1 Timothy 3:1-7

Take note that this comes just after Paul makes it clear that women are not to be Pastors in the church. So after explaining why he says that, he now sets the bar (qualifications) for the men that God has called to be Pastors. Paul does this because it’s important to note that gender isn’t the final say for this type of ministry. Being a man in a general biological sense isn’t the standard. Being a godly and upright man who has been called by God is. What we are about to look at are the spiritual, moral and character qualifications for those desiring the role of overseer in the church.

Aspires to - the bigger idea in the word is to reach out towards, to stretch one’s self out in order to reach it.

Overseer - Gk Episkopos - One who watches over.

An overseer is one who has a position of authority and exercises leadership in the church. This word Episkopos (overseer) is a word that describes the role of the Pastor in the church.

There are other Greek words that are used to describe the role of a Pastor such as presbuteros (elder) and poimen (shepherd/overseer). These words describe the role of the Pastor and not different types of unique roles in the church.

desires a noble task - to have a passionate longing after that good and noble work of being an overseer.

But also don’t miss what it is - A noble task (good work). It is a great and serious work that is often times difficult, seemingly impossible, terrifying, exciting, wonderful task that carries with it the highest of highs and lowest of lows. It is not for the selfish, the glory seeker, the money lover, the thin skinned, the hard hearted, the lazy student, or the affirmation seekers. A Pastor or overseer must be fully commited to Christ , to His glory, to the church, and to reaching the lost. He must be ready, willing, and able to have the whole world against him if it means being a good and faithful servant of Christ.

Before we go into the qualifications for the overseer, I think it is important to note that it is indeed a noble task and it is actually a good thing to aspire to. It is something that once the call has been realized in a person’s life they will spend there lives purposely seeking personal spiritual growth and changes in their lives to match up with the qualifications that we will examine in the next few verses.

Verse 2

above reproach - in teh Greek the compound word means something to the effect of - one who cannot be laid hold upon. The idea being that the overseer has to have such a holy character that nobody could find and lay hold on anything about his life that would bring shame on the name of Christ. The overseer needs to live such a life that he is free from legitimate accusations that reflect negatively on Christ and the church.

The husband of one wife - A one woman man (only a man fits this qualification). Now this phrase has been debated over the years with one side suggesting that it means that a man could not be divorced (under the qualifications of the scripture or widowed and remarried and still qualify for the role of an overseer, while the other side sees the verse to be plainly that a man could not be a polygamous man as was the common Roman custom.

sober minded - to be calm, restrained, level headed.

self-controlled - serious, earnest, sensible

respectable - well behaved, modest

hospitable - fond of hospitality- with it is the idea of liking strangers.

Wuest has this note regarding the type of hospitality...

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three

The hospitality spoken of here found its occasion in the fact that in the days of the great Roman persecutions, Christians were banished and persecuted, and rendered homeless. Or, in the case of travelling preachers and teachers, ministering from church to church, these servants of God were to be received and cared for by the bishop. Or, because in the early centuries, the local churches had no church edifice in which to worship, the church met in the home of an individual. The bishop should be glad to thus open his home for this purpose.

able to teach - able and skilled to teach. Skilled to teach in the sense that they have spent time studying the scriptures that they are skilled in the word and can teach it. But also it has with it the idea of the man who works on the skill of teaching the Bible whether that be in a one on one setting or a group setting. This also carries with it the idea of having a willingness to teach.

This is important because the Pastor is also called to be a teacher...

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

The words “pastors” and “teachers” are in a construction called Granvill Sharp’s rule which indicates that they refer to one individual. The one who shepherds God’s flock is also a teacher of the Word, having both the gifts of shepherding and teaching the flock. (Wuest)

Just a quick note on this last one. I’m personally weary of and tired of hearing about Pastors who want to waste time in the pulpit telling stories, jokes, and their opinions. Or hearing about Pastors who do not take the their role seriously as Bible teachers but instead want to be jumping on every current bandwagon politically, socially, culturally, or whatever else gets their fancy. The Pastor of a church is supposed to be about the business of teaching the Bible.

Verse 3

Not a drunkard/ not given to wine - not lingering long at it, not addicted to alcohol.

Quick note on this one. It is true that this verse does not prohibit the occasional drinking of wine, but we also need to take a couple things into account. The wine in those days was not nearly as potent as the wine, beer, or hard liquor of today. In those days it was common to add wine to the bad tasting water to make it more palatable. I do not say that this verse is speaking about a non alcoholic wine by any means, but that the wine seems to have had a lower alcohol content. We also as Christians in general need to take Paul’s instruction to heart...

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I say all of that to say that in this church like every other Calvary Chapel that I’m aware of we have a strict no alcohol no drugs policy for myself and the Assistant Pastors. Most of us came from a background that included abuses of drugs or alcohol or both and I am a firm believer that there are some people in this world who know full well that they should not ever again drink another sip of alcohol. Not to mention that we do not in any way want to be a stumbling block to your walk with Christ. We do not want any of you who may have an issue with alcohol see us drinking and fall back into an addiction or destructive behaviour. And as for me as the only person that is paid staff, I am not going to misuse the money that you put in the offer box by buying alcohol or drugs with. That would be a violation of your trust, and I believe would be sin against you all.

not violent - A person ready to blow at any moment and start punching people, a bully

not quarrelsome - Not looking to start a fights but one who is gentle and peaceful

not a lover of money - An overseer has to love God and His people, not their money...

Luke 16:13 ESV

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Verses 4-5

Before a man can be trusted to oversee the precious saints and day to day issues in the church, he first has to be proven to lead the precious family that God has given to him.

Now what about an overseer that has a rebellious child or children?

Well the text doesn’t say that an overseer is to have perfect children, it says that he is to manage his own house well. That means that if or when an issue arrises with a disobedient rebellious child that he will deal properly with them and the situation in such a way that brings glory to God. That means that sin will not be tolerated and that restoration for the rebellious will be sought after. Both the restoration to God and to the family.

Verse 6

An overseer can’t be a new believer.

condemnation of the devil - It was Satan’s pride that got him in trouble...

Isaiah 14:12–19 ESV

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. 16 Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, 17 who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’ 18 All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; 19 but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot.

Verse 7

An overseer has to be known as a good and faithful Christian outside the church before he is trusted to oversee the things inside the church.

Verses 8-9

Now Paul will lay out the qualifications for a deacon/deaconess in verses 8-13.

Verse 10

Verse 11

Verses 12-13

Verses 14-15

Verse 16

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