1 Timothy 3 lays out what the elders and the deacons should be like. As church members, this help us to understand what we are to look for in the leaders in our church. It also clarifies and shapes what we should value in the leaders of our church.
This passage is clearly centred and anchored on the church. Without the church, there can be no elders nor deacons. Important then, for us to see that the church is important. The church is important for all believers. Are you a member of a church? Our encouragement is for you to join a gospel-preaching church and be a member there.
Remember the context: erroneous teaching existed and Paul charged Timothy to clarify it by holding fast to the gospel and teaching clearly. This also extended to roles of men and women in the church.
This links to today’s study in 1 Timothy 3, which helps us to see who should lead the church.
(A) Godly Elders (1 Tim 3:1-7)
The overseer is to keep watch over souls (Heb 13:17). He is to understand the status of the souls of the members in the church and keeping watch also conveys a sense of protecting and also going after them. We also see that they will have to give an account to God. They are responsible for the sheep. God cares about His church and will expect the overseers to also care for them.
Practically, if there is a member that has not been gathering with the church, overseers are to pursue and understand why it is so, and to continue to call them back to gather with God’s people.
A similar idea is expressed in Acts 20:28. Here, we also see that it matters because the church has been blood-bought. The church exists because God send His Son, Jesus, to take on the sins of His people. Through His death, as He shed His blood, He redeemed us out of slavery to sin and into His family. When we repent by faith and turn back to Him, we are no longer lost in the world but are now His, and part of His church.
Thus, our belonging to the church came at great cost to God Himself. The church is valuable to God.
Acts 20:28 also has a word of warning to the elders. He tells them to pay attention to themselves, as human overseers are not immune to temptation or wrong doctrine. They are to continually check their own hearts and doctrines, to make sure it has not been swayed over time or shaped more by the world than by God’s revealed Word. Elders are fallible and are not to be lone wolves. Instead, they are to serve the church as a plurality of elders, as they keep watch over each other, and together, the church.
Elders are important to the church, and are a crucial part of God’s plan for His church. In Titus 1:5, Paul is writing to Titus, who is in a small church. These small churches were incomplete without elders who protected, guided, taught the church. Thus, Paul describes the work of an elder as a noble task (1 Tim 3:1). The work of soul care, soul protection is a lasting work, one that lasts till eternity.
In 1 Timothy 3:2-7, Paul describes for Timothy the character traits of elders. An elder should be:
Above reproach: This first trait summarises all the other traits. Now, this is not saying that someone is sinless, but he should not have any inconsistencies in his character. Those around him are unable to find fault with him. In Colossians 1:22, the church, too, is spoken of in this way as they respond to and obey Christ.
Not a drunkard: He should not be addicted to substance. A man who is a slave of Christ should not be a slave of anything else. In 1 Corinthians 6:10, this also applies to those in the church.
Husband of one wife: Now, it does not mean that the elder has to be married. Paul also writes about the value of singleness (c.f. 1 Cor 7). It also does not mean that a once-divorced-now-remarried man is disqualified and does depend on the circumstances. Thus, this is speaking of the man’s current situation. This serves to protect the church against polygamy and is also consistent with the pattern of marriage established in Genesis 2:24. Essentially, this speaks of faithfulness to the wife that he has married. Does the elder has the character of a “one-woman man”?
Not violent but gentle: This is a picture of someone who does not react to distressing situations with aggression. Gentleness and forbearance should mark his responses and actions, following in the footsteps of Christ.
Sober minded: It is a mind that is not fuzzy and intoxicated. This clarity and alertness is to be against the dangers and temptations of the world that can sidetrack ministry. He is also not easily swayed from one extreme to the next. 1 Peter 5:8 writes about something similar. Here, Peter writes about sin and being alert to the dangers of the world.
Not quarrelsome: Not argumentative nor contentious. He is able to handle the issue and not resort to attacking the person. In church, quarrels can easily arise, especially with a sheep that is prone to biting or picking fights. The elder too, needs God’s grace.
Self-controlled: He must be able to maintain control of one’s emotions and actions. This is also listed in Galatians 5:22-24, in the list of the fruit of the Spirit.
Not a lover of money: There is always a temptation to think about money as the world does, but we are presented with a picture of contentment here. There are many things that we desire or want or think is a right. But the elder does not idolise comfort or experiences. He is confident that God will provide for the needs of His followers, and humbly submits to Him. He is unlike the rich man described in Matthew 19:24, who is unable to part with his wealth.
Respectable: This describes one who is well-behaved, dignified. It is also tied to the dignity of human life made in the image of God (c.f. Gen 1:28).
Manage his household well: His household should be in order. His children would be able to see who he really is in private and they too, are discipled by him. Again, elders don’t all need to have children. But if they do, their children need to be managed well.
Hospitable: Welcoming others into your home is a picture of hospitality. It is more than just hosting a meal, but also involves being known and knowing who the other person is. The overseer is not a hermit nor is he reclusive. This is also something Peter encourages all Christians to do in 1 Peter 4:9.
Not be a recent convert: This is so that he will not be puffed up.
Well thought of by outsiders: He is known as an honourable person, even by people outside the church.
Able to teach
All with the exception of being able to teach, are required of all God’s people. We will unpack what this ability to teach means, but first, note that the other qualities also describes all Christians. Hence, the elder is not a “super Christian” and sinless. He is a fellow sinner that points other Christians to Christ. He is to live a life that shows God’s word bearing fruit. What shines through should be that this person consistently lives out these traits as one who knows Christ and is continually shaped by Him through His word.
But there is something unique to his role. He has to be able to teach. This is an important part of his work. This speaks of teaching the doctrines of God — who God is and how that shapes or impacts our life — and also defending God’s people from false doctrines. This can come from without or within. He has to nurture and defend so that God’s people keep hearing the true, unadulterated gospel. But this also involves knowing God and continually growing in their knowledge and love for God. It also implies being able to communicate this knowledge of God to the people and help them to apply it. Now, this does not mean that every elder has to preach over the pulpit. There are other ways — small groups, 1-to-1s, trainings. Paul also encouraged that those who are gifted are set aside to focus on preaching and teaching and have their needs provided for to allow them to work well (1 Tim 5:17).
Godly elders are shaped by God’s word and embody the traits of Christ consistently. They know God and are able to teach — able to share the gospel message, defend it and protect the church in this way.
Why does the church need leaders? So that they can watch over the flock, teach sound doctrine and bring together around the one true word of God. He should not look any different from what God requires of all His people.
(B) Godly Deacons (1 Tim 3:8-13)
Acts 6:1-7 helps us to understand the work and role of deacons. As the church was starting out, we see that there are the Hellenists — Greek-speaking Jews — and Hebrews in Acts 6. They were both followers of Christ and here there is complaint that the Hellenistic widows were being left out as there was an increase in numbers in the church (Acts 6:1). If left unchecked, the unity of the church could be affected.
In response, the twelve acknowledged that they did not have the capacity to solve this important problem (Acts 6:2). Notice that they did not dismiss this problem. Instead, they gathered the disciples to appoint seven from among them to serve the practical needs of the community (Acts 6:3). Thus, we see that there is a clear distinction of the priorities of the elders compared to the deacons.
Needs and changes often arise in a congregation. This is natural in church life. Practical needs will always crop up. Who will attend to these needs? This decision enabled that the apostles could focus on prayer and to the ministry of the work (Acts 6:4) while the needs of the people will also be met!
As a result, God’s word continued to increase and disciples continued to multiply (Acts 6:7). Though the deacons’ work did not directly involve preaching and teaching, their service allowed the elders to focus on their work, and together, the church is able to live our her gospel imperative. The office of the deacon is a crucial one as they enable preaching and teaching to go on!
Back to 1 Timothy 3. By comparing the qualifications for overseers (1 Tim 3:2-7) and deacons (1 Tim 3:8-13), we see that the overseer must be able to teach, and this is not required of deacons. Deacons, therefore, are not elders in training. The office of deacon has a clearly defined role and responsibility and Paul highlights the specific requirements of this office when he maintains a separate list.
We also see that elders are not more important than deacons. As Acts 6 has already shown us, without deacons, the elders and the church will suffer. Both offices image God and reflect His glory in different way. Deacons aid in the unity of the church by attending to the physical, administrative matters, while the elders devote themselves to the oversight of the congregation by teaching, leading and praying.
What does this look like in church? There could be deacons in charge of operational ministries — AV, carpark, ushering, welcome, newcomers. These 2 roles are very much needed in God’s church — to help His people receive His word and become more like Him.
As we read this passage today, don’t be quick to dismiss it or read these as a list of things you will never be. Read this list to encourage you to think about your own character and Christian life. Use this as a way to consider how you can serve your own church, if the opportunity arises.
This chapter also encourages us to cherish our leaders! Seek to submit to your elders, pray for your elders and deacons and encourage them as the work could be thankless. Ultimately, seek to thank God for designing leaders over His church, to nurture, protect and guide her, until the day Christ returns.