1 Timothy 3

Above any other servant of God over the centuries of church history, there is only one Man who is King, the Lord Jesus Christ. If there is any government established within His church, we should expect to find testimony about it in His Word. We are not left without direction on these matters. Here and in other places we are given the outlines of the way that our one great King would seek to rule over His Kingdom comprised of so many who are united to Him.

In this important chapter in the pastoral epistles we are given God's Word to us regarding two continuing groups of servant-leaders in the Lord's church: elders, who have a special opportunity to serve as spiritual overseers of the people of faith, and deacons who lead the faithful in works of service, order, and mercy. We read this chapter not only as the instructions of Paul for a specific situation in Ephesus in the first century. Here we have every indication of the rule for the church in all ages by the Word of God through His apostle.

In any position of authority or duty in the church, we should expect that the character of the King who died for sinners would be generously expressed. Jesus is the great Overseer and Elder of His people. Jesus is the Servant and Deacon who cares for our needs. If anyone presumes to conduct Himself in either of these roles in an arrogant or hypocritical manner, he is out of accord with the leading governing authority in the church, the One who proved His faithfulness through His death on the cross for us.

With that said, it is intriguing how very normal the qualifications are for those who would respond to the good internal desire to be servant-leaders for the Lord Jesus and His church. They do not need to be showy super-spiritual people. There is no requirement concerning soaring rhetoric or charismatic personality. There is no test of the numbers of hour per week spent in devotion, minimum practices of fasting, or demonstrated success in evangelism. Much of what is stated, both for elders and deacons, comes down to one word: “character.”

The character of church leaders cannot be considered to be proven simply by their own testimony. It must be quietly demonstrated in a way that can be recognized both within and without the church. This character must also be lived out in their own households. Here is a very important proving ground for any who would lead the church These lists of qualities are selective, and should be applied with some reasonable flexibility. The single or childless man is not prohibited from serving, or Jesus and Paul could not have been elders or deacons. But such a man must demonstrate his capacity to lead others in love through other aspects of his life.

Deacons and elders must be men of self-control, not only in speech and behavior toward others, but also in a modest use of food and drink. Addictive lifestyles are not consistent with the pattern of living necessary for these leading representatives of Jesus.

One difference between deacons and elders, is that elders must be apt to teach, while deacons must hold to the faith with a sincere conscience. The point is that teaching is not so definitively connected to the office of deacon as it is to the office of elder, but sincere believing is necessary for all who would serve in either capacity. Some elders may be comfortable teaching in counseling settings, and be gifted in working with individuals and couples. Others will thrive in the work of public teaching of large numbers of people. The essence of the requirement is in godly teaching of spiritual matters. The way that this essence is expressed in the church can admit of great variety depending on gifts, needs, and the desires of the men called to serve.

The qualifications listed here for wives of deacons should be applied to all those who would have leadership roles in the church and not just for the wives of one office or another. The relationship of marriage must be conducted in such an honorable way, so that it is plainly evident that a leading man has so clearly loved his wife, helping her to thrive in her own right, for our Lord is the best of all husbands to the bride with which He is united, the church.

Great indeed is the mystery of this union between the One Savior, and the many who are His beloved bride. In this union is the great secret of true godliness for the church, so necessary for her to be a pillar and buttress of Christ's perfect truth. What He has done; His time here below, His resurrection as the new Man, and His reign in heaven after His ascension; He did united to us. What we do now; our proclamation of His Word throughout the world, our believing and following of that Word; and our finally being taken up into glory when our days here are done; we do as those who are united to Him and empowered by His Spirit. Leaders in the church must understand that their gifts and fruitfulness, and even their character as those who are new creatures in Christ, come not from their own natural greatness, but from the power and love of the One in whom they now have found life and service, and in whom all things in heaven and earth shall one day be united.