1 Timothy 3:1-7
Notes:
As Paul outlines the roles of various church members, he now addresses the qualifications of those in leadership roles, beginning with the overseer, bishop, shepherd, or pastor of the church. Paul provides Timothy specific requirements regarding the qualifications of the leader of the church:
- The Office
- The Standards
- The Testimony
The Office (v. 1)
- It is a desire.
- The office of a pastor or bishop is not one that is purely of duty.
- God places a desire in the heart of a man to be the shepherd of the flock and to preach the Word.
- Once that desire is evident, it should be communicated to others in the ministry for encouragement, guidance, and counsel.
- It is a true calling.
- When one is called to be a pastor or bishop, it is a call from God.
- The call can be trusted and God can be trusted to honor His call by enabling one with desire to accomplish the work of the pastor/bishop.
- Consider the call God made to these:
- Isaiah: Isaiah 6
- Jeremiah: Jeremiah 1
- Samuel: 1 Samuel 3
- It is a good work.
- The work of a pastor/bishop is a work ordained by God.
- It is a work that, when properly ministered:
- Produces visible fruit.
- Increases the kingdom of God.
- Ministers the life-changing gospel of Christ.
- Edifies and establishes the church through love, discipleship, and evangelism.
The Standards (v. 2-6)
Here, Paul provides the basis for qualifying a man to be a pastor/bishop. The list is long, but meaningful. Each requirement is purposed to maintain the church in love, purity, and holiness.
- Blameless
- A man with no record of wrongs done.
- A husband of one wife
- Meaning that the man has been faithful to one woman as his wife for life; there is only an allowance for re-marrying in the event of the death of a spouse.
- In other words, a man who has divorced one wife and married another does not meet the qualification.
- It should be obvious from the text that polygamy (having more than one wife at a time) is a disqualification.
- Vigilant
- A man who is watchful and guarded against the temptations that Satan uses to ensnare those who commit to serve Christ.
- One who avoids risk.
- Sober
- One who is not intoxicated by worldly desires or vain thoughts.
- A man who is clear-headed, calm, and even-handed.
- Good behavior
- A man who is generally mild-mannered and not a partaker of unruly behavior.
- One who always has a sense of decency about his actions.
- Open to hospitality
- One who welcomes strangers (with prudence).
- He is open to welcome others and befriend those who are in need by providing as God allows to meet their needs.
- He is one who loves his neighbor as himself.
- Apt to teach
- One who has a desire and a love not only for knowledge of the Word of God, but also for sharing that knowledge through:
- Teaching
- Preaching
- Discipleship
- Communicating
- Instructing
- Not only is he able to do the above, he delights in these things.
- Not given to wine
- He must not be a partaker of any substance that would cause a change in behavior such that it could discredit himself or the ministry.
- Not a striker
- The pastor/bishop must not be a physical fighter or one who encourages a physical fight, blow, or any offensive attack on another.
- In essence, he should resist quarrelsome behavior and rely on mediation and intercession from God to solve any disputes or disagreements.
- Not greedy
- Specifically, Paul cites that the pastor/bishop must not be greedy of “filthy lucre” or monetary gain as a result of his position.
- The adjective “filthy” seems to imply that it is spotted with improper gain or the image of the world, and perhaps was gained at the expense of others.
- He should not be in the ministry for the money or for any other personal gain.
- Patient
- He must be meek and gentle toward the flock.
- He must preach the truth in love, counting on the work of the Holy Spirit to change lives at the appointed time.
- Not a brawler
- The man must not be contentious, seeking confrontation.
- He must be peaceable, quiet, and self-controlled.
- Not covetous
- The pastor/bishop should not look on the things of others, or the things of this world with desire to attain those things.
- He should have no lust in his heart toward gaining what is not his own.
- Ruler of his own house
- He should be a man who is a good husband, a good father, and generally a good leader of his home.
- He should keep his home under subjection – that is, there should be orderliness in the home, not calamity.
- Note that Paul adds to this requirement a parenthetical explanation, citing the importance of this requirement:” For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:5 KJV)
- Not a novice
- The pastor/bishop should not be a recently converted Christian.
- He should be grounded in the faith through a record of serving Christ, demonstrating the preceding qualifications, and a proven testimony.
The Testimony (v. 7)
Although this could have been kept in the previous list of qualifications, it is more than a qualification or requirement. It is the past, present, and future evidence of the close walk with God that a pastor/bishop needs.
- Have a good report
- There should be nothing bad that can be said about this man.
- This applies to his life prior to conversion as well as while a Christian.
- Note the wording from the text, “a good report of them which are without”. Although this is subject to interpretation, these are elements of those who are “without”:
- Those relationships that are not within the church (business associates, neighbors, relatives, etc. who may not know Christ as Savior).
- Those relationships that existed prior to repenting and trusting Christ as Savior.
- The reason for this is three-fold:
- To prevent bad reports from the past from discrediting the pastor/bishop and church.
- To prevent the opportunity of backsliding into previous sin or to partake of sin of those without.
- To help promote to the church the benefits of good testimony and godly living in all aspects of life.
Questions:
- What does it mean to have a desire for something? Are all desires good? Why or why not?
- Explain why Paul wrote that the desire to be a pastor/bishop was a good thing.
- How can a young man recognize a call from God to be a pastor?
- If a young man feels that he is called by God to be a pastor and desires that role, what should he do?
- What indications are there that God is doing a good work through a pastor?
- Why do you think that God’s Word contains such a long list of requirements for a pastor?
- Considering all of the qualifications for a pastor, if a man who has led an unruly life as a troublemaker with the law and a demonstrated rebellious behavior for years feels called to be a pastor after being saved a short time, does he meet the qualifications to be a pastor? Provide the basis for your answer.
- Why do you think there is such an emphasis on being able to properly rule the home for a pastoral candidate?
- Paul uses the term “filthy lucre” when he mentions greed in verse 3. What does that term mean and why do you think Paul put it in the list?
- Why is it important that a candidate for pastor possess a good testimony before, during and after his ministry?
