1 Timothy 3:1-7 Called to Lead

Scripture: Nathan Foss

Intro

Building Update

All the qualifications he lists are spiritual virtues, character traits that mark godly teachers and leaders.

He says nothing about the duties of the leaders, but is concerned only with their spirituality, morality, and virtue as the necessary foundation to duty

Office of the Overseer vs. 1

Those called to lead in the church are called to the office of overseer

episkopes: to look after. Visitation, or the public office of an overseer

The office of a bishop,” i.e., the care and oversight of a Christian church

The terms overseer, “elder,” and “pastor” (or “shepherd”) are all used in the NT to refer to the same office.

Acts 20:28 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:1–3 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Above Reproach vs. 2

Those who are called to lead in the church are to be above reproach

Reproach is used to indicate disgrace or dishonor or to discredit someone

All of the items listed in vs. 2 are aspects of above reproach

As a Christian man you want to be above approach

What does that look like

Husband of One Wife

First, you want to a husband of one wife

The phrase literally states, “a one woman man.”

I don’t know why men think they are capable of handling more than one woman

Paul is not referring to a leader’s marital status, as the absence of the definite article in the original indicates.

Rather, the issue is his moral, sexual behavior

Many commentators understand the phrase to mean “faithful to his wife

Does this mean that you can’t be an elder if you have been divorced?

The phrase means “at the present time the husband of one wife,” in line with other qualifications which refer to present character.

The issue here is faithfulness

On either of these views, Paul is not prohibiting all second marriages

A widower is allowed to remarry

A divorcee who is remarried can be an elder but must be evaluated on a case by case basis

Pastors must take great care to remain above reproach for several reasons. First, they are the special targets of Satan, and he will assault them with more severe temptation than others

Second, their fall has a greater potential for harm. Satan knows that when a shepherd falls, the effect on the sheep is devastating.

Third, leaders’ greater knowledge of the truth, and accountability to live it, brings greater chastening when they sin.

Fourth, elders’ sins are more hypocritical than others’ because they preach against the very sins they commit

Sober Minded

A leader in God’s church must also be temperate or sober-minded.

temperate literally means “wineless,” or “unmixed with wine

In a metaphorical sense, nēphalios means “alert,” “watchful,” “vigilant,” or “clear-headed.”

That may be its primary sense in this passage.

A leader must be one who thinks clearly. He must possess the inner strength to refrain from any excess that would dull his alertness

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Self-controlled

The prudent man is well-disciplined, and knows how to correctly order his priorities

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Hospitable

a compound word from the Greek words for “to love,” and “strangers

Persecution, poverty, orphans, widows, and traveling Christians made hospitality essential in New Testament times.

They had no hotels or motels, and the inns were notoriously evil. Often they were brothels, or places where travelers were robbed or beaten

The door of the Christian home, as well as the heart of the Christian family, ought to be open to all who come in need.

That is especially true of the overseer.

Elders are not elevated to a place where they are unapproachable

Able to Teach

Moral Disqualifications vs. 3

Those who are called to lead are free of moral disqualifications

Not a Drunkard

Drunkard means to be controlled by a foreign substance

This is more than alcohol but includes drugs and substances that alter a person’s personality

If there is a bodily dependance and consumption leads to a change in persona and a diminishing of skills

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Not Violent

A man who is abusive both physically and emotionally is disqualified from serving as an elder

Sadly, this is often the hardest one to detect, especially if the victim doesn’t want to bring shame on the family

Not Quarrelsome

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Not a Lover of Money

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Managing Your House vs. 4-5

Those who are called to lead in the church are already managing his house

The home is the proving ground of Christian character and therefore the preparation field for ministry

Spiritual Maturity vs. 6

Those who are called to lead in the church are not new to the faith but exhibit spiritual maturity

Well Thought Of vs. 7

Those who are called to lead the church are well thought of by outsiders