Verse of the Week: 1 Timothy 3:1
It is a trustworthy statement:
If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to
do. 1 Timothy 3:1
(The majority of the footnotes are taken from the Ryrie
Study Bible, to clarify additional verses quoted in this writing.)
The Elder is the most important person in the church today.
Because of poor training and a de-emphasis on male leadership, this office has
fallen short of its high calling. The Elder has tremendous AUTHORITY
but is not to bully the congregation with raw POWER. The Bible
lays down how the Elder is to carry out his teaching and guiding roles. Let’s
look at the scriptural guidelines.
The Greek word for Elder is PRESBUTEROS. It
simply implies an older and wiser man who is to lead by depth, calling,
spiritual aptitude and human experience. Respect must again be recaptured for
this office. Young people and children must know again how to look up to and
follow the Elder. In all cultures, and of course among the Jews, Elder
leadership was absolutely essential. No culture can survive that dishonors and
fails to follow the advice of its elders.[1]
It is a trustworthy statement:
If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to
do. 1 Timothy 3:1
It is- Paul begins by describing how wanting to be an
elder in the church shows how honored the position should be.
Paul has just written that women are not to hold positions
of spiritual or doctrinal authority over congregations, but he did not want to
leave the impression that just any man is qualified. No man is
qualified to be a spiritual leader in the church just because of his gender.[2]
Trustworthy statement- The statement that Paul makes
about wanting to be an elder is reliable. The fact that it is a noble work is
something that can be taken to the bank. This is a faithful saying which no one
can dispute, of which no one should doubt.
Any man- This is office is for a male, not for a
female. This is a hugely unpopular opinion today, but the Scriptures set forth
the office of an elder as for men, not women.
We will also see in vv. 2-7 how this office is for male
only. Certain of the requirements can only be fulfilled in a man.
Aspires- These men are eager and actively recruiting
for it. No such thing as an elder who will only be an elder if the people call
him. This is a man that wants to be an elder and he has let the elder board
know it. He knows the Lord the has put this on his heart and he can do nothing
but act on it.
This is not “campaigning” as we see the politicians do. The prospect
does not inform what he will do if he becomes an elder. It is because of what
he does and what the other elders see presently in his life that enables him to
be chosen to be an elder.
But just because a man wants to be an elder does not mean he
automatically gets it. The man must be proved by the qualifications that Paul
will list. These qualifications must be adhered to and not neglected. They must
be met by the individual for the proof that they are at a level of spiritual
maturity that will be acceptable before God and man.
Overseer- Other names include elder, the most used in
Acts, bishop, and pastor. These names are used interchangeably in the New
Testament. There is no evidence that any of these are superior to the other.
Importance
in titles:
1.
The word Overseer – EPISCOPOS- “To
over-look.” Elders were to carry out this function.
2.
The word “to shepherd.” This is from the verb POIMAINO,
“To shepherd,” from the noun POIMAN which means Shepherd or Pastor.
3.
IMPORTANT: The Elder is to Pastor. The
Pastor is to be an Elder. The word Pastor is only used as a noun only once in
the New Testament.
Nowhere in Scripture are elders elected to the office. They
are to be appointed by other elders, such in the case of the command from Paul
to Titus:
For this reason I left you in
Crete, that you might set in order what remains,[3]
and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, Titus 1:5
In all passages the new elder is appointed by a body of
elders. Since the pastor is also an Elder, he would also be appointed by a body
of elders. The idea of “voting” on a pastor is not found in Scripture. When we
put the power of electing a Shepherd for our congregation people will always
vote in their own best, self-interest. Though we typically have an opinion on
everything and are allowed to vote on major issues, in this case we have to
swallow our pride and work with what is best for the church. The sheep cannot
spiritually see and understand everything from a biblical perspective. We need
someone who can “see over” OVERSEER, issues that we can’t.
The elder, the principal official in the local church, was
called by the Holy Spirit:
“Be on guard for yourselves and
for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.[4]
Acts 20:28
The elder is to be recognized and acknowledged by other elders:
Do not neglect the spiritual gift
within you, which was bestowed upon you with the laying on of hands by the
presbytery[5]
[elders]. 1 Timothy 4:14
His duties will include ruling, or presiding, over the body
of Christ, which would include preaching [their word to unbelievers] and
teaching [their word to believers]:
Let the elders who rule [preside]
we be considered worthy of double honor,[6]
especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17
The elder was to guard the truth, which is the ultimate job
of an elder:
holding fast the faithful word
which is in accordance with the teaching; that he may be able both to exhort in
sound [healthy] doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9
And they have a general oversight of the work, including
finances:
29 And in the proportion that any of
the disciples had means, each of them determined [they were not forced, they chose
to] to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.
30 And this they did, sending it in
charge of Barnabas and Saul [later, Paul] to the elders. Acts 11:29-30
A fine work- It is a noble task that the man wants to
begin and be a part of. But it is not an idle work. The man who desire to be an
elder will find himself working more at this than any secular job could
possibly require. There will be sacrifices of time that the elder must be
prepared to make.
He desires- Literally, "stretch one's self
forward to grasp"; "aim at".
For the man who desires to be an elder this is a labor of
dedicated service that should bring forth the best in him. This is not a
position for a carnal believer or for someone looking to increase their own personal
ambition.
To do- It is work. What we see here is a man who did not occupy a
plush office. He did not wear fancy liturgical gowns. He did not have a
handsome salary at his disposal. He did not have a bevy of assistants who
waited on him hand and foot while he supervised. This was a man who was ready
to get down in the trenches and work until he hands bled and he felt he was
about to fall over from exhaustion.
Before an elder, or even a deacon, is appointed, the body of
elders must ask itself the following questions:
1.
Is the man that we are considering growing in
grace and maturity? Do we see the Holy Spirit operating in their lives?
2.
Are there sins that are overwhelming to their
character and life? Would these sins hinder their effectiveness in a position
of leadership?
3.
Are they sensitive to their failures and
weaknesses? Do they strive to contain that which would cripple their walk
before other?
In the following weeks we will examine vv. 2-7. Paul lists
16 qualifications for the man who wishes to be appointed an elder in the
church. When the candidate is examined it must be ascertained if they meet
these stringent demands that are required of them. We will examine each
qualification in detail to see what is required of the man who wishes to be an
elder.
[1] How
to Start a New Testament Church, Dr. Mal Couch, Ph.D., p 9.
[2]
Enduring Word Commentary, Book of 1 Timothy 3, David Guzik, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-timothy-3/
[3] What
remains. A church is defective unless it has constituted leaders. In Crete
these were appointed (=ordained) by Titus.
[4] With
His own blood. Literally, with the blood of His own (Son).
[5] The
presbytery. The body of elders.
[6] Double
honor. Respect and renumeration (v. 18). The church was beginning to face
the problem of financial support of its workers.
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