1 Timothy 3:6 Mature Believer

1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil.

Still discussing qualifications for eldership Paul adds here in 1 Timothy 3:6 that such a person must not be a recent convert. He must not be a neophyte, one newly planted. A reason is given for this. Just as one is careful with a newly planted tree or bush so one must be with a recent convert. What does Paul mean exactly by recent convert? No doubt there will be differences in definition from time to time and place to place. Always, however, some months at least or years in most cases must pass before a man can be given the responsibility of eldership. The argument is that otherwise he may become conceited (all smoked up) and fall under the same judgement as the devil which appears to be a reference to his ambitious pride. The Bible never spells it out in so many words but it appears that it was ambition that undid the devil, who was not content with his high position before God but sought something higher. Of course, a period of waiting does not guarantee the eradication of pride and ambition but it does give a cooling off period when one can come to terms with certain matters and is a policy that must be applied in all churches. In today's climate something like three to five years between conversion from the world to eldership might be appropriate.

1 Timothy 5:17 Double Honour

1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

At the end of Chapter 5 there is a brief section on elders. In verse 17 Paul mentions elders and he makes two distinctions. First, he speaks of those who direct the affairs of the church well which must refer to outstanding men in the eldership. He then qualifies that with especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. All elders direct the affairs of the church but not in the same way. The latter qualification suggests that not all elders are preaching and teaching elders and the former that not all direct the affairs of the church as well as others. When he says these people are worthy of double honour he probably means not just respect (as in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13) but pay, as the context of verse 18 which supports Paul's idea would suggest. There are examples of Roman soldiers being given double pay for outstanding acts. Double what? Perhaps double what the widows were given or double the average or simply a way of saying pay them well. Most elders it seems then are not paid but some are. Those who are paid will most likely be those involved in the preaching and teaching. Most churches that have elders seem aware of these distinctions - not all elders preach, not all elders are paid, those who are paid tend to be the preachers. The idea of paying such people well is still not accepted by some though many do see it.

1 Timothy 3:2, 3 The Overseer

1 Timothy 3:2, 3 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

These verses contain the basic qualifications for an overseer or elder. Some 11 characteristics are listed - the very number suggests, perhaps, someone above the average. The seventh qualification is different to all the others in that it does not necessarily have a moral dimension. This is the requirement that the overseer be able to teach. The other requirements would be desirable in all Christians. They are necessary for the teacher because without them his teaching will be hollow and hypocritical. So what is being looked for is an irreproachability, faithful monogamy, temperance, self-control, gravity, hospitableness, sobriety, gentleness, calmness and unselfishness. To be above reproach does not mean that a man is perfect but that there is no obvious flaw in his character and life. Some have assumed that an overseer must be married but the point is that he must be faithful to one wife if he is married. If she dies, he is not suddenly disqualified. The checklist serves both as  an indicator of what to look for in a possible overseer and as a reminder to overseers of what is required of them. If an elder finds he is becoming intemperate, say, or reclusive, violent, quarrelsome or is tempted to be unfaithful or get drunk or is lacking self control or thinking about money all the time then he is in serious trouble. He is no longer above reproach or respectable and is in danger of being unfit to teach.

1 Timothy 3:4, 5 Family Man

1 Timothy 3:4, 5 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

Prominent among the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3 is the statement that an elder must manage (or rule or preside over) his own family well and see that his children obey him. An explanation is given as to why this element is felt to be so important - (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) That line of argument suggests a number of things. First of all, there is some sort of analogy between church life and family life. They are clearly separate spheres and yet there are similarities. The sorts of attributes one would look for, therefore, in a father are the sorts of attributes one would also look for in a good elder. If a man's family life is a bit of a mess, if his children disobey him, if they show him no respect, then there should be warning lights flashing when someone suggests that he be considered as elder material. This does not mean to say that a single man cannot be an elder or that a married man who is childless cannot be one either. Rather a suggestion is made as to the sort of thing to be on the look out for when looking for an elder. If a married man is struggling to manage his family, best not give him another burden to carry. In the case of an unmarried man you will need to imagine what he would be like in a family setting. Just as a father manages his household so an elder presides over the church.

1 Timothy 3:1 Noble Task

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

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 the qualifications for eldership are listed. Before he comes to that, Paul gives the second of the five faithful or trustworthy sayings that are found in the pastoral letters. (For the others, see 1 Timothy 1:15 and 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11 and Titus 3:8). Here is a trustworthy saying, he says. He wants to underline for all who read it that If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Prior to any talk of qualifications, he wants to assert first that it is a good thing to want to be an elder or overseer. This is the sort of ambition that should be cultivated in young Christian people. Not all will be qualified, of course. Some are women; some, perhaps, have had complicated love lives or are excluded for other reasons. To want to be a leader and teacher of God's people is a noble thing, however. The following verses reveal that to want that is to want to be holy, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, sober, gentle, calm, not covetous, a good husband and father, mature, of good repute. Such things should surely be desired by all Christians, whether they become elders or overseers or not. Those who are overseers should also remember that it is a noble task and a desirable one indeed.

1 Timothy 3:14, 15 Pillar, foundation

1 Timothy 3:14, 15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy is taken up with instructions regarding appointing elders, deacons and the women to work in the churches. Towards the end of the chapter, in verses 14 and 15, Paul says Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. There is more that could be said about elders and deacons and such matters but there is enough here to show us how people ought to conduct themselves in the churches. Paul uses three or four terms to refer to a church. He begins with God's household. One way to think of a church is as a family or household over which God himself rules. That is why he says (4, 5) that an elder must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him and asks If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? The church or assembly of the Living God again stresses God's headship and leadership even when the church is called an assembly. He is no figurehead either for he is the living God. The final expressions are perhaps the most interesting. A church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. These two pictures vividly speak of the church as the upholder and supporter of the truth, using architectural terms. This is part of the reason why the church has such importance in God's economy and why its officers must be chosen with such great care and why these men and women must be marked by holiness and integrity. A right understanding of the church is fundamental for a pastor and all others who serve in it.