The Character of the Pastor- 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (2)

The Character of the Pastor- 1 Timothy 3:1-7

We have been learning with the young pastor Timothy of what the church believes and how the church should conduct herself. As we celebrate Ascension Sunday, that is, Christ’s entrance into heaven (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:6-11; Heb. 1:3). When Christ ascended into heaven, taking up the role of our intercessor (cf. Heb. 7:25), He gave gifts to the churches: apostles and prophets, evangelists, and pastors-teachers (Eph. 4:11).

In giving the churches, which by the way Paul says Christ purchased with His own blood (cf. Acts 20:28), Jesus has given them pastors-teachers. There are several names used to describe this one of two offices of the church (the other being the deacon). They are called elders (1 Peter 5:1), bishop or overseer (1 Tim. 3:1), teacher-pastor (Eph. 4:11).

Elders- 1 Peter 5:1 “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”

Bishops/Overseers- 1 Timothy 3:1 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”

Pastor-teacher- Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers”

We touched on the work of the pastor when we worked our way through 1 Peter 5:1-7. He is to shepherd the flock, oversee the flock, be an example to the flock, and prepare the flock for the Shepherd. On a side note, while at a conference focusing on the church, Dr. Ben Merkle, a professor at one of our seminaries, said this is the only time the term senior pastor is used, and it refers to Christ. So, when people ask who the senior pastor of Warrior Creek Baptist Church is, you better answer Jesus, followed quickly by the under-shepherd, me.

As Paul is instructing Timothy, he lays out the qualifications for the pastor. He does not deal with the pastor’s work in this section, only his character. We touched a little on the pastor’s work in chapters 1 and 2, and we will see more work in chapters 4-6. The character of the pastors is as important as their qualifications. The pastors’ ability to live lives of holiness is as important as their ability to shepherd the flock of God. I use the plural pastors, or elders, because in the New Testament churches were never served by one pastor. Many elders in the early church were lay elders, elders who served the church without compensation. It is my prayer, and my goal, to see our church resubmit to the teachings of God’s Word and embrace the gifts of elders.

In examining this portion of Scripture we will ask two questions. My hope is that you will not check out since this sermon is primarily about pastors. My prayer is twofold: (1) that you will now and always look for pastors that meet these qualifications, and (2) that you will strive to meet these qualifications, for the truth is that every Christian should strive for these qualities because they are simply the virtues of Christ.

I. What should his character look like?

The primary thrust of this portion is on the character of the pastor. What should he be like? What type of man should he be?

First in Paul’s inspired list is that it should be a man. If “any man,” or “anyone” desires the office of an overseer. God has called men to lead His church, not in anyway demeaning the women, for they serve in godly roles as well. However, the clear teachings of Scripture are that pastors should be men.

Secondly, they should desire the office. There must be aspiration to the work of pastoring. This is a God-given aspiration, not of selfish gain. We can see that not only in this present passage but also in 1 Peter 5:1-6. Paul calls this work noble.

It is after laying out these preliminary matters that Paul addresses the character of the man. There are positive qualities and negative aspects in this list.

A. He should be above reproach- 3:2

Above reproach, or blameless, does not mean perfection. John MacArthur says this, “‘Above reproach’ cannot refer to sinless perfection, because no human being could ever qualify for the office in that case, but it is a high and mature standard that speaks of being a consistent example.” That is to say, the pastor’s life should be characterized by stability. The rest of the qualifications harken back to this controlling thought, but let’s treat each one separately.

B. He should be a one-woman man- 3:2

The idea here is not that the pastor must be married. This goes beyond what God teaches in this chapter. While there are certainly benefits to being married and having children, that is not a requirement. The idea is that the pastor should be a one-woman man. He should not be known for being flirty with many women, or married to many women, or married to one woman and interested in many women.

C. He should be sober-minded and self-controlled- 3:2

The idea here is one of focused conduct. A professional athlete lives a life of focus. They eat food that is conducive to their particular profession. They train their muscles accordingly. The pastor also must be focused. He must clearly understand his calling and control himself in accordance with that call.

D. He should be respectable- 3:2

While it is true that the world hates believers (and by world I am referring to that system of opposition to God, cf. 1 John 3:13), it is also true that believers should not be hateful, and this is especially true of pastors. Pastors should be well-liked, not because they do not stand for truth, but because they stand for truth in a godly way.

E. He should be hospitable- 3:2

Pastors should be hospitable, that is, welcoming to people.

F. He should be able to teach- 3:2

This is the only difference, by the way, between the deacon and the pastor. The pastor is called to shepherd the people of God with the Word of God, and therefore must know how to do so. We will see this practically as we continue to work through this epistle. This takes practice and training.

G. He should not be drunk- 3:3

This does not say that pastors cannot drink, but they are must not be drunkards. One consistent theme is self-control, that is, the pastor should never be ruled by alcohol.

H. He should not be violent- 3:3

This should be self-evident, but sadly it is not. Pastors should not be violent.

I. He should not be quarrelsome- 3:3

Pastors should not be quarrelsome, or argumentative.

J. He should not love money- 3:3

Pastors should not be in ministry for the sake of money, and should not be money-hungry.

K. He should oversee his household- 3:4-5

Pastors should manage their families well. This does not mean that their children will be perfect, or even that they will all be followers of Christ. It does mean, though, that the pastor manages his household well.

L. He should be a mature believer- 3:6

He should not be young because their is immaturity in a young believer. This does not refer to age, but to spiritual maturity.

M. He must be well thought of- 3:7

As with the idea of respectable, the pastor should have a good reputation with unbelievers.

This is an enormous list of character traits that every pastor should have. We all have room to grow and be more like Christ (which is what this list really is).

II. Why is it important?

Why devote this amount of writings to the pastor’s character? God gifts the church the pastors, and they must be reflections of their Chief Shepherd. Paul offers a few reasons why it is important the pastor must meet these qualifications. The first is in verse 4. Paul argues from the lesser (the family unit) to the greater (the church). If a pastor cannot shepherd his own family, how in the world can he shepherd the church? A man cannot shepherd the church if he cannot shepherd his family.

And as a side note, men, you are called by God to lead your families. Are you? Are you leading them in truth, by your character and by your conduct?

This brings us to the second reason this is important, and it is found in two verses (3:6 and 7). Paul uses two phrases, “fall into the condemnation of the devil,” and “fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” Though referring to two specific situations (a young convert and a terrible testimony), the idea applies to this entire list of qualifications.

A failure to live up to the biblical qualifications of a pastor will bring harm to the pastor, his family, the church, and the world. It robs God of His glory, which is the sin of the devil. The devil hates God and His people and will do everything in his power to demean and disfigure the God of grace.

There has been much damage wrought on churches by pastors who are not qualified for ministry. Perhaps you have experienced this, I have witnessed first hand the damage done by an unqualified man.

Charles Bridges helps us summarize the importance of pastor being godly.

“We must build up with both hands—with our doctrine and our life. We must be what we preach; exhibiting the pattern, the motives, and the principles of godliness to our people: ‘not only putting the copy before them, and leaving them to write; but taking the pen, and showing them how to form each letter.’ The minister is a continual—not a periodical character. A holy sermon is but for an hour. A holy life is his perpetual sermon— a living, practical commentary of his doctrine—the gospel to the senses.” Charles Bridges

(1) that you will now and always look for pastors that meet these qualifications, and (2) that you will strive to meet these qualifications, for the truth is that every Christian should strive for these qualities because they are simply the virtues of Christ.