Right Church Leadership (1 Timothy 3)

Do we have any authority to ignore Paul’s inspired qualifications for elders and deacons? Do we have any authority for man-made requirements? Do we have any authority to ordain women as elders? Do we trust that God inspired Paul with instructions for all time, or do we bend them to suit the whims of a sinful world? Let’s find out in 1 Timothy 3.

The word for a local church leader is variously translated as supervisor (CEB), church official (CEV), overseer (ESV, HCSB, LSB, NASB, NIV, WEB), elder (ISV), bishop (KJV, NKJV), and church leader (NLT). They are all appropriate words.

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV)

An overseer watches over the flock. Let’s look at these qualifications in depth.

1) The first quality cannot mean sinlessly perfect, because none of us is that. It can mean a good reputation (CEV), above reproach (ESV, HCSB, LSB, NASB, NIV, NLT), and blameless (ISV, KJV, NKJV).

A bishop then must be blameless, (1 Timothy 3:2a NKJV)

2) Second is the family role variously translated as faithful to their spouse (CEB), faithful in marriage (CEV), the husband of one wife (ESV, HCSB, ISV, KJV, LSB, NASB, NKJV, WEB), faithful to his wife (NIV, NLT). The phrase “husband of one wife” is more literal to the original Greek, and the CEB and CEV especially seem to be interpretations, bowing to modern gender neutral culture than honest translations. This is easily understood as being a married male role, though unmarried men were certainly also implied, as Paul would have disqualified himself. Though women could be prophets and evangelists, is there any authority here to make anyone elders except men?

the husband of one wife, (1 Timothy 3:2b NKJV)

3) For this next trait, with so many different translations, how can we summarize? Various translations are sober (CEB), self-controlled (CEV, HCSB, NLT), sober-minded (ESV), stable (ISV), vigilant (KJV), and temperate (LSB, NASB, NIV, NKJV, WEB). Temperate means self-controlled and not necessarily a teetotaler. Self-control in regard to alcohol is mentioned later and would not be duplicated here. He must have self-control in regard to life.

temperate, (1 Timothy 3:2c NKJV)

4) A fourth trait is variously translated as modest (CEB), sensible (CEV, HCSB, ISV, LSB, WEB), self-controlled (ESV, NASB, NIV), sober (KJV), sober-minded (NKJV), and live wisely (NLT). This has to do with sober maturity of thought.

sober-minded, (1 Timothy 3:2d NKJV)

5) The fifth trait is variously translated as honest (CEB), well-behaved (CEV), respectable (ESV, HCSB, ISV, LSB, NASB, NIV), of good behavior (KJV, NKJV), a good reputation (NLT), and modest (WEB). Basically the Greek refers to a well-ordered life of good behavior.

of good behavior, (1 Timothy 3:2e NKJV)

6) The sixth trait we’re looking for in an elder is variously related to hospitality (CEB, ESV, HCSB, KJV, LSB, NASB, NIV, NKJV, WEB), hospitable to strangers (ISV), friendly to strangers (CEV), and enjoy having guests in his home (NLT).

hospitable, (1 Timothy 3:2f NKJV)

7) The 7th attribute is variously rendered as skilled at teaching (CEB), able to teach (CEV, ESV, LSB, NIV, NKJV, NLT), an able teacher (HCSB), teachable (ISV), apt to teach (KJV), skillful in teaching (NASB), and good at teaching (WEB). The only one out of line with the overall consensus is teachable, which means something entirely different. The Greek actually agrees with the consensus, able to teach.

able to teach; (1 Timothy 3:2g NKJV)

8) The eighth character trait is variously rendered as they shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol (CEB), they must not be heavy drinkers (CEV), not a drunkard (ESV), not addicted to wine (HCSB), he must not drink excessively (ISV), not given to wine (KJV, NKJV), not addicted to wine (LSB), not overindulging in wine (NASB), not given to drunkenness (NIV), he must not be a heavy drinker (NLT), and not a drinker (WEB).

not given to wine, (1 Timothy 3:3a NKJV)

9) The ninth quality is variously translated as not a bully (CEB, HCSB, NASB), troublemakers (CEV), violent (ESV, ISV, NIV, NKJV, NLT, WEB), no striker (KJV), or pugnacious (LSB). It comes from the Greek meaning bruiser, ready with a blow; a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person.

not violent, (1 Timothy 3:3b NKJV)

10) The tenth trait is variously rendered as gentle (CEB, CEV, ESV, HCSB, ISV, NASB, NIV, NKJV, NLT, WEB), patient (KJV), or considerate (LSB). The consensus there seems to be almost universal.

but gentle, (1 Timothy 3:3c NKJV)

11) The order seems to change with some translations, but it seems that the next attribute is variously translated as peaceable (CEB), kind (CEV), not quarrelsome (ESV, HCSB, NIV, NKJV, NLT, WEB), argumentative (ISV), not a brawler (KJV), and not contentious (NASB).

not quarrelsome, (1 Timothy 3:3d NKJV)

12) The next trait is also a bit jumbled in various translations, but seems to be similar to not greedy (CEB, ESV, HCSB), not love money (CEV, ISV, LSB, NASB, NIV, NLT), not greedy of filthy lucre [money]… not covetous (KJV, NKJV, WEB)