Insights On Leadership From Paul

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NKJV

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Paul as a Leader

Able to reach various audiences

Brilliant grasp of the OT

Supreme love for Christ and His message (; )

Romans 1:14 NKJV

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

Authentic missionary passion - leap over cultural and racial barriers

All people were his concern.

Doesn’t care of a person’s wealth, status, or intellect.

Has the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Social Qualifications

above reproach

good reputation

Moral Qualifications

sexual faithfulness

temperate - not addicted to alcohol

Mental Qualifications

sound judgment

self-discipline

respectable

ready and able to teach

Personality Qualifications

solve problems rather than picking fights

Gentle, not a lover of controversy

Hospitality

Not covetous

Domestic Qualifications

ability to manage his own family

spouse share the aspirations and be willing to join in necessary sacrifices

Maturity

not a recent convert

stable in character, spiritual in outlook, and not ambitious for position

The importance of the above requirements for leadership in the Christian church are recognized even in secular circles.

Pagan Onosander described the ideal field commander: “He must be prudently self-controlled, sober, frugal, enduring in toil, intelligent, without love of money, neither young nor old, if possible the father of a family, able to speak competently, and of good reputation.”