I Timothy Chapter 3

I Timothy Chapter 3 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net
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Introduction:  In chapter 2, we studied how that we should be constantly in prayer to the Lord for all men. Both kings, friends, and even those who do not know the Lord.  This chapter deals with the scriptural leadership of the church and particularly the qualifications of its leadership. The purpose is that Timothy, and us might know how to conduct himself in the church of the living God. A pattern for church leadership and polity is set forth. The chapter concludes with an explanation of the church and a concise summary of the ministry of our Lord.
 
I.  The Qualifications of Pastors (elders)

1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

The Apostle begins by noting, This is a true saying. It literally has the sense, ‘this is a faithful saying.’ He continues, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. The office of a bishop is that which is more commonly called the pastorate. Here, Paul commends any willing to so seek that ministry. However, in the greater overview of the New Testament, such a position is a calling of the Chief Shepherd. He is the one who calls and ultimately ordains men to His service.
 
Three terms are used referring to the leader of the church in the New Testament.

(1) The term translated as bishop (episkoph episkopay) literally means ‘overseer.’ God has given him the general oversight for the local church.
(2) The term translated as elder (presbuterov presbuteros) is also used interchangeably for bishop as in Titus 1:5-6. An elder was one of authority either by age or rank. The application of the term is essentially that of authority.
(3) The term translated as pastor (poimen poimen) literally means a ‘shepherd’ and speaks of tender care and feeding of a flock.
 
Each of these three terms refers to the same individual. The difference lies in the various aspects of leadership. The composite is of oversight, authority, and tender care.  An analogy might be found in a husband/father in a home. The early churches in many cases began out of a synagogue. In fact, in James, the word used for assembly there is the word usually translated as synagogue.

The point is that the leadership of synagogues were known as elders. That term carried over into the early church, particularly when it was largely Jewish in character. However, as the church moved west and became more gentile in nature, the Greek term (episkopov) episkopos was the word which came to refer to the leadership of the church.
 
It derives from two simple words (epi) epi which has the sense of ‘over’ and (skopov) skopos which means to ‘see.’ The idea is of oversight. The two terms, elder and bishop, refer to the same office. They differ only in their origins. In modern terms, they are the equivalent of the ‘pastor.’ 

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