Day 16 - I Timothy 3:1-2

A Daily Devotional Study of I Timothy

Character Counts

I Timothy 3:1-2 

¹This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.

P

aul now addresses the need for quality leadership in the Church. It is interesting that, in the criteria he lists for leaders, he does not mention the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, great preaching, beautiful singing, or any of the traits that many believers today, especially charismatics, tend to hold in high esteem. Except for the ability to teach, the criteria are all related to character; that is, not greedy, a good reputation with non-Christians, hospitable, not prone to losing one’s temper, and so on. When it comes to leadership in the Church, character counts.

Bishop: Not a Church Office

The word “bishop” is translated from the Greek word episcopas from which we get “Episcopal” and “Episcopalian.” Episcopas literally means “to watch over.” When Paul used the word it was not a church office, but merely a word that described the responsibility of the leaders to “watch over” the Lord’s people. The word was not unique to the Biblical writers but was a part of the vocabulary of the ancient Greek-speaking world. In Paul’s day it was used of a tutor who was responsible to “watch over” the education of a student; of watchmen on walls who were responsible to “watch over” the surrounding territory for signs of enemy activity; of army scouts; and of the superintendent of a building project. Paul uses the word for Christian leaders, both men and women, who are responsible to watch over the affairs of the congregation. This is why the word is sometimes translated as “overseer,” as in Acts 20:28.

Functions of Leadership, not Offices

In the New Testament the word bishop (episcopas) is a generic term used in reference to any leader who has responsibility of oversight. For example, in Acts 20:17, 28, Paul uses the word interchangeably with the words for elder (presbuteros) and pastor (poimen) in referring to the same leaders. The fact that Paul uses bishop, elder, and pastor interchangeably indicates that, at this early date, these are designated functions that people fulfill rather than offices that they fill. Only as the Church institutionalized over time did these become separate and distinct offices. Interestingly, neither the word “office” nor the word “man” is in the original of 3:1, but both have been inserted by the translators. The verse literally reads, If anyone aspires to have oversight . . .. 

A Leader Must be Blameless

Paul begins his list of leadership criteria by saying that an overseer must be “blameless.” Blameless is from the Greek word anepilempton, which literally means, “not to be laid hold of.” The NIV translates the word as above reproach. The NLT reads, whose life cannot be spoken against. Paul’s point is that the leader must be of such sterling character that the enemies of God can find nothing about him or her that they can use to malign the Christian community and message. Some commentators, like Dr. Gordon Fee, see this as a general term for the list of criteria that follow: the husband of one wife, not greedy for money and gain, hospitable, not quarrelsome, sober and serious, etc. The Church today—particularly the charismatic church—is in desperate need of leaders who have, not just gifts, but also character.

Prayer & Reflection

O Lord, raise up men and women of character to feed and lead Your people. May Your leaders be people of purity as well as power, character as well as charisma, and may they demonstrate the fruit as well as the gifts of the Spirit. We ask this in Jesus’ Name! Amen!