An elder must also be philagathos, a word which means either a lover of good things, or a lover of good people, and which Aristotle uses in the sense of unselfish, that is, a lover of good actions. We do not have to choose between these three meanings; they are all included. The Christian office-bearer must be a man whose heart answers to the good in whatever person, in whatever place and in whatever action he finds it.

 

 

As usual, most people take Paul for the negatives instead of the positives.  Paul is not looking for elders who are debaters and seek out the evil in people.  He is looking for good men who will find the good that can be found.  We need more of such men and women.