Key Scriptures: 1 Timothy 3 NKJV
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Text: 1 Timothy 3 NKJV
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
The King James translation says ‘office of a bishop’. Office, position, basically it is the same since both of these phrases are translated from one Greek word: Episkope
The Greek word Episkope is used only four times in the bible. One it is translated Bishop, here in 1 Timothy 3:1; once it is translated Bishoprick in Acts 1:20 when speaking about a replacement for Judas who vacated his leadership position; and twice this word Episkope is translated ‘visitation’, (Luke 19:44; 1 Peter 2:12), in reference to the Holy Spirit coming earth investigate, inspect, oversee or superintend God’s children.
Episkope is the compound word made up of two distinct Greek words: The first is Epi = over & Skopos = watch; view; see
These two words combine to make up the Greek word for oversight, Episkeptomai, and from there the word Episkope, which denotes the office or position an overseer would occupy.
God ordained the Office of a Bishop in the church so He would have someone in position to look out over and look out after His family in the earth. This is a chief stewardship position in the Body of Christ which deals with the governing of a church or churches. It is a trusted and guarded office to which many aspire but never attain. The first requirement is that of desire to give one’s life to this office. This office is not work which a person does but rather that which a person is.
After a recognized desire to serve in this office, a lifelong pursuit is in order. Let’s look further to see basic qualifications.
2 A bishop then must be:
* blameless,
* the husband of one wife,
* temperate,
* sober-minded,
* of good behavior,
* hospitable,
* able to teach;
3 not given to wine,
* not violent,
* not greedy for money,
* but gentle,
* not quarrelsome,
* not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well,
* having his children in submission with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the
In years gone by I have had occasion to deeply study this scripture to make sure I qualified to be a chief steward and take care of the
First this scripture is not saying that if a person has problems in his household with a spouse, children, finances or sin, then that person is automatically disqualified from the Bishoprick. Rather this scripture is saying that if a person has some trouble in his own house or family and is not actively engaged in dealing with this trouble, working on it to manage and correct the problem, then it should be accepted that if faced with trouble in the church he would not take the initiative or measures necessary to solve or correct those problems either.
However, if one is seen as being actively engaged in dealing with family matters of trouble and difficulties which commonly arise from time to time, then it can be reasonably accepted that this person, given the oversight of the church, would also be successful in leading that church and actively managing the problems which will of certain arise within the family of God.
Evidence to this interpretation is the Apostle Peter who was ordained to the same office as Judas Iscariot. Although Peter denied knowing Jesus violently with cursing, he did not leave it so but recovered himself, strengthened himself, repented and re-engaged. Later we find Peter once again serving the law out of fear and refusing to eat with Christians who were not Jews. He was rebuked by Paul to his face and as we believe, he repented and changed his ways to be no respecter of persons.
God has no perfect people to work with but He works with those of us who, even though we fall or face troubles, do our best to recover ourselves and manage those things under our authority, not ignoring or abdicating our responsibilities as leaders in the Body of Christ. Bishops therefore must have a record of ruling their households well, busy addressing and actively employing corrective measures when problems arise.
Furthermore, a Bishop’s qualifications demand that he be:
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
The devil, it appears, suddenly found himself to be somebody in his own eyes, a legend in his own mind as some would say, and this pride in his position, along with the prestige and power which came with the position, caused the devil to fall. A desire to be great or to think oneself to be great is a danger sign.
If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must be the servant of all. Let another man’s lips praise you and not your own. Pride goes before a fall. We should not think too highly of ourselves but soberly, recognizing that it is the grace of God which sustains us.
Many times this truth is not embraced in the young or the unproven. Perhaps this is why some say that we should never trust a man who does not walk with a limp. (Reference to Jacob wrestling with the angel in Genesis 32. This is where Jacob’s name was changed to
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Simply here, a Chief Steward, as a representative and leader of the church, must be an example in the community and not just in the church. Community respect can be difficult to obtain and retain in these days. Not to say that Church leaders will not at times be called to speak out against sinful practices a community may adopt, however, no justified finger of reproach should be pointed at these leaders.
These points of having a good testimony within the community often deal with simple things such as paying of just and honest debts, being a person of your word, presenting a kind and caring image of a loving God full of mercy, forgiveness and grace, giving aid to those in need and dependable to help.
8 Likewise deacons …
The Greek word translated deacon here is: Diakonos
I copied this from the Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary
diakonos dee-ak’-on-os
probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands)
AV-minister 20, servant 8, deacon 3; 31
1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister
1a) the servant of a king
1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor
1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink
Verse 8 continues: Likewise deacons:
* must be reverent,
* not double-tongued,
* not given to much wine,
* not greedy for money,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
It is important that deacons be disciples of the doctrine of the church so that they may have personal confidence in the scriptures.
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
The standard of approving those who are engaged in practical matters of service in the Church should include a time of proving or period of observation in the work before they are officially ordained and set into that office.
It has been said that we don’t ordain people so that they will become a minister or deacon, but rather we ordain people who we find already engaged in ministry or service and as we see them growing to meet the scriptural qualifications we place the leadership’s seal of approval upon them and officially recognize their calling by publicly ordaining them to a specific work.
An extra set of requirements we see here in the following verses are attached to those wishing to become deacons in the church …
11 Likewise their wives must be:
* reverent,
* not slanderers,
* temperate,
* faithful in all things.
Now further qualifications for the office of a deacon …
12 Let deacons be:
* the husbands of one wife,
* ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul then gives us our key scriptures revealing why he is being divinely inspired to write these things … so that we might know how we are to behave ourselves or conduct ourselves in the Church.
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
