Rules for overseers (bishops or pastors) and deacons (Chap.3)
Paul gives qualifications for pastors and deacons in the church and a six fold Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Qualifications of a Pastor/Bishop: (3:1-7):
Paul spoke about that woman should not hold authority over men in the church. This does not mean that any man can take the position of leadership by virtue of his gender. that’s why he gave a list of virtues and qualifications for the position of pastors or bishops. It is good to be a spiritual leader, but the standards are very high. If anyone wants to hold a spiritual leader, he must check and examine in his life whether he possess such qualities or not.
The positive qualifications of the pastors are given below:
- He must be above reproach: (3:1-2a): He must be above standard, blameless. There should be nothing for Satan or an unbeliever to point out fingers. Of course no one in this world are sinless. But we must faithful and obedient to come under God’s grace whenever a blame or sin is put upon us.
- He must have only one wife and be faithful to her: (3:2b): The idea here is of “a one-woman man.” It also does not mean that a leader must be married or the leader should not remarry if his wife had passed away or Biblically divorced. It means that the spiritual leader must give his love and affection to one woman and that being his lawful and wedded wife. Paul is prohibiting both polygamy and promiscuity. Further he must not be a playboy or an adulterer or a flirt. He must not show any sort of romantic or sexual interest in other women.
- He must be temperate, self controlled, respectable, hospitable and able to teach: (3:2c): The leader must have the special qualities of
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- Temperate: He must be well balanced and keep his head up in all circumstances. He should not be carried by mood or wild swings of vision.
- Self controlled: He must be sober minded, able to think with clarity. He is a person who knows the value of ministry and does not live in fantasy. He is man of seriousness wherever it is required.
- Respectable and hospitable: The pastor must be well organized, sober in his thinking and living. He must be hospitable to his congregation and outside believers. This was a necessary requirement even in 1st-century when travelling missionaries were staying in elders or overseers house. Apostle John gave a final remark in his letter.
- Able to teach: They should be good teachers of the Bible either in public or one-on one setting with sound doctrine.
4. He must be gentle and have a well behaved family: (3:3c-5): Paul gives emphasis that a pastor should have a well behaved family. His children must submit to his leadership. They must bear good testimony. For a pastor the church and the home are same. He cannot have controversial roles in Church and at home. If he does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church with different personalities. Ex: Eli’s sons were very bad and God had to deal with them. God chose Samuel to be the prophet after Eli.6.
5. He must be respected by those outside the church: (3:7): A pastor must maintain good testimony not only in the church but ever outside the church. Satan is looking to trap and disgrace God’s children through sin. Therefore it is important to maintain a consecrated life and good reputation even among non-believers.
Some negative qualifications which make them unsuitable for Pastor:
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- He must not be a drinker (3:3a): Paul advocates that the pastor should not be a drunkard. In the first-century, they were taking fresh vine which would even serve as a medicinal purpose. Because the water was not pure, adding little vine would make it healthier. But too much of it would make them lose their senses. The cultural use of vine for health purpose and today’s alcoholic industry are quite opposite to each other. A pastor must maintain his good testimony and should not take the shelter of Biblical culture of those days and become a sinner. Our Asian culture does not permit to drink. A pastor must keep himself pure from such unnecessary gain of sins.