1 Timothy 3

CHAPTER 3

Overseers in the Church (3:1-7)

1 In Chapter 3, Paul writes about how each local church is to be administered. In this section, Paul calls the chief leader of the church an overseer,³ or “bishop.” In other places in the New Testament, such a leader is also called an “elder.” Today, he is sometimes called a “minister” or “pastor” (see 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Peter 5:2 and comments; General Article: Church Government). To be an overseer or pastor is a high calling. It is good to desire to be a leader in the church if one has truly been called by God to that task. But it is not right to seek such a position because of pride. Pride is probably the greatest temptation for those who desire leadership in the church. Rather, it is best to let God choose the leaders for His church. Let us never strive or struggle for a high position. Let us never criticize or put down a brother in order to advance ourselves. God will not be pleased by such behavior.

2-3 What kind of men are suitable to be overseers or pastors? First, they must be men who are above reproach. That means there must be no unrepented sin or wrongdoing in their lives. Not only that, they should have no obvious bad habit or weakness of character. Otherwise, they would be subject to accusation by others, and this would bring discredit on themselves and on the church.

Second, an overseer or pastor must be the husband of but one wife—that is, he must not have more than one wife. In Paul’s time, many Gentiles kept more than one wife. When such people became Christians, they were not allowed to become overseers or pastors. Paul does not say that people with more than one wife must get rid of their extra wives; nowhere in the Bible does it say to do that. That would be like trying to correct one wrong by committing a second wrong. Paul says only that a man with more than one wife cannot be an overseer or pastor in the church; he cannot even be a deacon (verse 12).

The remaining qualities that Paul lists in verses 2-3 are all equally important. They are all necessary if one is to be an overseer in the church (see Titus 1:6-9).

4-5 Before choosing an overseer, it is necessary to look at his family. If he cannot control his own children and exercise authority properly in his own family, then he will not be able to exercise authority properly in the church (Titus 1:6). God tests potential leaders by first giving them a small responsibility—such as responsibility for their family. If they can successfully fulfill the small responsibility, God will then give them a greater responsibility—such as leadership in the church (see Matthew 25:21).

6 It is not good to give leadership to a new convert, one who has only recently become a Christian. All Christians should first learn to submit humbly to the authority of others. Only after that will they be ready to exercise authority themselves.

If a new convert receives a position of leadership too quickly, he will almost always become proud. Then he will receive the same judgment that the devil (Satan) received because of pride.⁴

7 An overseer or pastor must have a good name among those outside the church also. Non-Christians are always looking for faults among us, and when they find them they are quick to accuse us. Whenever Satan, the slanderer and accuser of our brothers (Revelation 12:10), finds any fault in a Christian—especially in a leader—he immediately begins to stir up grumbling and evil talk against that person; in this way that person falls into the devil’s trap. Such grumbling and evil talk does not arise only among those outside the church; sadly, it also arises within the church! This is one of Satan’s greatest weapons: If Satan can get Christians to grumble and talk against their own leaders, then he can destroy the work and effectiveness not only of those leaders but also of the church. That is why it is so important that church leaders be above reproach (verse 2). Insofar as possible, we must not give Satan any opportunity to make accusations.

Other Leaders in the Church (3:8-16)

8 Deacons are the second main group of leaders in the church. Their main work is to help people in need and to take care of the property and the financial affairs of the church. By doing these things, the deacons free the overseers and elders for their main work, which is to pray, to preach, and to teach (see Acts 6:1-4).

Like overseers, the deacons must be men of good character. Because they have responsibility for the finances of the church, they must not have any desire for dishonest gain—as Judas did, who handled the money of Jesus and His disciples (John 12:4-6).

9 Even though deacons usually do not preach and teach,⁵ they still must hold fast to the true faith; they must keep hold of the deep truths⁶ of the faith. They must also have a clear conscience—that is, there must be no unrepented sin in their lives (see 1 Timothy 1:19).

10 Some people mistakenly think that a deacon’s work is not so important, and that therefore anyone can be a deacon. But that, of course, is not true. A deacon’s work is extremely important. Before anyone is appointed to be a deacon, he should be carefully tested, or examined. Only if he is found blameless should he be appointed. This examination is to be carried out by the congregation (see Acts 6:3). Deacons are ordinarily chosen by the congregation; pastors and overseers, however, are ordinarily appointed by other overseers (see Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).

11 In this verse Paul mentions the wives of deacons. However, it is also possible that Paul is referring here to any woman who is called to do the work of a deacon; the Greek text can have both meanings. Either way, such women, like their male counterparts, are to be worthy of respect. In particular, the wives of deacons (and the wives of overseers) must be women of good character. They must not be malicious talkers; rather, they should be temperate and trustworthy in everything. Otherwise, they will bring discredit upon their husbands and thereby destroy their ministries.

12 See verses 2,4-5 and comment.

13 Just as the overseer’s task is a noble one (verse 1), so is the deacon’s task. Deacons who serve faithfully will receive a reward for their faithfulness: namely, a sure place in the kingdom of heaven and a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4). They will also gain an excellent standing in the eyes of men, and they will have great assurance in their faith as they bear witness to Christ.

14-15 It is very important that the church be governed well, and that those in leadership should be men of good reputation. This is because the church is not the dwelling place of some dead idol; it is the church of the living God (verse 15). It is God’s household; God Himself dwells in the church (see Ephesians 2:19-22).

The church is also the pillar … of the truth. The church proclaims the truth, and thus stands among men as a “pillar” supporting justice and righteousness. The church is also a foundation of the truth; that is, it maintains and defends the truth.

16 In this verse, Paul has written a poem or psalm praising Christ. The mystery of godliness is Christ Himself. Christ is like a “mystery,” a mystery which is hidden from unbelieving men but is revealed to those who believe (see Colossians 1:26-27).

He (Christ) appeared in a body (see John 1:14). He was vindicated by the Spirit; that is, He was shown to be God’s Son when He was raised from the dead (Romans 1:4). He was seen by ANGELS. God has manifested the risen Christ to all the angels of heaven (Ephesians 3:10).

But Christ has not only been manifested in heaven. He has been preached among the nations. This Jesus—a Jewish carpenter, executed as a criminal—has been made known throughout the world. Men and women from every nation on earth have believed in Him. He is the Savior of all people of every age.

Finally, at the end of His life on earth, Jesus was taken up in glory. And now He is seated at the right hand of God Himself (Ephesians 1:20-21).