The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying Paul's pastoral Epistles (Letters) to his proteges, Timothy and Titus.
In last week's lively session Paul presented his arguments for male leadership in the church based on creation and the fact that Satan deceived the woman. The woman was deceived but the man did not exercise the authority given to him by God.
Here in session 7 we start our discussion on the qualifications for spiritual leadership of the local church. We start at the top because everything rises or falls with leadership, whether it be a family or a local church. We start with the Pastor of Bishop of Elder which according to the New Testament, are synonymous title are terms for the same office.
Everything rises or falls with leadership, whether it be a family or a local church. The Holy Spirit imparts gifts to believers for ministry in the local church.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31 NIV There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Among those gifts are “pastors and teachers and “helps” and “governments” As we have said before, the church must be organized or it will die. Leadership is a part of spiritual organization.
Pastor
According to the New Testament, the terms “bishop,” “pastor,” and “elder” are synonymous.
I 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.
[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.
Bishop means “overseer,” and the elders had the responsibility of overseeing the work of the church.
Acts 20:17, 28 NIV From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
“Elder” is the translation of the Greek word presbutes, which means “an old man.” Elders and bishops (two names for the same office, were mature people with spiritual wisdom and experience. Finally, “pastor” means “shepherd,” one who leads and cares for the flock of God.
But these men had to be qualified. It was good for a growing believer to aspire to the office of bishop, but the best way to achieve it was to develop Christian character Paul gave sixteen qualifications for a man to meet if he expected to serve as an elder/bishop/pastor.
(1) Blameless (v. 2a).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV
[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
No man living is sinless, but we must strive to be blameless, or “above reproach”. This word literally means “nothing to take hold upon”; that is, there must be nothing in his life that Satan or the unsaved can take hold of to criticize or attack the church.
(2) The husband of one wife (v. 2b).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV
[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
All of the qualifying adjectives in this passage are masculine. While there is ample scope for feminine ministry in a local assembly, the office of elder is not given to women. This same requirement applies to deacons, although as we have said Paul acknowledges women as deacons or deacons. It means that a pastor must not be divorced and remarried. Paul was certainly not referring to polygamy, since no church member, let alone a pastor, would be accepted if he had more than one wife. Nor is he referring to remarriage after the death of the wife; for why would a pastor be prohibited from marrying again, in the light of
Genesis 2:18 NKJV
[18] And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
I Timothy 4:1-3 NKJV
[1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, [2] speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, [3] forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Certainly the members of the church who had lost mates could marry again, so whypenalize the pastor?
It’s clear that a man’s ability to manage his own marriage and home indicate ability to oversee a local church. A pastor who has been divorced opens himself and the church to criticism from outsiders, and it is not likely that people with marital difficulties would consult a man who could not keep his own marriage together. I see no reason why dedicated Christians who have been divorced and remarried cannot serve in other offices in the church, but they are disqualified from being elders or deacons.
(3) Vigilant (v. 2c).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV
[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
This means “temperate” means vigilant or “sober.” “Temperate in all things”
2 Timothy 4:5 AMPC
[5] As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5 NIV
[5] But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
A pastor needs to exercise sober, sensible judgment in all things.
(4) Sober (v. 2d).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
He must have a serious attitude and be in earnest about his work. This does not mean he has no sense of humor, or that he is always solemn and somber. Rather it suggests that he knows the value of things and does not cheapen the ministry or the gospel message by foolish behavior.
(5) Of good behavior (v. 2e).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
“Orderly” would be a good translation. The pastor should be organized in his thinking and his living, as well as in his teaching and preaching. It is the same Greek word that is translated “modest” in 1 Timothy 2:9, referring to women’s clothing.
(6) Given to hospitality (v. 2f).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Literally, “loving the stranger.” This was an important ministry in the early church when traveling believers would need places to stay. But even today, a pastor and wife who are hospitable are a great help to the fellowship of a local church.
(7) Apt to teach (v. 2g).
I Timothy 3:2 NKJV [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Teaching the Word of God is one of an elder’s main ministries. A pastor should be a teacher
II Timothy 2:2, 24 NKJV [2] And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [24] And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
A pastor must be a careful student of the Word of God, and of all that assists him in knowing and teaching that Word. The pastor who is lazy in his study is a disgrace in the pulpit.
(8) Not given to wine (v. 3a).
I Timothy 3:3 NKJV [3] not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
This describes a person who drinks to excess. The fact that Paul advised Timothy to use wine for medicinal purposes indicates that total abstinence was not demanded of believers.
I Timothy 5:23 NKJV [23] No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
It was a well-known fact that water was not pure in those days, so weak wine taken in moderation would have been healthier to drink.
Talking about getting drunk some of the members of the Corinthian church got drunk, even at the love feast that accompanied the Lord’s Supper. Paul addressed this in his first letter to them.
I Corinthians 11:20-22 NKJV [20] Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. [21] For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. [22] What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
A godly pastor would certainly want to give the best example and not be an excuse for sin in the life of some weaker brother.
Romans 14:21 NKJV [21] It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
(9) No striker (v. 3b).
I Timothy 3:3 NKJV [3] not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
“Not contentious, not looking for a fight.” Charles Spurgeon told his Pastor’s College students, “Don’t go about the world with your fist doubled up for fighting, carrying a theological revolver in the leg of your trousers.”
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