Qualifications of a Bishop, 

Created Date: 22-Nov-2020
Pastor or Elder of a Church

Last updated: 22-Nov--2020
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This is a companion topic to the Pastors Constructive Criticism topic.

There are several scripture references pertaining to the importance of understanding who can have a position of authority in a Church, Bible Study Group and Home Fellowship.  1 Timothy 3:1-7 lists
 
1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 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 church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The key points of these verses which are also the same points in other scriptures such as 1 Peter 5:1-5 and Matthew 6:1-5 as examples.

  1. Blameless.
  2. Husband of one wife, which also implies to a woman in leadership having one husband.  Cannot be participating in an affair.  This verse is sometimes quoted that the person cannot be divorced, which in the opinion of many Biblical Scholars is not what verse 2 is implying.  As an example, consider Gomer who was the wife of the prophet Hosea.  Verse 2 is about the character of the person holding the office. 
    Hosea 1:2-3 2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord. 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
  3. Temperate, not given to wine and sober which means restrains and is moderate in the consumption of alcohol.
  4. Good behavior.
  5. Hospitable, which means a person who is conscientious towards others.
  6. Able to teach, which is very important as the gift of teaching requires understanding how to represent God's Word.
  7. Not violent which means a person who does not have a temper which becomes angry that leads to violence.
  8. Not greedy or covetous which means does not have the desire to have riches in monetary wealth or possessions.  This does not mean that a person should be poor, as a person should always be compensated fairly and equitably. 
  9. Not quarrelsome which means is not a person who desires to argue or debate with the desire to feel pretentiously righteous.
  10. Manages all aspects in the immediate family and house well so that no one can see or feel their hypocrisy or anything wrong going on in the person's home, finances, spouse and children's lives.
  11. The children are respectful and well mannered.
  12. Without pride, arrogance and ostentatiousness.
  13. Able to give an honoring testimony of the Works of God in their life.

This is a companion topic to the Pastors Constructive Criticism topic.

What to read next?

A Pastors Constructive Criticism  What is Salvation?  Is it is possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?