The ethical qualifications required of the elder (vv. 6–8) should be context enough to point to the manner of pastoral rebuke/refutation, one that is humble rather than arrogant. But arguably there is an inbuilt civility in true refutation. What is refutation? Refutation is not just saying I disagree with you, or giving a contradictory opinion. It is demonstrating where and how those who disagree with sound teaching actually do disagree with it. One might break it down into a number constitutive