1TI 3:1-16 1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to w ine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take car e of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise mu st the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blam eless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purcha se to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the ho use 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 manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1TI 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

We are going to learn more about the administering of a church. REMEMBER this epistle is designed to tell us what and how to do things in the church. A church is really an organization. It is made up of born again, baptized believers. But every organ ization needs guidelines...Paul is furnishing them. Every organization needs someone in the place of leadership. And in the case of the church, this is the pastor. Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which th e Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

The office of a pastor is to be magnified.

The office of a pastor is a very important office.

The pastor of a church stands in a very peculiar position.

He is God’s man...supposedly directed to that place by God.

He is the people’s choice...supposedly, they too, led of the Spirit of God have selected him for this purpose.

As a matter of principle...Paul lays down some guidelines for such a person. NOT EVERY PERSON could be a pastor. In fact, it takes a special person. What kind of person should this be?

1TI 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

The world is pictured by Egypt in the O.T.....and always Egypt seeks to expel the things of God. REMEMBER...the world hated Jesus...the world did not want Jesus.

The world put Jesus to death on the cross. The world did not want Him to "rule over them."

The FLESH does not want a man to pastor or to preach.

The flesh is the natural man. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit.

The natural man...the carnal mind...is a enmity with God and is not subject to the law of God...neither indeed can be. The flesh does not want a man to preach..to pastor.

The flesh does not give a man a shepherd’s heart.

The flesh seeks to drive men from God...not help men to God.

The DEVIL does not want us to preach or to pastor.

The devil is opposed to anything that is of God.

The devil wants the honor that God has.

From the very beginning the devil has sought to evaluate himself above God. From the very beginning the devil has sought to destroy God. Throughout the O.T. the devil was constantly seeking to destroy the lineage of the Messiah...to keep Christ from coming and dying for the sins of the world. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, the devil sought to destroy Him...to no avail.

Certainly....the devil has not changed. God’s message goes into the world through preachers... Rom 10:14-17 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shal l they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel . For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The devil does not want us preaching...or pastoring.

The devil does not want the gospel message preached...or the Word of God to go forth from our lips.

The devil does not like the church...The body of Christ.

The devil is opposed to the church. The devil constantly seeks to destroy the church.

He tries through the pastor, the preacher... He tries through the leaders of the church.

The DESIRE is the CALL OF GOD. Without the CALL OF GOD, a man would not desire the office.

LEARN: A desire is NOT ENOUGH. There are other qualifications also.

"The office of a bishop" This is a very laborious position. This is a title of honor. This is a business of labor and care. "Besides all this the care of the churches is upon me daily."

The noun "bishop" occurs : Acts 20:28; Phil 1:1; I Tim 3:2; Titus 1:7; I Pet 2:25. The verb means "to look upon" or "to see to" or "to take care of". It means "to look after" or "to inspect". The noun denotes the office of overseeing or looking to.

NOTE: The word "bishop" means to "rule" or "to administrate". The is a word that indicates that the bishop is to take charge of. The bishop is to be a leader...he is to take the lead of the church. This is that work of the church that organizes...that gets things done methodically. This has to do with the "business end" of the church. Every pastor should be a good business man... a man who can operate and control a business. Every pastor needs some "common horse sense" in his dealings with the administration of the church. Every pastor needs to know something about business ethics. Every pastor should be ethical. The word "bishop" is never used to designate the PECULIARITY of the apostolic office...the term BISHOP is never applied to the apostles. The apostles were set first in the church...as to time and position. The word is never used to denote a superior office of men. It IS used to denote ministers of the gospel who had the care and the oversight of the churches...without regard

to grade or rank. The words...elder, pastor, bishop (overseer) are synonymous. "He desireth a good work" It is an honorable office. It is an office which it is right for a man to desire. It is proper to desire such an office. It is really a GOOD WORK. I recommend it to anyone who feels the touch of God.

BY THE WAY If you try to pastor without that desire YOU WILL BE MISERABLE. If you try to pastor without enjoying this good work, you will be miserable.

NOTE: It is not the most lucrative position in the world. It is not the highest social position in the world. It will not gain the average person much acclaim. It will not give a person a great deal of prestige. BUT IT IS A GOOD WORK. Paul said, "I m agnify my office".

The pastor is called a shepherd to guide, to feed, and to guard.

In view of this duty to expound the word and instruct, he is a DIDASKALSO, a teacher.

But bishop, pastor, elder, preacher, and teacher, do not signify MANY offices, but departments of work in ONE OFFICE. This office...from its importance...is not to be occupied by just anyone. "...no man taketh the office unto himself." God calls him to it...this is the DESIRE. "The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers." The church sets them apart by prayer and laying on of hands...which we call ordination.

LET US LEARN: The preacher or pastor is not an untouchable. Many times pastors teach their people..."touch not God’s anointed." By this they mean...even if they or wrong doctrinally or morally, the people are to accept them, follow them, and let God take care of the problem. NOT SO.......

I am aware that pastors have feet of clay..they are susceptible to the same temptations as other men...and in some cases, moreso. I am aware that they have the same passions, the same desires, the same lusts that other men have....or at least they ar e capable of such. I am aware that pastors make mistakes. I am aware that many times pastors mess up their lives. THE CHURCH IS TO DEAL WITH THAT. The church is to discipline just at they discipline the members. If a church should withdraw from a mem ber that is an heretic, they should also withdraw from a pastor. If a church should discipline as in I Cor. 5...on moral issues...then the church should discipline the pastor on moral issues. The pastor is a God-called man...but HE IS MAN.

1TIM 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

This begins the qualifications...after the call of God.

First we have the negatives,...and then the positive.

"blameless"..... Not PERFECT or SINLESS. A man against whom there is no charge of immorality.

A man against whom there is no charge of holding false doctrine. A man whose conduct is irreproachable.

DON’T make a man pastor whose record is spotted...a man whose life has been a reproach to God.

This man should be a man of honesty, truth, chasity, and general uprightness.

"The husband of one wife" Dr. B.H. Carrol said, "If a man is not wiser than Solomon, more prudent than Augustus and more patient than Job, he certainly better have a wife."

The most obvious meaning, and one that would be best understood in Paul’s day was that this was a teaching against polygamy. A man who desired to preach was not to have a plurality of wives. it was not uncommon for a man to have more than one wife in that day. It was extensively practiced... One design of the gospel was to restore marriage to its proper place and relationship. The ministry was to be the EXAMPLE to the flock in this matter and the minster was to have "ONLY ONE WIFE."

Many hold that his means "one wife"....only one.

If we hold that position, then we must hold that it is not only exclusive, but inclusive.

That would mean that a man MUST have a wife to pastor.

AND.... That would leave out Paul....for when he wrote this he did not have a wife. Paul probably at one time had a wife...for he was a member of the Sanhedrin and as such would have been a married man. But whatever happened, it certainly does not in dicate he was married at this time. According to I Cor. he had no wife at this time. Paul declared "marriage to be honorable" whether for the pastor or the people. Celibacy is not taught in the Word of God.

"Vigilant" Wakeful, watchful. A man who is diligent in business.

A man who attends his own care and charge...he takes care of what God has put him over.

Watchful over himself, his words, his actions... Watchful for the souls of men.

Watchful to do al l the good he can.

"Sober" Properly...a man of sound mind...one who follows sound reason. One who has his desires and passions well regulated. Perhaps a good word would be...PRUDENT. It means temperate, modest, humble... DO NOT put a man in the office of a bishop who i s a clown. We could not have reverent feelings toward such.

"Of good behavior" ORDERLY would be a good word.

A well disciplined life. A man who does not have a disorderly or lawless spirit.

A man who is neat and decent in his appearance. A man who is modest in deportment and conduct.

A man who is affable and courteous. PSA 101:2...."I will behave myself." PSA 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

He is to practice what he preaches. He is to be consistent in what he does and is.

The ministry of the life must back up the ministry of the lip.

"Given to hospitality" Open hearted and open handed. Pastors are givers...for the most part.

They give themselves ...and they give of their means.

ILLUS: It is said that Mrs. Truett had some of Dr. Truett’s salary sent to her because he was so generous, he would give everything away. I do not know the truthfulness of that statement, but have heard it repeatedly.

"Apt to teach" Capable of instructing. Qualified for the office of a teacher...

The principal business of a minister is TO TEACH..."teaching them to observe...."

No one belongs in the ministry who is not capable of imparting instructions to others on doctrines and duties of religion. The pastor is to be a teacher so as to sop heretical teaching, and help Christians to be a full stature.

He is to teach so that he can help Christians stand firm. He is to help anchor others.

1TIM 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

"Not given to wine" One who sits by wine. One who has the habit of drinking. Not behaving ill at wine. Not becoming quarrelsome over it. The bishop must be careful to avoid any such habit.

AS WE KNOW ALCOHOLISM.... We are to leave it entirely alone. It offers us no value except medicinal.

"No striker" He is not to be a violent man. He is not to be combative...with hand or tongue. "Keep the door of my lips"..Psa. 141:3 . The "young, timid" Timothy was no striker.... However God put this down for leaders of all time.

"Not greedy of filthy lucre" Not desiring base gain. Not in the ministry for the financial profit to be gained.

Money of itself is not evil...many moneyed men are godly men, and some are pastors. It becomes evil only when it is ill-gotten. It them becomes "filthy lucre".

Nothing more paralyzes a minister than the love of money. To love money is to be guilty of the sin of idolatry. The man who holds the dollar so close that he cannot see a lost world or that dreams about it and just loves to pour it through his finger s SHOULD NOT PREACH.

ILLUS: I could name many whose ministry and life have been shattered by this very thing. We who are in the ministry see this happen all too often. "But be patient" This means gentle...not a rough fellow. This means of a kind and mild disposition. Thi s means, as we shall see later, that he reproves, rebukes, and exhorts with all long-suffering and doctrine...with kindness. A quality of mind that makes allowance for others. "let patience have her perfect work". An overbearing personality defeats its own ends.

"Not a brawler" Not given to contention. Not always wanting to settle things by a fight. He is to be a peacemaker...as well as a peacable person. "First pure, then peaceable"..... Ja 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceabl e, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

He is to "contend for the faith"..but he is not to be contentious.

"Not covetous" "Thou shalt not covet" Probably more evil results from covetousness than any other sin. The actual word Paul uses means money-loving. It refers also to coveting any possession, or position... it refers to being discontent. Paul said, " I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therewith to be content." That means a preacher should tithe. That means a preacher should give. That means preacher should not be stingy, niggardly, or seek his own rather than the things of Christ. That me ans a preacher does not put SELF first.

1TIM 3:4-5 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

This implies that a minister OUGHT to be a married man. His position in the church is similar in many respects to that of a father and husband in the home. His ability to govern (rule) his home would be a recommendation of his ability to govern or rule the church.

"To rule" does NOT MEAN that we are to be dictators. It DOES NOT give authority to abuse or misuse his family. It puts a burden to RULE WITH LOVE.

"having his children in subjection" Not that they will not be ordinary human beings. But he has control of them... That does not mean he is abusive of them. He is to rule with dignity...maintain self-respect...his deportment will inspire others.

If a man know not how to rule his own house... The ruling of the house was far less important than the ruling of the church. A church resembles a family. The church is an assemblage of brothers and sisters. All of them have common feelings and common wants. The "ruler of the church" should LOVE all the members of that great family.... There should be no prejudices. There should be no partialities. There should be no selfish aims or desires.

Just as every child is different, so every church member is different. Just as we deal with children differently, we deal with church members differently. Just as some children need special TLC, so do church members. Just as there are problems in the home, there are problems in the church. What a comparison!

1TIM 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

This does not necessarily mean a YOUNG man...youth has nothing to do with being a novice. Paul had written, "Let no man despise they youth". He was not to be a newly planted one in the faith. He was not to be a lately come to the faith. He would need to have been rooted and grounded.

"lest being lifted up with pride" The devil is ready to pounce on the novice. The novice is easily lifted up with pride. A novice would allow the commendations, the flatteries to go to his head. The novice will get an over-exaggerated opinion of hims elf. PRIDE goeth before a fall.

1TIM 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Having a good testimony of those that are without.

The people outside the church should have good words about the pastor.

They might not agree with him... They might not go to hear him preach...

But they respect him as a man of integrity and honor.

The obvious reason of this is that the preacher, in order to fulfill his mission to the lost, must be in position to reach them. If they have no confidence in him as a man... If they question continually, and he gives them reason to do so, his integr ity or veracity...he can do them no good.

"lest he fall into reproach" Or he bring disgrace to the ministry.

1TIM 3:8-10 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

"Likewise" Or, in like manner...in the same category. Just as the qualifications for the bishop or pastor.

There is no DESIRE or GOD CALL here . This is an office designed to help the minister.

DEACONS...as we know them ...began in Acts 6.

There they were to help take the burden off of the apostles.

They were to become servants...serving in the capacity of seeing that the widows were not neglected.

They were to take those responsibilities that would allow the apostles to give more time to prayer and study.

The word "deacon" means "servant" or "one who serves".

It is a Scriptural office. It is an office of honor.

There are guidelines for deacons, just as there are for preachers.

Men need to meet these qualifications in order to serve.

The qualifications are quite similar.

The deacon was to be SOUND IN THE FAITH.

He was to believe the doctrines.

NOTE ONE DIFFERENCE... Since he was not God called...or Holy Spirit called... He WAS TO FIRST BE PROVED. This meant he could not be a novice. his dedication to God was to be proved. His dedication to the church was to be proved. His loyalty to the ch urch and pastor was to be proved. His willingness to serve in such a capacity was to be proved

1TIM 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

1TIM 3:12-13 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith wh ich is in Christ Jesus.