Someone recently asked me what the bible says about the requirements of a pastor, so I thought about that and decided to take what 1 Tim 3 says about it and see if I could rightly divide it.

So here goes:

1) First, I need to point out that it is very clear from this scripture that a woman CANNOT be a pastor. These verses clearly point out that it is referring to the male gender:

...the husband of one wife...
...ruleth well his own house...
...having his children...
...For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take...
...with pride he fall ...
...he must have...lest he fall

2) "He must be blameless"

The Strong’s word for blameless is given as describing that this man cannot be guilty of anything that would require arrest from the law(laws coinciding with Godly laws), and lesser, but not any less important, guilty of something requiring a rebuke from another brother in Christ.

3) “The husband of one wife”

This is a part that many Christians are going to question. I feel it is very clear that this refers to a man who has never divorced, has been faithful in every aspect to his wife if he is married, and widowed is acceptable. There has been an indication that many feel that a pastor should not be able to hold that office unless he is indeed married, but I do not feel that this is what scripture is saying. I feel that yes, it is important for a pastor to be married, but not required.

4) “Vigilant”

While Strong’s has this word similar to sober, I believe it to mean even more. Vigilant means to be “attentive” and “watchful”. Like a shepherd watches over his flock, he is to remain vigilant over his people whom God has given him service to. He is to provide a help to his congregation in matters of safety and spiritual guidance. He is to help guard against Satanic attack and provide counseling to those who need it.

5) “Sober”

Strong’s has this one right on the money. Here it is speaking of the pastors ability to maintain a self-control (remember your post on this brother George?) He is to be discrete and temperate in his pastorship, preaching, and counseling of others.

6) “Good Behaviour”

This, at first glance, seems self-explanatory. But let me add something. This also means to be modest. Not only in his character, but in his dress and mannerisms. It also means to be orderly. A pastor should keep his desk in order and not disarray. He should keep everything in its place, and everything should have a place.

7) “Given to Hospitality”

Strong’s gives a wonderful description of this one in a unique way. It has it as “Fond of Guests”. I think that is a beautiful description of the attitude of a pastor and how he receives people. A person dropping by should not invoke the irritability of the pastor and having his peacefulness interrupted. He should always be ready, and be glad to be ready for anything people have to ask of him at any time.

8 ) “Apt to teach”

After all, what good would it do to preach from a pulpit if you could not explain what it is you are trying to say? He must be fit, suitable, inclined, and ready to teach and to give an answer of not only the hope that is in him, but to reveal to the congregation what God has for them.

9) “Not given to wine”

Uh-oh, here we go. This may start a argu..*ahem* discussion. Either way, here is what this means. Given to wine means “staying near wine” Strong’s has it as “tippling” which means: “indulging in the habitual use of”.

Could wine mean “grape juice”? No, it would be ridiculous to say that a pastor needed to stay away from the habitual use of grape juice.

Wine is an alcoholic beverage, period. The bible is saying that it is ok for a pastor to drink an alcoholic wine, as long as it is in moderation, and not to be abused.

Now, I am NOT saying that a pastor needs to go drink wine. If he stays away from it, because it is a sin to him to drink it, then he needs to STAY AWAY from it.

10) “no striker”

Very simple, he better not hit anyone, that he has no history of abuse, and it even cannot be that he could be accused of ever having done so.(see the first requirement in verse 2) The word “no” here makes that very clear.

11) “Not greedy of filthy lucre”

First, let me explain what “lucre” actually is. It sounds like a bad term, but in fact it is not. Lucre, is simply “profit” in a monetary sense. While we are warned that the love of money is the root of evil, We are also likewise warned here for a pastor to not be greedy of filthy(dishonest) lucre(profit). So in short, a pastor should be honest with his money, or should I say God’s money, as a steward, and spend it wisely, and not try to gain money in a false or dishonest way.

12) “Patient”

Isn’t it interesting how often the bible tells not only pastors to be patient, but us as Christians to be the same? This is pretty self-explanatory, but one needs to get an understanding of the pastors role in the world to understand how critical patience is in his life.

13) “Not a brawler”

This is a characteristic that really describes the peaceableness of the pastors character. Not a warmonger, or someone who enjoys conflict in any shape form or fashion. He will have enough problems trying to settle debates and calming feeling between members of his congregation, than adding fuel to the fire with this character flaw.

14) “Not covetous”

The pastor should not have an inordinate desire to obtain things. Overly zealous towards things and goals. He should not have an eager desire to posses or obtain things. In other words, he should not be materialistic

15) “One that ruleth well his own house”

He should be the head, or leader/ruler over his domicile. His home should be reflective in his children and wife, a benevolent leader with a firm hand, taking into practice the directions for a Godly home as outlined in scripture. This is representative of how he would lead and take care of, the flock of the congregation, given to him of God.

16) “having his children in subjection with all gravity”

This is also a critical piece. A pastor who cannot control his children, certainly would not know how to take care of a congregation, and it also shows something in the character of his home that something grave is happening and something is missing. His children should obey him “quickly, sweetly, and completely”

17) “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil”

Here we have a reference to ones age, and along with that, the lack of understanding, then followed by the consequence of that. This is one thing that is often overlooked in the search for a pastor, or when one feels “called” to be a pastor. This needs to be taken seriously. Age has always been a time-proven memorial to ones level of wisdom. For example, I have heard that Jews will not except the input of anyone under the age of 30-31 years of age.

And we get the warning of why this is. It is simple, the younger have more problems with pride and would fall in his own conceit of wisdom, and therefore fall victim to Satanic attack.

18 ) “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Wow, this is another good one. “A good report of them which are without. That means that the character qualities, as seen and witnessed to by non-christians, within reason (in other words, not a witness by someone with an ulterior motive), must paint a good character. A person who is not a christian should not be able to accuse the pastor of being guilty of the wrong things referenced through the above 17 examples. Believe it or not, we are to be a shining light to non-believers. What better way to witness and bring people to the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ, than to have His character represented through our lives?

Love in Christ,

Jim

A POWERFUL TOPIC!

Just a few comments on some of the points to begin:

I agree with the last statement as a reasonable assumption, but I think that the Scriptures are not as free with the terminology as we might wish. There is a difference in the ability of a man to function as a pastor who is married compared to one who has never been married. I am not being dogmatic about it but experience has taught me that "husband of one wife" is not the same as "husband of no wife". My (potential) son-in-law is a single pastor, never married at 39. He made the wise move of asking his elderly former missionary parents to move in with him until he was given a wife by the LORD. He did this for two reasons. One, he did not want to be available to temptation. Second, he wanted to have someone else living with him so that he would not become so independent that it would be hard to "share" his life with another person. Now if I could only wean him from his NASB!

“Not a brawler” - well that just eliminated a few Baptist preachers that I know.

Yes, what you are saying is very, very true. I just took a look at that, and if the Lord had given a provision for non-marriage it would have been stated otherwise without the term "husband", which shows that marriage is a given.

Thank you for that Brother Tim!

Love in Christ,

Jim

And:
"not greedy of filthy lucre"

Oh whatever is Joel Osteen and Oprah to do?????

Addressing the topic of Pastors, We find in 1Tim. 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"
Well, I surely understand what the "husband of one wife" means. Can anyone give Scripture as to why a man (never been married) who married a woman who has been divorced (the couple in question were married before they were saved) should be excluded from the office of a Pastor?

Yes brother, here you are:

This would violate not only the rule of the "husband of one wife" above, but a few more of the requirements listed in those verses above.

When a man desires to be a pastor, this is usually one of the first things they look at because it is so rampant today. But because of this rampantness, we cannot ignore the mandates of God's Word.

Hope this helps,

Love in Christ,

Jim

This post was last modified: Tue Mar 04, 2008 05:04 PM by Jim.

Maybe a good question to ask himself would be, "What happens if I decide to pastor anyway, even if I am not adhering to all of the commandments above?"

You see, the pastor is not the issue, it is the flock of believers under his pastorship that will be affected by this. With a compassionate heart, this man desiring to be a pastor must look at everyone that it will hurt, not just himself.

If he is not revealing to the congregation his complete past and/or present situations or character, or heart for that matter, then he is not walking in the light of Christ, which reveals all things, and is the light by which we have our sin revealed to us.

Just another thought,

Love in Christ,

Jim

Thank you, Bro. Jim, for your kind reply. I have a few things that I'd like to have your thoughts on and possibly anyone else w/thoughts on the subject. I mentioned that the couple were married before salvation, and both have repented of this sin (which I am well aware it is sin). The wife's former spouse remarried before this couple married so that reconciliation between the two is not possible. Alll that read this should know that this, and all other sin committed before salvation, has been forgiven by God through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (or are there some sins that are not? I'm being sarcastic.)
Now if it is ANY sin that can keep a man from pastoring than I am forced to go to James 2:10-11 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law."
I say a hearty "yes" and a definate "Amen" to the fact that a man that considers being a pastor must take into careful consideration as to whether it will hurt ANY flock of God. What I do not clearly see is a connection between the verses given and disqualification of a man who married a divorced woman before God had forgiven him his sins...I am definately open to help on this subject. I earnestly want to understand this in my very heart of hearts. There are many pastors who only meet one qualification (such as the husband of one wife) and fail at all the rest. Your counsel is greatly appreciated and has me thinking... In Christ, Bro. Chuck

Brother Chuck, you have raised some very good, valid questions. One of which raised itself even in my mind. The question over this:

The only possible answer I can give in this situation is, "I don't know". We can probably quote back and forth to each other over qualification and disqualification all day long. But what it really boils down to, is this this man truly called?

I believe that, in a current state, this is what the verses refer to. Of course, many, many people have a past, Lord knows, I certainly do, and I thank the lord Jesus Christ that I am not observed by Him according to that past. My sins and past are under the blood.

The bible does say:

So, in effect, if he cannot be presently blamed or accused, and is adherent to all of the requirements in 1 Timothy 3, and has shown to greatly desire to keep those requirements, and is definitely willed by the Lord, then of course there is no lawful reason why he cannot. Not that we are under law, but we certainly do love the law through Jesus Christ.

One last thought however. When a man and woman come to him for counseling over a similar situation, what is his answer going to be? "Do as I say and not as I do?"

I do understand of course that a proper and biblical answer would be to the fact that it was done in ignorance and the argument you have presented above as an answer, but a pastor has to have that meekness to answer in truth. There are going to be people that are caused to stumble over this.

But these are also side issues. We can literalize and legalize God's Word all day long. The one fact remains. We are to be obedient to the Word of God. If we do not, there are ramifications to that that even we cannot see in the spiritual realm( I do not say this as a spiritualist, I am careful of my tongue here).

My thoughts are that I would err on the side of caution, but foremost in all, seek the counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His will.

If it were as legal as we make it sometimes, then what advice would we give Paul/Saul when we found out that a christian persecutor and murderer was to become a direct apostle of Jesus Christ, who walked with Him personally?

Food for thought,

Love in Christ,

Jim

I agree with the above posts, but one important requirement was left out.....Being called of God. Not mama called and daddy sent, but called of God.
When Jesus called his disciples he said follow me. Not follow the fads, or follow what's popular simply follow me.

My .02 cents worth.

Jim Norman