Questions 1. List and discuss the various categories into which eldership qualifications may be placed? From p. 87 Relative qualifications - areas in which there is current possession but even greater growth can and should occur bsolute qualifications - the man either meets the condition or he does not meet it 7. What is the definition of the Greek term that is translated no brawler or not contentious? From p. 92 The Greek term means not disposed to fight; not quarrelsome or contentious. 9. Why would a lover of money be a constant misfit in the eldership? It is highly likely that if a man who loved money was placed into an eldership position, he would use the position for gratifying the lust of wealth accumulation, this would hinder his work as an elder and bring reproach on the church. 10. What is wrong with an eldership who winks at the sins of moneyed members and will not discipline them? If an eldership does this, they are enabling the money to influence the physical and spiritual oversight of the congregation. This build ill will and contention within the body and will cause members to fall from the faith. Page 2
11. What is the meaning of the Greek term neophutus according to Thayer? From p. 95 Thayer says the term means, newly-planted, a new convert, neophyte (one who has recently become a Christian). 12. What does Vine say about a novice? From p. 95 W.E. Vine says of novice that it is one who by inexperience is unfitted to act as a bishop or overseer in a church. Page 3
Chapter 7: Discussion Questions: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13 1. [ ]alone could have produced the type of stately qualifications esstential for the successful functioning of the eldership. a. Divine wisdom b. Human wisdom c. Devilish wisdom D D 2. [ ]of the positive qualifications as there are of the negative traits. a. There are more than twice as many b. There are more than three times as many c. There are one-half as many d. There are one-third as many 3. The word temperate in the King James Version is translated as [ ] in the merican Standard Version. a. just b. patient c. orderly d. self-controlled 4. n elder should be addicted to: a. good works b. worldliness c. immorality d. lukewarmness 5. Relative to church attendance an elder should: a. attend only on Sunday morning b. attend when it is convenient and he has nothing else to do c. attend about like the rank and file of the members do d. attend LL services unless it is utterly impossible for him to be present Page 4
T 1. The church of our Lord is the greatest institution that humanity has ever known. F 2. It is a relatively easy matter to remove from the eldership an unqualified man. T 3. Self-control, just and holy describe man s full duty to himself, to others and to God. F 4. It is quite easy for a congregation to rise above a mediocre eldership. F 5. The qualifications for elders are fickle and change from generation to generation. Discussion Questions 3. Define and discuss in detail the expression of temperate, vigilant and sober-minded. From p. 111 Relative to vigilant or temperate Vine says the Greek term denotes excercising selfcontrol. For sober-minded the same word authority say the Greek term, sophron, denotes of sound mind; hence, self-controlled. Thayer says that the term for temperate means, mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining controlling one s self. Discuss If one cannot have self-control it will be next to impossible for the maintain the qualities of sober-mindedness. To be sober-minded one has to maintain themselves that they can handle the issues and matter with seriousness and gravity, without self-control one may be overcome with the moment and the wrong influence can be given, or scripture itself may be compromised. 4. Define orderly or of good behavior. Form p. 113 Brother Merideth sagely observes that orderly means to be well-behaved, law-abiding, peaceable; one who is free from disorder or confusion as by observing a proper arrangement. Page 5
6. Define and discuss in detail gentleness or patience. From p. 113 Thayer says gentle means, equitable, fair, mild, gentle. Discuss Being gentle is having the quality to softly, tenderly, delicately handle situations with Christians and non-christians so that they can be aided, assisted, and or rebuked so that they can maintain, come to the knowledge of Jesus, and/or return to the faith. 7. Define and discuss in detail self-controlled, just and holy. From p. 115 The self-controlled or temperate person is one who lives right with himself. ccording to Thayer he possesses powers in mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining, controlling one s self, temperate, continent. Discuss The man that has the qualities of just and holy is a man who walks after the mind of Christ, one who wants to please God in all commandments. This man will be self-controlled and will display this quality and will be able to assist others. 8. What all is comprehended in the qualification that an elder must have a good report or good testimony of them which are without? From p. 117 For the word report or testimony Thayer says the Greek term means, in an ethical sense of testimony concerning one s character. This qualification touches the man s reputation among men. It is a comprehensive portrait of how he has conducted himself before others and what their impressions of him are. 13. Discuss apt to teach in some detail. From p. 120 Brother Merideth states, pt to teach means one who possesses the ability and interest to teach. In order to teach the Bible one must have knowledge of the Bible. Discuss This says nothing about the man s abilities as a teacher of the word, it only says that they teach it. man may be a poor orator, but if he wants to teach, teaches, and looks for teaching opportunities - he is apt to teach. Page 6
Chapter 8: Discussion Questions: 2, 4, 7, 14 C 1. Qualifications for elders are found in the books of: a. Matthew and John b. cts and Romans c. I Timothy and Titus d. Jude and Revelation C 2. The Bible teaches in I John 4.8, 16 that God is: a. love b. light c. all powerful d. all knowing 3. The Bible teaches that a [ ] may serve in the eldership. a. bachelor b. married man who is fatherless c. married man who has faithful children d. woman e. teen-age boy 4. The [ ] in its 1946 debut taught that an elder could be married only once. a. Revised Standard Version b. King James Version c. merican Standard d. English Revised Version 5. The [ ] is planning a new edition for early 1980 s which will seek to please the Feminist Movement relative to the removal of male oriented terms. a. RSV b. TEV c. SV d. KJV Page 7
F 1. The Christian should be concerned only with his character and should ignore any importance attached to his reputation. F 2. Inhospitable men may serve with eloquent efficiency in the eldership of the Lord s church. F 3. It makes little difference whether an elder s children are faithful or faithless.? 4. The RSV is now the best selling version of any Bible on the religious market. T 5. Men should serve in the eldership willingly and never under the applied pressures of constraint. Discussion Questions 2. Distinquish between reputation and character. Definitions from dictionary.com Reputation - overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general within a community Character - The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another 4. Just what is hospitality as defined in the Bible? From p. 127 Hospitality is love for strangers set to benevolent action. It is love on the lips translated into a dynamic demonstration of what Christianity enjoins in our treatment of other people. 7. Define the expression, a lover of good, in the words of Thayer and Vine. From p. 131 Thayer, defines it to mean, loving goodness. Vine says in his fine work that the term means, loving that which is good. 14. Discuss in detail the argument presented in favor of man s serving in the eldership who has but one child. Scripture makes it that children is a term that refers to any number of children, whether the number is 1 or more than 1. When a husband and wife have had there first children, they have become parents and thereby have children. Page 8