NKJV	ESV	NASU
1 Timothy 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetousTitus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God not self willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine not violent, not greedy for money,	1 Timothy 3:3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  Titus 1:7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,	1 Timothy 3:3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.  Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem “If” has been a favorite of mine since I first read it on a graduation card I received years ago. In part it reads—

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise….
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

What sets a man apart from his fellows as a leader of men is the ability to keep his composure under the pressures and provocations of leadership. In other words, he can “keep his cool.” Generally, such men rise to the top in business or government.

This also holds true for leaders in the Lord’s church. Leaders are required at times to deal with people and circumstances that are vexing and try one’s patience. Leaders are required to rebuke, reprove, and correct, without becoming cruel, acrimonious, or impatient. Leaders may be slandered and treated with contempt by the spiritually dead and immature—but they must not respond in kind. All this and much more will test a man’s ability to control his temper and his behavior. Leaders may be called upon to calm explosive situations when others are being emotional and irrational. They need to maintain iron self-discipline and restraint under the kinds of provocations that will cause a lesser man to explode in rage. As Alexander Strauch puts it,

Elders must handle highly emotional interpersonal conflicts…Elders are often at the center of very tense situations, so a bad-tempered, pugnacious person is not going to solve issues and problems. He will, in fact, create worse explosions. Because a pugnacious man will treat the sheep roughly and even hurt them, he cannot be one of Christ’s undershepherds (Strauch 196).

To make sure the right men are shepherding the Lord’s flock, Paul and Peter both set forth qualifications for men who aspire to the office of elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:2-3).

In this article we examine a cluster of three qualifications of elders presented by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7. Possessing these qualities marks a man out as spiritually mature; that is, he possesses the spirit of Christ and is well equipped by discipline and experience to deal with the myriad stresses of leading the Lord’s people.

1. Not violent (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7)
2. Not quick tempered (Tit. 1:7)
3. Not quarrelsome (1 Tim. 3:3)

For each of these qualifications, we will see how it is translated and then look at the lexical data for the Greek word or phrase behind the translation This will be followed by a few observations and some insights from other writers.

Not Violent (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7)

KJV, “no striker”
ESV, NKJV, “not violent”
NASU[1], “not pugnacious”

The Greek phrase is me plektes and it occurs twice in the NT (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). It means “not a giver of blows, not given to violence” (Rogers, LEKGNT 492). The phrase is composed of me, “no, not” plus plektes—

• “a smiter, i.e. pugnacious (quarrelsome):–striker” (Strong’s #4131, Strong’s Greek Lexicon).
• “pugnacious man, bully in a list of qualities for a bishop” (A&G 675).
• “a person who is pugnacious and demanding – ‘bully, violent person’” (Louw & Nida 757, 88.137).

“Bully” is a word that resonates with us today. Examples from Scripture include Cain and his descendant Lamech (Gen. 4), King Saul (1 Sam. 18-20), Nabal (1 Sam. 25), Diotrephes (3 John 9-11), and others. Bullies intimidate, humiliate, and coerce their victims. They are brash and abrasive. Their victims are physically and emotionally battered. Their violence is not limited to physical assaults, but are verbal as well. We see all this in the treatment of Jesus before the council (Lk. 22:63-64). Also, Joseph’s brethren “…could not speak peaceably to him” (Gen. 37:4). Diotrephes was “…talking wicked nonsense against us [John and the apostles—shb]” (3 John 10, ESV). As John observed about Diotrophes, “…whoever does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11). Such a one is unqualified to lead the Lord’s people. Such a one could not possibly fulfill the role of an undershepherd, an elder in the Lord’s church.

God hates violence. God warned His people, “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place” (Jer. 22:3). “Hands that shed innocent blood” are classed among the things that God hates (Prov. 6:17). Violence will bring its own punishment upon the one who commits it. “Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity…His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own crown” (Psa. 7:14-16). “Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him” (Psa. 140:11b). “The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates” (Psa. 11:5). God has unequivocally promised to judge the violent. God demonstrated this fact in His judgment against violence in the Antediluvian world, and mankind would do well to take heed to this fact (Bibens 97).

Leadership in the Lord’s church must reflect the Lord’s leadership of His church.

The undershepherds must reflect the loving care of the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). The standard is revealed by Paul: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25). Furthermore, a father is to lead his children without anger and in a caring spirit (Eph. 6:4). In a home ruled by a bully, however, the wife and children are distressed and miserable. This ought never be the atmosphere in our homes or in our congregations.

Elders are to be “examples to the flock” and the example they are to follow is Christ’s (1 Peter 5:3-4). In Matthew 12, a contrast is drawn between the Pharisees and Jesus—

¹⁴ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. ¹⁵ But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. ¹⁶ Yet He warned them not to make Him known, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet[2], saying:
¹⁸”Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
²⁰ A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
²¹ And in His name Gentiles will trust” (Matthew 12:14-21).

Mike Criswell comments on this passage—

“He shall not strive nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.” This description stands in stark contrast to what the Jews expect in a Messiah. They look for one with power who will violently relieve them of their Roman oppressors. Jesus’ methods are those of peace (John 6:15). Jesus does not quarrel or cry out in the public streets where crowds were wont to gather. He is not a troublemaker or an insurrectionist…He is the Prince of Peace, and as such so are the methods of His kingdom.
Isaiah’s prophesy is picturesque. The word “strive” (epizo) carries the idea of “wrangling or brawling” and “cry out” (kraugazo) denotes a noisy commotion…[K]raugazo  is sometimes used to describe a dog’s barking, a raven’s squawking, or even a drunk’s bawling.” Jesus acted as none of these (Criswell 355).

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.” Isaiah used these two comparatives in reference to people. Like reeds in a tempest, they are bruised, downtrodden, and battered by sin. Like smoldering wicks, only a flicker of hope is left. But rather than discard these weary folks, as the religious leaders commonly do, Jesus extends His hand with love and compassion (Criswell 356).

This passage reflects the tender care of the Chief Shepherd for His people. Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30). This is the example that must guide the elder (cf. Phil. 2:3-5). Clearly, a man who is pugnacious does not reflect the example of Jesus Christ. He will only hurt people and damage the church’s reputation.

The Apostle Paul also exemplifies the leadership qualities that should be reflected in elders. He asks the Ephesian elders to remember his example (Acts 20:18-35), emphasizing both fidelity to the Word and humility in serving the Lord and His people. He taught the Corinthians the principles of love that should govern interpersonal relationships (1 Cor. 13:4-8) and set forth himself as an example of self-denial, even of one’s rights, in humbly seeking what is best for the Lord’s Cause (1 Corinthians 9; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 and 2 Corinthians 10-12). “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ… (2 Cor. 10:1). Again, the pugnacious man does not understand what the Lord wants in His undershepherds.[3]

Not quick tempered (Tit. 1:7)

KJV, “not soon angry”
NKJV, ESV, NASU, “not quick tempered”

The phrase me orgilos only in Titus 1:7, from me, “no, not,” and orgilos—

• irascible:–soon angry (Strong’s).
• “inclined to anger, quick-tempered (BAGD). Words w. this ending often denote habit or custom (Ellicott).” (Rogers, LEKGNT 508).
• “inclined to anger, quick tempered, …Tit 1:7” (A&G).

The Lord is slow to anger and long-suffering

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8; see also Romans 2:4; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20). Therefore, His undershepherds must be longsuffering. The first quality Paul mentions in his description of agape love is “Love suffers long and is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4a). “Suffers long” is from makrothymia, “to be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient” (Strong’s). To be longsuffering implies one is “slow-tempered” in contrast with “quick tempered.”

William Barclay writes of this word—

Love is patient. The Greek word (makrothumein) used in the New Testament always describes patience with people and not patience with circumstances. The fourth-century Church father John Chrysostom said that it is the word used of those who are wronged and who have it easily in their power to avenge themselves and yet who will not do it. It describes people who are slow to anger, and it is used of God himself in his relationship with men and women. In our dealings with others, however difficult and however unkind and hurting they are, we must exercise the same patience as God exercises with us. Such patience is not the sign of weakness but the sign of strength; it is not defeatism but rather the only way to victory. The American Baptist Harry Emerson Fosdick points out that no one treated the President, Abraham Lincoln, with more contempt than did his secretary for war, Edwin Stanton. He called him ‘a low cunning clown’, he nicknamed him ‘the original gorilla’ and said that the traveler and explorer Paul Du Chaillu was a fool to wander about Africa trying to capture a gorilla when he could have found one so easily at Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln said nothing. He made Stanton his war minister because he was the best man for the job, and he treated him with every courtesy. The years wore on. The night came when the assassin’s bullet murdered Lincoln in the theatre. In the little room to which the President’s body was taken stood that same Stanton, and, looking down on Lincoln’s silent face, he said through his tears: ‘There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen.’ The patience of love had conquered in the end.

Not all anger is sinful. God is angry with wicked (Psalms 7:11) and His wrath against ungodliness and unrighteousness is revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18). Jesus was angry on occasion (Mark 3:5).

Christians, however, are admonished “Be angry, and do not sin”:[4] do not let the sun go down on your wrath,  nor give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27). James adds “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20). When one’s temper is quickly aroused, one gives the Devil a foot in the door. Strauch observes,

Since an elder must deal with people and their problems, a “hothead” will quickly find much material to fuel his anger. Proverbs warns against the perils of an angry man: “An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression” (Prov. 29:22).[5] With his ugly, angry words, a quick-tempered man will destroy the peace and unity of God’s family. The fierce looks and harsh words of the quick-tempered man will tear people apart emotionally, leaving people sick and destroyed in spirit. So a man who desires to be a church shepherd must be patient and self-controlled (Strauch 232).

Not quarrelsome (1 Tim. 3:3)

KJV, “not a brawler”
NKJV, ESV, “not quarrelsome”
NASU, “peaceable”

The Greek word rendered by the preceding translations is amachos—

• “from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3163 [machos]: peaceable: –not a brawler.” (Strong’s)
• “without fighting, not a fighter, not contentious (RW; Guthrie)” (Rogers, LEKGNT 492).
• “amachos 2x not disposed to fight; not quarrelsome or contentious, 1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 3:2” (Mounce 1079).
• “Peaceable…of Christians gener. Tit 3:2; of bishops 1 Ti 3:3” (A&G)
• “39.24 … pertaining to a lack of conflict and contention – ‘not contentious, peaceful’ “(Louw & Nida 496).
• Machomai, mache, amachos. This group is used for physical combat, especially of a military kind…In the NT, however, only Acts 7:26 relates for certain to physical conflict. Strife of words is the point in Jn. 6:52. [2 Cor. 7:5; Jas. 4:1-2] Strife is wrong for Christians (2 Tim. 2;23; Tit. 3:9; legal disputes). Bishops (1 Tim. 3;3), and indeed all Christians (Tit. 3:2), are not to be quarrelsome (amachos) (TDNT 573).

Those who are charged with stewardship of His church by the Prince of Peace, must be peace-loving. Strauch observes,

Along with being gentle, it is important that an elder be uncontentious or peaceable…God hates division and fighting among His people: “There are six things which the Lord hates. A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers” (Prov. 6:16-19). Yet fighting paralyzes and kills many local churches. It may be the single, most distressing problem Christian leaders face. Therefore, a Christian elder is required to be “uncontentious,” which means “not fighting” or “not quarrelsome.” Positively stated, an elder must be a peaceable man. As Paul writes, “And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim. 2:24,25a).

Sometimes brethren involved in quarrels and disturbances will insist they are only “contending for the faith” (Jude 1:3) or “fighting the good fight of faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). These are laudable actions in which we must engage. However, we must not try to excuse bad conduct by appeal to these truths. These and similar passages use a Greek word, agonizomai, that means “to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something)” (Strong’s). Agonizomai is never used of sinful contention, quarreling, and malicious fighting (Luke 13:24; John 18:36; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 1:29; 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). Rather, all Christians, especially their leaders, have been given the following admonitions:

2 Timothy 2:23-26 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Titus 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable [amachos], gentle, showing all humility to all men.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Conclusion

Generally, our character in later life will be the fruit of what we have invested ourselves in from our youth. If our youthful habits include “flying off the handle” and “giving people a piece of our mind,” it may be exceedingly difficult to overcome our youthful habits of life in our mature years. Happily, we can do so with the Lord’s help. After admonishing Christians to be peaceable, gentle and humble, Paul confesses, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). God’s Word calls us to repentance of past misconduct and encourages us to strive to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we will submit to God’s renovation program, one day we will so reflect Christ, we will be able to say as Paul did “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). The writer of Hebrews calls the attention of his audience to the example of their leaders: “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct” (Hebrews 13:7). Such Christians are a blessing and such men are well qualified to serve as shepherds of God’s people.

Article by: Smith Bibens | sbibens@gmail.com

[1] KJV (King James Version), ESV (English Standard Version), NKJV (New King James Version), NASU (New American Standard Version—Updated 1995).

[2] Isaiah 42:1-4

[3] Please read the companion article in this series on “Gentleness” by Shahe Gergian.

[4] Quoting Psalm 4:4; see also Psalm 37:8.

[5] Many are the warnings against a quick temper are found in Solomon’s guide to wisdom: Prov. 6:34; 12:16; 14:17; 15:18; 22:24-25; 30:33).