The Original 1883 (First Edition) of
The Ecclesial Guide

19. -- Suitable Qualifications.

In this delegation of official duties, it ought to be guided by the apostolic and reasonable principle that men of suitable qualifications should be chosen. Men chosen for the performance of particular duties become more or less representative men to "those that are without;" and since the ecclesia has a mission to "them that are without," it is important that in these men, "those that are without" should be able to recognize an illustration of the spirit and principles that belong to Christ. Furthermore, as regards those that are within, it is important that the men to whom a special function is assigned by choice, should be men likely to exercise a righteous and beneficial influence. If Paul was careful to recommend that candidates for spiritual appointment in the early ecclesias should have certain eligible qualifications, much more needful is it that regard should be had to these qualifications in appointments in a day like ours, when we are not privileged with the visible indications of the mind of the spirit.

Those qualifications are thus described: "Blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; not a novice, moreover he must have a good report of them that are without."

We cannot do better than have these qualifications always in view when called upon to make a choice for any particular office.