“Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,” (1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)
Having considered the importance of the office of an overseer, what qualifications must a godly man possess in order to be considered to be a church elder or pastor? Money, popularity, social standing, vocation, or political persuasion have nothing to do with an elder’s or pastor’s qualifications. Then what does?
“It is immediately clear that according to Paul’s inspired teaching the prospective overseer must have a favorable testimony from two groups: (a) insiders or church members and (b) outsiders or those outside the church,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
The Apostle Paul began with church-members. The various items the believing community are to examine when choosing an elder are divided into two sets of seven items each. Today’s text possesses the first set of seven.
Paul wrote an overseer, or elder, must be something within, as opposed to possessing something outside of himself; like those items previously mentioned. The phrase must be (δεῖ; dei) refers to something absolutely necessary. In other words, an elder must possess something that is seen as an example to imitate and follow. The context reveals this so called “something” an elder must have are inner qualities of godly character. More than focusing on what an elder does, these inner qualities display who an elder is.
“Since the work of an elder is noble (1 Tim. 3:1), one that must be performed according to the highest standards, only select men may be chosen for the office. The kind of man who is fit to be an elder is described in the New Testament in other places besides 1 Timothy 3:1–7, particularly in Titus 1:5–9, and the qualities in each passage overlap,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Paul is more concerned with who an elder is than with what he does. We are not given a list of duties but qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, all of which can be observed by other people. A man is ordained not only because he senses the call of the Lord, he is appointed to the office because the church recognizes that God has chosen him for leadership, which is clear from his manner of life.”
To begin with, an elder must be above reproach (ἀνεπίλημπτον; anepilempton). This means irreproachable, blameless, impeccable, unimpeachable, and impossible to fault. This is the foremost trait. It is displayed in all the remaining qualities.
Wow, what a standard from which to begin.
To be above reproach does not refer to perfection, because no man, except Jesus, is sinless (1 John 1:8–9). On the contrary, an elder is to be a man of repentance, guilty of no heinous evil since his conversion. Puritan and biblical commentator Matthew Henry states such a man ‘must not be under any scandal.’
“Above reproach Lit. means, ‘“not able to be held’ in a criminal sense; there is no valid accusation of wrongdoing that can be made against him. No overt, flagrant sin can mar the life of one who must be an example for his people to follow (cf. v. 10; 4:16; 5:7; Ps. 101:6; Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 5:3). This is the overarching requirement for elders; the rest of the qualifications elaborate on what it means to be blameless,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
The biblical standard for a man to be a church elder is high. It is supposed to be. There is no room for compromise or concession.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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