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“A Man Above Reproach”
Categories: MARRIAGE, NEW TESTAMENT, RELATIONSHIPS, THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHCan someone who has had an adulterous affair in the past and since repented be qualified to be an elder?
Sincerely, Credential Control
Dear Credential Control,
Theoretically, it doesn’t disqualify him if a congregation feels completely comfortable that he is no longer capable of that behavior. Your question is very similar to another question we received on appointing deacons. The qualification he has to meet is ‘husband of one wife’ (Tit 1:6, 1 Tim 3:2) which literally means ‘one woman man’. In order to be qualified as an elder, a man has to show that he is completely and totally devoted to one woman.
Though it is possible that someone could have committed adultery long ago (say, before they were a christian) and is completely different now – any adulterous affair raises a gigantic red flag. A congregation would have to be able to unequivocally feel that the adultery was a thing of the past and inconceivable to ever exist in the future.
Adultery can certainly be forgiven and repented of, but being an elder is a position of great honor (1 Tim 5:17) and immense responsibility (Heb 13:17). An elder must not only be faithful now but have lived a life that is above reproach (1 Tim 3:2). Very few conduct themselves circumspectly enough to qualify for the good work of overseeing the Lord’s church (1 Tim 3:1).
