I Timothy 3:1-7I Timothy 3:1-7 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

I Timothy 3:1-7I Timothy 3:1-72Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

I Timothy 3:1-7I Timothy 3:1-74He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

I Timothy 3:1-7I Timothy 3:1-7

The Functions & Qualities of Elders

Part 2

I Timothy 3:1-7It 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.

I. Four Functions of Elders:

1. To pastor or shepherd (poimaino)

I Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28-29

2. To teach or instruct (didaskaleo)

I Peter 5:3; Acts 20:29-31; Titus 1:9

3. To exhort or admonish (parakaleo)

Titus 1:9; Titus 1:11, 13

4. To guard, oversee and serve (episkopeo)

I Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28

II. Qualities of Elders:A. Not given to wine (me paroinon) –

The Bible contains many warnings against the potential dangers of wine and strong

drink (Isaiah 5:11, 22; Proverbs 20:1, 23:30-35; Hosea

4:11). Nothing is to damage a man’s reputation

and work for God.

B. Not violent (me plekten) – A pugnacious man is a fighter,

a bad temper, irritable, out of control individual. The

Greek word is derived from the verb

“to strike” and suggests a person prone to physical confrontation.

C. Gentle (epieke) - No one English word conveys the fullness of this

word’s richness. Forbearing, kind, gentle, magnanimous, equitable and

gracious all help capture the full range of its meaning.

Gentleness is one of the most helpful and attractive virtues required of an

elder.

D. Peaceable (amachon) – God hates division and fighting among His people (Proverbs 6:16-19; II Timothy

2:24-25a), so along with being gentle it is

important that an elder be peaceable, not contentious.

E. Free from the love of money (aphilarguron) – An elder must not love money or be greedy (cf. I Peter

5:2; Titus 1:7). He is to be an example in

stewardship, commitment and sacrifice.

F. Manage his household well (kalos proistamenon) - A Christian man’s family is God’s proving ground to see whether or

not he should be entrusted with stewardship of God’s household. Men

who cannot make a Christian home cannot lead a congregation. Men who

have not instructed their own families will

not instruct the church properly.

Three things are necessary for obedience and submission to be given with respect:

1. Father’s life worthy of respect

2. Submission has been modeled

3. Authority of God is understood

G. Not a new convert (me neophutan) - Literally, not newly planted.

No matter how spiritual, zealous, knowledgeable, or talented a new

convert may be, he is not spiritually mature.

Paul warns that a spiritually immature person can “become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the

devil.”

H. A good reputation with outsiders (marturian kalen) - Here it is made

explicit that what the outside unbelieving world thinks is important. In reality, non-

christians may know more about the character and conduct of the prospective elder than the church. The verb “must”

again stresses the absolute necessity and importance of this matter just as it did in

verse 2.

A perfect man?All scripture is given by inspiration

of God, and is profitable for doctrine,

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good

works. (II Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

We need men who can say…

“Therefore I urge you

to imitate me.”I Corinthians 4:16

NIV

The expectation should not be perfection but a

passionate walk with our God and a

long obedience in the same direction!

GreatWORK!

It’s a