A Study About Elders - Good Report From Without
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

A Study About Elders
Having A Good Report Of Them Which Are Without


I. Introduction:

A. There will be evil and good reports regarding faithful saints (II Corinthians 6:1-8).

  1. The fact is, faithful saints and teachers often have things said of them that are negative and untrue (Matthew 5:10-12 and John 15:18-21).
  2. Faithful men do not necessarily want everyone to speak well of them (Luke 6:26).
B. What we must accomplish is living in a way wherein no one can make a credible claim of unfaithful living about us (I Peter 2:9-12 and I Peter 3:15-16).

  1. Our conduct must be as becometh the Gospel (Philippians 1:27).
  2. If you live to be a pattern of good to follow, you can accomplish this (Titus 2:7-8).

II. Body: Having A Good Report Of Them Which Are Without (I Timothy 3:7).

A. The term translated “report” in this qualification means: “evidence given (judicially or genitive case): — record, report, testimony, witness” (Strong’s # 3141). It appears 37 times in the KJV translated as “witness(es)” (15), “testimony” (14), “record” (7), and “report” (1).

  1. The term is used when talking about witnesses (Mark 14:55-59).
  2. The term is used about a record of events (John 1:19).
  3. The term is translated as “testimony” (John 5:34).
  4. The greatest witness or record is that which comes from God (I John 5:1-13).
  5. Credible witnesses serve as evidence throughout the entirety of the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 17:6-7, Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:15-17, John 8:17-18, II Corinthians 13:1, I Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28).
B. We must consider by whose standard we call something good (Proverbs 17:15 and Isaiah 5:20).

  1. People will misapply what God calls good (Malachi 2:17).
  2. The way God perceives good and what man calls good are not the same (Luke 16:15).
  3. It is upon us to test what is good (Romans 12:1-2 and I Thessalonians 5:21).
  4. We have to properly use the Scriptures to know what is good according to our Lord (II Timothy 3:15-17).
C. Of a good report (Acts 6:1-3, Acts 10:22, Acts 16:1-3, and I Timothy 5:9-10).

  1. The good report is to come from those without, meaning people outside of the faith (Mark 4:10-11 and I Corinthians 5:9-13).
  2. The point is, this man must have a good reputation amongst even people of the world (Proverbs 4:18, Ecclesiastes 7:1, Philippians 2:14-16, and I Peter 4:1-16).
  3. How do those around him speak of him outside of the congregation (Acts 22:12)?
D. Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil (II Timothy 2:24-26).

  1. This point is illustrated in one way concerning a person whom desires to be rich (I Timothy 6:6-10).
  2. To avoid this, remove whatever would cause you to fall (Deuteronomy 7:22-26).
  3. Walking wisely, especially towards those without (Colossians 4:6), will leave us free from traps (Proverbs 1:1-19).

III. Conclusion: It is possible to have a good report from all (III John 1:12).