The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
vigilant: Vine, and others, use the words "temperate" and "watchful" (114). Peter gave good advice to Christians: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The word "temperate" comes from a word that means "wineless." In 2 Timothy 4:5, the same idea is expressed: "But watch thou in all things." Simply stated, it says, "Keep your head." Wuest says of the word "vigilant": "to be calm, dispassionate and circumspect" (55). An elder must be a straight thinker. He must not allow his mind to become clouded and intoxicated with philosophies and strange doctrines. He keeps straight about God’s word and is well rooted and grounded in faith and doctrine. An elder is always ready to "communicate the word," skillfully wielding the "sword of the Spirit" to defend the faith and protect God’s flock. He is ever watchful, remembering the warning Paul laid down in Acts 20:29, "For ... after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Thus, a vigilant man keeps the faith and keeps his head while others are losing theirs. He is calm, cool, and collected in all his relationships, in the community as well as in the church.