Chapter 3
Qualifications for Overseers
3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
Once again we find controversy, except this time the dispute is more application than interpretation. The issue centers around church leadership. Here in this chapter Paul will discuss two ‘levels’ of church leadership, the first being that of an Overseer (Greek episkopē, the act of visiting or inspecting, sometimes translated as bishop or elder, may have some authority, where the name Episcopal is derived) and the other being a Deacon (Greek diakonons, to be of service, a servant, may assist overseers but typically does not possess authority). The controversial issue seems to be in regard to their duties which, interestingly, Paul (or anyone else in the Bible) nowhere lists, with the exception of Acts 20:28 stating that overseers are “to care for the church of God,” there is no further instruction in the Bible. Paul proceeds to list the qualifications for an overseer.
3:2 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.
Paul rapidly fires off twelve attributes (one is indirect). An overseer must be above reproach (Greek anepilēmpon, one who has nothing which an adversary could seize upon with which to base a charge); if married, they only have one wife (some interpret this as a requirement that the person had to be married, that is not a valid interpretation, but note the subtle twelfth requirement, they had to be male); be sober-minded (Greek nēphalion, free from excessive influence of lusts, passion, or emotion); self-controlled (being of sound mind, disciplined, self-restrained in all desires); respectable (Greek kosmion, orderly, decent, one who voluntarily places limitations on their own freedom); hospitable (Greek philoxenon, loving strangers); able to teach the Word of God (see Hebrews 5:11-14); not a drunkard (no excessive or abusive alcohol consumption); not violent but gentle (gracious and forbearing); not quarrelsome (Greek amachon, not disposed to fight, not contentious); and not a lover of money (not greedy, fiduciarily responsible). While many of these words share similar meanings (some are often used as synonyms for each other) and potentially subjective (more opinion based than factual), they paint a very sound and Biblically well-grounded man. Some may say too much so, making it difficult to find such a person!
3:4 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?
Paul adds to the qualifications that they must have a respectable home life, that they are able to skillfully manage their household and raise their children in godly submission, all while retaining dignity. Paul offers the rhetorical question, “For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:5, NLT) as explanation.
3:6 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.
Paul concludes his list of qualifications for an overseer with two more attributes. An overseer must not be a new believer. He appropriately does not offer a timeframe, as everyone spiritually matures differently. But note Paul’s concern, that they won’t take this position as overseer pridefully, being puffed up with conceit making them ‘power hungry’ and an easy target for the devil. Paul in his epistle to the church in Ephesus discussed the need to continue learning and growing in God’s Word so, “that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:13b-16, NLT) Every believer should strive for that level of maturity.
The last attribute may seem out of place as one would expect any candidate to meet all of the above qualifications would also be well thought of by both the church and the community. But Paul adds this because an overseer must respected as they are in a position that could represent the church, and to some degree, God to the community. If they are not respected for something other than their faith, they can be publicly humiliated and fall, bringing the church and them, down in disgrace, a perfect target for the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
Paul next lists the qualifications for deacons and just like the overseers, there is no listing of any job description. He begins by saying that like the overseer, any deacon candidate must also be dignified, not double-tongued (Greek dilogus, to speak twice, two-faced, deceitful in one’s words), not addicted to wine, and not greedy seeking personal or dishonest gain.
3:9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
Often in his epistles Paul referred to the gospel message as the ‘mystery’ of the faith (see Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 4:1; 13:2; Ephesians 3:3-9; 5:32; 6:19; Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3). The Greek word mystērion can also be translated ’secret’, as it refers to something that was previously unknown or veiled, and now has been revealed. In context that would be a reference to the gospel message that the Messiah Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered, died, and came back to life in order to save humanity. All candidates for deacon must sincerely believe that to be true. Paul next notes that they should be examined, given a test. He doesn’t elaborate or offer any clue as to how or what, but if they pass, then they can serve as a deacon. Some believe that passing the test is what Paul is referring to as being blameless, others interpret the Greek anenklētoi, a legal term, to refer to them being free from any legal charge (what we might call today a “law-abiding citizen”).
3:11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
Paul understood how a person’s wife can influence a husband, so he next addresses the nature of a deacon’s wife. They too must be dignified and respected, they are not to be slanderers (those that seek to damage reputations, promote vicious rumors, etc.), but should be sober-minded (see commentary for verse two above), and faithful in all things (Greek pistas, trustworthy, in context, faithful in duties).
3:12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Like the overseer, the deacon was to be a male, and if married, they could have only one wife. They too were to have well-behaved children and well-managed households. Paul notes, as he closes the subject regarding the qualifications of a deacon, by saying that if they serve well, others will notice and will be respected even more, and that will boost their confidence and strengthen their faith in Jesus.
Considerations
Is God-Ordained Equal to Man-Ordained?
The current-day classic “clergy-centric” church leadership model is different than what we find in the Bible. Paul identified the need for someone to provide leadership here, and in Ephesians 4:11 he lists shepherds (Greek poimenas, Latin pastores, or pastor) and teachers (the concept of joining these two roles is not supported in the text nor in church history) to, “equip the saints for the works of ministry” (see Ephesians 4:12), all believers have the responsibility to help others find Jesus (see Matthew 28:18-20). Today we might find a bishop (an overseer of more than one church), one or more pastor, and several elders and/or deacons to oversee or guide a group of believers.
The reformers saw the direction of the church was heading during their day. Several of them pointed out that there were no “second class” callings by God, which then means that there is no ‘higher calling’ as they were led to believe, instead all believers are on equal footing. As a result, the Reformation, for the most part, removed the wall between clergy (vocational ministers) and laity (all other believers). Sadly, many denominations and church groups have rebuilt those walls leaving nearly all forms of evangelism and Bible teaching strictly in the hands of “trained professionals.”
The Mystery of Godliness
3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
Paul seemingly stops abruptly to offer Timothy the reason he is writing this epistle. He states that he hopes to see him soon, but if he is delayed he wanted to instruct him regarding how one was to behave in the household (Greek oikō, house, home) of God, the church (Greek ekklēsia, congregation, a called people) of the Living God, a pillar built on the foundation of the truth.
3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Some manuscripts very slightly here at the beginning of this verse, in all versions Paul is making a firm statement, that beyond any question, great is the “mystery of godliness.” Only found this one time in Scripture, this phrase, while appropriately translated (the word godliness comes from the old English word 'Godlikeness', referring to the character and attitude of God), we note that the Greek word eusebeias (here and elsewhere translated as ‘godliness’) does not contain any reference to God. The word literally means “a well-directed reverence,” so in context, verse sixteen refers to the mystery of a divinely directed mission where Jesus the Messiah was revealed as being human, approved and justified by the Holy Spirit, seen by angels, the gospel message of salvation proclaimed to all nations, believed on in the world, and was then taken up to heaven in glory (see Acts 1:7-9).