Qualifications For Overseers Series

Scripture

In chapter 1, Paul wrote about the importance of doctrine. In chapter 2, he wrote about the proper conduct in public worship. And in chapter 3, he wrote about the qualifications for church officers.

Paul began chapter 3 with these words, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (3:1). This is the second of five instances in the Pastoral Letters in which we find the expression, “The saying is trustworthy” (1:15; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). It is an announcement of an important point or key doctrine. The important point was the introduction of the qualifications for overseers and deacons. Paul was concerned that each local church was governed properly. So he set down qualifications for men who would serve in these offices.

Paul began with “the office of overseer” (episkopes) and it refers to “the office of watching over, directing, and caring for a church.” In the New Testament, “overseer” (episkopos) and “elder” (presbuteros) are two titles for the same office. The title “overseer” is about the nature of the work and the title “elder” is about a man’s age and dignity. The point is that there is not a hierarchy of offices in the church.

Let us read about the qualifications for overseers in 1 Timothy 3:1-7:

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

Introduction

The following description of the perfect pastor appeared in the Rochester Courier Journal in September 1981:

The perfect pastor preaches exactly 10 minutes. He condemns sin roundly but never hurts anyone’s feelings. He works from 8 am until midnight and is also the church janitor. The perfect pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $30 a week to the church. He is 29 years old and has 40 years’ experience. Above all, he is handsome. The perfect pastor has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with the senior citizens. He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his church. He makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his office to be handy when needed. The perfect pastor always has time for church council and all of its committees. He never misses the meeting of any church organization and is always busy evangelizing the unchurched.

Churches sometimes have very unrealistic expectations for their pastors. Thankfully, Paul set down the qualifications for pastors here in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and also in Titus 1:5-16. It is important to note that these qualifications refer primarily to character rather than to duties.

I want to note, however, that 1 Timothy 3:1-7 refers to qualifications not only for pastors but also for elders. In our denomination, we have one class of elders with two orders: teaching elders and ruling elders. All elders rule. In addition, teaching elders also have responsibilities for preaching and administering the sacraments. I mention this because today’s text is about the qualifications for all overseers. These are the qualifications that are required of a teaching elder. And these are the very same requirements that are required of a ruling elder.

Lesson

1 Timothy 3:1-7 shows us the qualifications for overseers.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. A Man Must Be Called to Be an Overseer (3:1)

2. A Man Must Be Qualified to Be an Overseer (3:2-7)

I. A Man Must Be Called to Be an Overseer (3:1)

First, a man must be called to be an overseer.

Paul’s purpose in writing this letter to Timothy was to give instructions about how Christians are to behave in the household of God (3:14-15). Qualified church officers are of first importance in the church so that they may set an example for the rest of the flock. Paul wrote in verse 1, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” The Greek word for “aspires” (oregomai) occurs 3 times in the New Testament, and it means “to exert much effort or energy (for something).” Thus it refers to external action, not an internal motive. The Greek word for “desires” (epithymeo) occurs 16 times in the New Testament, and it means “to have an intense desire for some particular thing.” This is the desire that God places on the heart of a man to serve as an overseer in the church. Taken together, these two words describe the type of man who belongs in the eldership, that is, a man whose strong internal desire expresses itself in outward pursuit of that goal.