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More I Timothy commentaries

I Timothy 1:1-7
Don’t Let False Teaching Deceive You!

I Timothy 1:8-11
The law reveals sin but doesn’t take it away

I Timothy 1:12-14
Can a person be forgiven for murder?

I Timothy 1:15-17
Paul’s experience on the Damascus road

I Timothy 1:18-20
Like it or not we are in warfare

I Timothy 2:1-8
The priorities of prayer

I Timothy 2:9-15
The place of women in the Church

I Timothy 3:1-7
The qualifications for a pastor

I Timothy 3:8-13
The qualifications for a deacon

I Timothy 3:14-16
Who we are, what we believe and how we behave

I Timothy 4:1-5
False teachers are a threat to the Church

I Timothy 4:6-10
One of life’s greatest needs

I Timothy 4:11-16
The rewards of meditation

I Timothy 5:1-4
What are your responsibilities toward others?

I Timothy 5:5-16
Who takes care of the widow?

I Timothy 5:17-25
What does it mean to be given “double honor?”

I Timothy 6:1-2
How do you show respect to those you work for?

I Timothy 6:3-10
What keeps you from being content?

I Timothy 6:11-16
What is your definition of Success?

I Timothy 6:17-21
Is it a sin to be rich?

The qualifications for a pastor

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I Timothy 3:1–7
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

In his book Be Free, Warren Wiersbe mentioned the fact that young ministers often visited the great British preacher G. Campbell Morgan to ask him the secret of his success. When someone asked him what he told these aspiring pastors, Morgan replied, “I always say to them the … More

Pastors

Fourteen qualifications are given for pastors (“Bishop”, “pastor” and “elder” are synonymous).

  1. blameless - free of accusation; nothing in his life that unbelievers could use to attack (v. 2).
  2. husband of one wife - a “one-woman man” (not divorced) (v. 2).
  3. vigilant - well balanced (v. 2).
  4. sober - self controlled; sound in mind. of good behavior - orderly; respectable (v. 2).
  5. Given to hospitality - entertain in the home(v. 2).
  6. Apt to teach - able to understand and communicate the Scriptures to others (v. 2).
  7. Not given to wine - not a person who drinks alcohol (v. 3).
  8. no striker - not violent but gentle (v. 3).
  9. patient - able to take criticism without reacting (v. 3).
  10. not a brawler - not one who starts quarrels and arguments but a peacemaker (v. 3).
  11. not greedy of filthy lucre; not covetous - does not pursue the ministry for personal gain (v. 3).
  12. rules well his own house, having his children in subjection - a good family manager whose children obey and respect him (vv. 4-6).
  13. not a novice - not a recent convert but gaining spiritual maturity (v. 6).
  14. has a good report (testimony) with them which are without - having a good reputation (v. 7).

Application

I have never been the pastor of a local church, but most of the qualifications listed above are found in other Scripture passages and apply to all Christians. Out of this list what are the things I need to work on the most?

I Timothy 3:1-7 (English Standard Version)

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »

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