1 Timothy 3:1-7: The Office of a Bishop

2021-10-03

Verse 1

The next several verses discuss the qualifications of an elder or bishop. These terms are interchangeable. In our vernacular, we would say pastor, and this is not wrong (Ephesians 4:11). A title like priest is wrong, because all Christians are called to be priests (“a royal priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:9; we are “kings and priests” in Revelation 1:6). Vicar is also bad; a vicar of Christ can be translated into Greek, “antichrist.”

Here the term used is bishop; in Titus, the term elder is employed. This is one of two official church leadership positions sanctioned by Scripture.

The first qualification of a bishop is to desire to be one! Also, the bishop is a good work. It is good, and it is work. Being a shepherd over a group of Christians takes a lot of qualifications, which is why the other qualifications are listed.

Verse 2

The bishop must be blameless, translated elsewhere as unrebukeable. There is nothing in the bishop candidate’s life you can dig up with which to charge him. The word is used of the bishop, the widow, and Timothy himself, only in 1 Timothy. This is likely used because of testimony toward the world. Also, the bishop must be a man that the church can trust.

The bishop must be “the husband of one wife.” Contrary to the Roman Catholic Church’s requirement for leaders to be unmarried, the Bible requires the bishop to be married. He also must be a husband, that is, a man, as was discussed in the previous chapter. Furthermore, the commandment specifies “of one wife.” This eliminates polygamists and divorced men with or without remarriage.

Remember that marriage exemplifies the relationship between Christ and the church. If he cannot demonstrate his character through his married life, he should not be in the position.

The bishop must be vigilant. It is translated sober elsewhere (a different word for sober is indicated next). The bishop must be alert to what is going on in the church. As discussed in the previous chapters, all manner of heresy comes into church via wannabe teachers of the law, conscienceless men, and women who want to usurp the teaching. The bishop is looking out for this stuff and guarding the church from these influences.

This bishop must be sober, which indicates self-control and being of a sound mind. It is translated temperate and discreet elsewhere. It is imperative that the bishop is in command of his speech and actions. What they do and when they do it is calculated.

The bishop is to be of good behavior. This is the same word translated as “modest” in 1 Timothy 2:9 (“that women adorn themselves in modest apparel”). If you think of this word in the same sense as used in the case of the women, the bishop is not showy and drawing attention to himself. Unfortunately, people look for the opposite of this trait in their potential pastors. They want the best orator and the one that approves of them the most.

The bishop is given to hospitality. He is a welcoming person. He invites people into his home, which will also speak to what manner of wife he has. More specifically, he invites people into his life. There is not much work-life balance with the bishop!

The bishop is apt to teach. He can communicate the Word of God. This assumes that he is constantly buried in the Word of God by reading it and meditating on it. He is able take the information, and let it transform him. He has walked with God considering that information. Then by his study and transformed life, he can impart that knowledge to others in a meaningful and loving way. He teaches by word, and he teaches by his way of life.

Verse 3

The bishop is not given to wine. This goes with one having self-control and being vigilant. Being a drunkard will be a major distraction from duty. It is the opposite of being filled with the Spirit: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

The bishop is not a striker. He is not getting into a lot of arguments. The Gospel is divisive enough. He is a peacemaker and upholds unity as much as possible.

The bishop is not greedy for filthy lucre. He is not in it for the bucks! There are many such men out there. All your health-and-wealth prosperity preachers are like this. This has caused many to laugh off Christian preachers as grifters. These people definitely exist. You do not want such a person leading your church.

This does not mean the preachers should be unpaid, necessarily. In 1 Timothy 5:17-18 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). Also, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things” (Galatians 6:6).

The bishop is patient. When people make the same mistakes and commit the same sins, patience is required. People will demand a lot of time, which also requires patience. People are slow to learn. The bishop needs to be ready for that.

The bishop is not a brawler. This is like not being a striker. He stays away from fights.

The bishop is not covetous. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Being without covetousness is to be content with what you have. Desiring more stuff, more prestigious, and more accolades is not a part of the bishop’s way of life. Less of ourselves, and more of Christ: this is the better way that the bishop exemplifies.

Verses 4-5

The bishop must rule his house well, which includes his children obeying him and respecting him. There is a purpose clause in verse 5. How he runs his house and how he is respected will indicate what his leadership will look like in the local church. Note how it is worded: “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” Ruling his house poorly indicates he will not be up to the challenge of governing a church. However, ruling his house well does not guarantee he will be a good church leader.

This passage implies that the bishop has children. If he does not have any children, then there is no gauge to see if he qualifies in this criterion. I believe that a bishop can have a single child. Even though it is in the plural, nobody would ever say, if asked if he had children, “No, I do not have children. I have a child.”

His children’s behavior is only an example listed here. What about his wife? If the prospective bishop is a godly man with loving, respectful children, but has a miserable wife, what would you think? The deacon has criteria for his wife. We will check those out shortly. I don’t think it would be out of line to consider these things for the bishop’s wife as well.

Verse 6

The bishop is not a novice. There is so much here. The bishop has been saved a long time, if possible. In Timothy’s case, most of these Christians were probably only a few years in the faith, but I am not sure. Ideally, you want someone who has been a Christian a long time, but also has walked the Christian life for a long time. It is not good if someone made a profession of faith 20 years ago but did not really walk with God for 18 of those years.

He has read the Bible many times through and knows a lot about it, but he knows how to apply it to his own life. His knowledge does not puff up: “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1). If there is a bishop who has read the Bible 20 times or more, has a bunch of initials after his name, but thinks he is superior because he knows so much, he is the wrong bishop!

The new convert does not realize the years of Romans 7 that is ahead of him. If he has not walked with God for years, but has all manner of spiritual knowledge, you have a case like when the devil was lifted in his pride.

The devil’s pride is recounted in at least two places: Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-17. When he was lifted up in pride, he was thrown out of God’s presence. The novice bishop will also ruin his reputation, fall into sin, and be quickly removed from his position in shame.

Verse 7

The bishop must have a good report with those outside the church. The word “report” is translated elsewhere as witness, record, or testimony. Even out in the world, which hates Christ, they cannot find fault with his witness. Some of this might have to do with reputation. Witness, record, and testimony all elicit another thought. Your message and your life are consistent. You are not a hypocrite.

One of the biggest things that people outside church find fault with is hypocritical Christians, especially pastors. A few examples:

We cannot be ministers of truth and walk in lies. We cannot preach light and walk in darkness. If a bishop is found a hypocrite, he will “fall into reproach.” The reproach has the connotation of enduring harsh language and treatment from the outside. This does damage to the name of Christ.

He will also fall into “the snare of the devil.” The devil and his minions like nothing better to destroy the Lord’s work. Anything the forces of darkness can do to discredit Christ, and they will find opportunity to do so. The inconsistent pastor is one way for them to do so.

A Big Takeaway from This

I believe these criteria are a good thing for anyone, not just bishops or prospective bishops. These are high standards of moral character that the Lord wants in his leaders; why would we not all want to aspire to such things? I have no immediate plans to be a bishop, but I want to be ready in case that I am needed in that capacity. I want to teach the Bible and write about the Lord. Why should I not want to pursue these traits of righteousness? The title does not matter. If you want to be the best witness for Christ, you need to have the above traits, except maybe for the requirement to be married or have children.

What This Passage Does Not Require

I bought into a few errors regarding what is required to be a Christian leader. Having a special, mystical calling and having a seminary education were two things that have misplaced importance. In fact, these things are not required to be a bishop or pastor.

A Special, Mystical Calling

There is nothing here that says the bishop must have some special calling. There is no requirement that he undergoes some sort of special service where he got the warm and fuzzies and suddenly knew he was called to be a bishop or pastor. If you have the desire (1 Timothy 3:1) and have the qualifications, you can be a prospective bishop.

A Bible College or Seminary Education

Nowhere does it say that a bishop needs a Bible college or seminary degree. I should qualify these terms so that everyone understands. A Bible college degree normally refers to an undergraduate degree in Biblical studies or related field. A seminary degree usually refers to a graduate degree, and it often refers to the Master of Divinity or Master of Theology. This latter group is what is usually required.

This is very unfair to expect prospective pastors to go through this rigmarole to get into the ministry. To get a Master of Divinity degree, you need to already possess a four-year undergraduate degree in any field. Then the Master of Divinity degree is an additional three years of fulltime study. I have a Master of Divinity degree, and it cost me over 30,000 dollars, not including textbooks! That was 20 years ago, and I am sure tuition has not gone down since then. The only way this was possible was that I lived with my parents all those years. Many people studying in these programs are married with children. Why is this fair? And the Master of Theology is an additional year beyond the Master of Divinity. You are in school almost as long as a doctor is, but without the financial returns. Debt is incurred as a result.

The only Christian in the New Testament who had a theological education was the Apostle Paul. But note, he received his education before he was saved. Our education requirement is from the world and is not a Biblical mandate. A Biblical education should come from the church. I believe the Bible college and seminary exist because we have abdicated the responsibility to teach Scripture on a deep level in the local church.

<< Previous Next >>