The Role of Men in the Church | 1 Timothy 3:1-7

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.  And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.  These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.”

--Acts 1:12-15

 

After the ascension of Christ, the disciples now have a meeting in the upper room as they listened to Jesus’ commands to wait in Jerusalem so they can be clothed for ministry by God.  (Luke 24:49).  These men are meeting and praying together, in verse 16 Peter stands up and starts the meeting to decide on who will replace Judas Iscariot (the betrayer).  They will cast lots to pick the next disciple who will help build the church and the ministry of Jesus—they will pick a man to replace Judas as men have a calling by God to lead His church and to lead their families. 

 

“Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.  For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”

--Acts 1:16-17

 

1. Men are called to be the spiritual leaders of God’s Church and their families.

 

“To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply Your pain and conception, in pain you will bear children; Your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.’ Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’”

--Genesis 3:16-17

 

“Will Rule Over You” -- Hebrew

מָשַׁל mâshal, maw-shal'  (have, make to have) dominion, governor, have power.

 

This is why men have led God’s people as the overseers, the priests, the shepherds of God’s people from Genesis 3 all the way to Acts 1, to 1 Timothy 3, to Titus 1 and 2, and to the gospels where Jesus calls twelve men to be his close disciples and three men within those twelve to be even closer (Peter, James and John).  There is no scripture that has changed this idea—where both men and women are to lead in the same offices of God’s people—Men are still called to certain offices in the church.  ]\

 

“It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”

--1 Timothy 3:1

 

“If any man”

τὶς tìs, tis; an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object: —a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all),

 

Since an enclitic lean on the preceding word for its accent, the indefinite pronoun can never come first in a sentence, and depending on the accent of the preceding word, may not even have an accent.  This ‘general’ pronoun must lean on another word for its accent or meaning—lets keep reading this chapter. 

 

 

“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

--1 Timothy 3:2

 

“The Husband of one wife”

ἀνήρ anḗr, an'-ayr; a primary word (compare G444); a man (properly as an individual male):—fellow, husband, man, sir.

 

Paul is not saying “anybody can take the role of overseer” rather, he is saying “the role of overseer is to be fulfilled by a man, a man who is the husband of one wife.” 

 

Remember, we must make sure we do not conflate the gifts God gives someone with the offices of the church and how the church is supposed to function according to God.  Just as Adam was given the command of the garden from God (Gen. 2:16-17) not to eat from the tree of knowledge and good evil—and when Eve disobeyed God—it was Adam who was blamed for brining sin into the world because it was his responsibility to lead Eve, to teach her, to oversee her and he failed. 

 

“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous.”

--Romans 5:18-19

 

2. Men, you need to lead and you must be qualified to lead God’s Church.

 

“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money; leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

--1 Timothy 3:2-7

 

These are the qualifications for the “overseer” of God’s Church--this is a specific church office, not a gifting, not a trait but a specific office of leadership for the church. 

 

“Overseer”

ἐπίσκοπος epískopos, ep-is'-kop-os; a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent, another name is a bishop. 

 

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of dissipation, or rebellious.  For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of dishonest gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict.”

--Titus 1:5-9

 

“Elder”

πρεσβύτερος presbýteros, pres-boo'-ter-os;  advanced in life, an elder, a senior

 

 

 

“And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,”

--Ephesians 4:11-12

 

“Pastor”

ποιμήν poimḗn, poy-mane' shepherd, pastor. 

 

This is why in churches with proper organization there will be an elder team, and a deacon team.  The elder team will be governed by men and take care of the spiritual needs, direction and oversight for the church.  These are the qualifications for those men—typically the pastor or pastors will sit as an elder on this team with other gifts of elder positions being “visitation”, “prayer” or even “teaching.”

 

--Story about thinking we did a good job cleaning the house when my parents went away, it was very dirty.

 

“Christ is not looking for men and women who can support counseling ministries, execute wonderful youth and adult programs, perform great musicals, or demonstrate excellence in property management. The world can do that! If we are honest, the church is not really needed for that. There is nothing wrong with these activities, but the point we must not miss is that God wants to grow Christians. What makes the church different from the world is Jesus Christ. It is a group of sin forgiven men and women. It is love for God first and love for the holy ones or saints, second. It should offer solid doctrine. Some of our church leaders are offering milk, and not biblically solid food to their people. Some leaders have the wrong focus, and many of our churches are dying – our congregations are like their leaders.”

--Never Thirsty Like the Master Ministries

 

3. The Church’s function is to bring faithful people to Christ, to sanctify them, to protect them, to empower them in ministry.

 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma…Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

--Ephesians 5:2, 15-17

 

Throughout all his letters, Paul, goes back to the creation order in Genesis 1-2—to remind the church of their authority—that it comes from God, through men, to instruct ALL of God’s people (women and men) proper ministry for God’s Gospel.  Again, we see this message continued in Ephesians 5—therefore be imitators of God!  You are the church! You are a CALLED OUT people! The church must operate under Christ’s rule, not culture’s rule, not church tradition’s rule rather our culture, our rule, our way of living must be under and informed Christ’s order and rule.

 

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless.”

--Ephesians 5:22-27

 

 

“They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.  But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy…For to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps.”

--1 Peter 2:9-10, 21

 

“Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God.”

--Oswald Chambers