1 Timothy 3:1-7 Requirements for an Overseer

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. [1 Timothy 3:1-7 NASB]

We need to understand what the Bible is talking about when it refers to "overseers". The word is translated "bishop" or "elder" in some other Bible versions. Our modern concepts of church hierarchy and the terminology related to it are somewhat different than they were when Paul wrote this letter.

We have the idea of a bishop as a regional governor over many churches. Such a role did not exist in the New Testament. The closest thing to this in the New Testament is the apostles, who were responsible for the churches that they planted.

Every city church had many overseers. The church didn't come together in a church building or cathedral. Instead they met in peoples homes, in small groups, throughout the city. It is likely that every home church had at least one overseer.

The closest equivalent that we have today to the Biblical overseer would be the church pastor.

The qualifications of a pastor revolve primarily around his character, and not his gifting. In all of the requirements that Paul lists, the only non-character related requirement is the ability to teach. The overseer had to be able to pass on his wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

Beyond that, his character must be above reproach, both within the church and with those outside the church.

Some people make a great deal of the requirement that he be "the husband of one wife." This shouldn't be taken to mean that marriage is a requirement. Otherwise Paul and Timothy would have to exclude themselves. The literal translation of this passage says that he should be "a one woman man". That is, if he is married, he must be faithful to his wife, and not a polygamist (which was not uncommon in the first century) or an adulterer. 

The husband of one wife also means that he must not have had multiple wives through divorce and remarriage, unless it was based on Biblical grounds. Jesus had this to say;

“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” [Matthew 19:9 NASB]

This doesn't imply that the adultery won't be forgiven, nor that he will not be effective in other types of ministry. Only that he cannot oversee the church. This goes along with statement that he must manage his own household well. As Paul says, "if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?"

An overseer has to be mature. This is a reference to maturity of faith and not of age. The two don't always coincide. Often, young Christians feel as if they are gifted and knowledgeable, and ready to share their gifts in ministry. The problem is that there is a tendency for immature Christians to become prideful, and fall into the same sin as Lucifer. Isaiah's prophecy describes his fall;

“How you have fallen from heaven,
O star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’ “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the pit." [Isaiah 14:12-15 NASB]

Ultimately, there is the danger of young leaders becoming arrogant, and sharing the same fate as the devil.

You may think, "None of this applies to me because I am not called to be a pastor or overseer". It is true that most people are not called to be pastors, but we are all called to live a life of good moral character which is above reproach. We all need to be faithful in marriage and manage our households well. And we all need to remain humble in all aspects of life.

The requirements for church leadership don't just apply to super-Christians. The overseers aren't supposed to be far above and beyond everyone else. They are simply people who are living the Christian life as best they can, and who, because of their maturity, can pass on their wisdom and experience.

You don't have to be a pastor, or hold any office of ministry to do the same. Whoever you are, and whatever your circumstance, you can do the work of God, and be a blessing to others.

Father, I pray that You will fill me with Your Spirit, and work out in me a good character. Help me to know my calling and to fulfill that calling by Your grace.