The Proven Character of an Overseer

2. The Proven Character of an Overseer 1 Timothy 3:2-7 Titus 1:6-9

3. Traditional Approach to Elders • Combine the two lists from Timothy and Titus into a single checklist • “Disqualify” a man for a single case of a violation of a “qualification” • Gravitate toward the “quantifiable” qualifications: number of wives and children immersed in water • Avoid judgments that are “too personal” (unless we’re vindictive)

4. Qualities vs. Qualifications • Emphasizes moral character and quality, the spiritual depth of one’s total life • vs. a single instance of quick-temper, for example • Emphasizes the proven character necessary to “qualify” him to do his work: supervising spiritual growth • vs. concern for irrelevant requirements

5. Qualities vs. Qualifications • Recognizes the possible existence of efforts at reproach, but focuses on the man being above such reproach • vs. suspicion of a man over any objection raised by the most unspiritual and weak member of the congregation • Recognizes the proper context and meaning of Timothy and Titus • vs. a man-made legalistic checklist that exists outside of any biblical context

6. The “Character” of the Lists: • Paul uses moral, ethical terms more common among pagans than in NT • corresponds to his concern for one’s reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7) • The terms are conceptual, not technical or concrete • ideas are important, not specific terms • The character required is not substantially different from other Christians

7. The “Character” of the Lists: • neither list exhaustive: • what about a dishonest murderer? • lists not identical in content: • 15 character traits in each list • 5identical • 5synonymous • 5different • lists are identical in character

8. Identical Similar Different having good report not a new convert respectable gentle uncontentious above reproach able to teach not a lover of money having children… temperate man of one woman sensible hospitable not a drunkard not a fighter blameless able to exhort not materialistic faithful children self-disciplined man of one woman sensible hospitable not a drunkard not a fighter not self-willed not quick-tempered lover of good just devout 1 Timothy 3:2-7 Titus 1:6-9

9. The “Character” of the Lists: • The two lists are interchangeable • if Timothy had used Titus’s list, he would still have chosen the same man • if Titus had used Timothy’s list, he would still have chosen the same man • Each list emphasizes the one and only “qualification”: above reproach • Emphasized in both Timothy and Titus by two sentences

10. A Word of Caution: • “above reproach” is a relative term that needs further definition • are we left to define “above reproach,” or does God define it for us? • Many have advocated a “single qualification” concept in order to soften Paul’s directions • a single, childless man, for example, might be thought “above reproach” by some

11. A Word of Caution: • Paul defines for us what he means • the items he specifies are essential components of being “above reproach” • e.g., he affirms that a man who has not managed a family cannot know how to manage the family of God (1 Timothy 3:5) • Paul is not only concerned with character, but “proven character” • tested, developed, demonstrated

12. Timothy’s Two Sentences (1 Timothy 3:2-7) 2 Therefore it is necessary for the overseer to be above reproach: a one-woman man, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not a fighter, but gentle, uncontentious, unmaterialistic, 4 presiding over his own household well - having his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Therefore, it is necessary [for the overseer] to have a good reputation with those outside, lest he fall into the reproach and snare of the devil.

13. Titus’s Two Sentences (Titus 1:6-9) 6 …if anyone is blameless: a one-woman man, having faithful children who are not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s household steward: not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not a fighter, not greedy, 8 but hospitable, loving good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 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 refute those who contradict.

14. Elder Issues in Context:The “Qualifications”

15. Remember • Context and main point of both Timothy and Titus: “above reproach” • The two lists emphasize this trait • not exhaustive • not identical or synonymous in detail • interchangeable; identical in character • The two texts emphasize this trait by means of two sentences in each case

16. Remember • Paul explains the essential components for “above reproach” • Not left to define it for ourselves • Not optional traits for an overseer • Focuses on proven character that is tested, developed, and demonstrated • Provides the context within which interpretive decisions must be made • an objective guideline that helps us to avoid subjective interpretations

17. Two Unavoidable Elder Issues: • “Husband of one wife”? • Does the elder have to be married? What if his wife dies? • Can an elder be remarried? • “Faithful children”? • As Christians or obedient to parents? • Must each child be a faithful Christian? • Does this require more than one child?

18. Two Absolute Guidelines: • Each quality must be judged very personally for “proven character” • The “proving ground” (1 Timothy 3:10) for such character is the physical home • 1 Timothy 3:4-5; Titus 1:6-7 • the “elders” are the fathers in God’s spiritual family of the local church • a man’s children know most truly the real man that their father is

19. Elder Issues in Context: • “Husband of one wife” • Is this intended to require marriage? • If so, must the marriage be current (i.e., an elder must resign when widowed)? • Is this intended to forbid polygamy? • Is this intended to forbid adultery? or sexual promiscuity? • Does this forbid remarriage after a spouse’s death or a scriptural divorce?

20. Elder Issues in Context: • “Husband of one wife” • lit. “one woman man”; only occurs in NT (and later Christian interpreters) • four different views presented from ancient times (not mutually exclusive) • a requirement to be married • a prohibition against remarriage • a prohibition against polygamy • a requirement of sexual fidelity

21. Elder Issues in Context: • “Husband of one wife” • at the least, this phrase does not require that the overseer be married concurrently during his overseership • that is, a widowed elder would not necessarily be required to resign • cf. “one-man woman” widow (1 Timothy 5:9) • why do we not require elders to resign once their children are no longer under their authority (1 Timothy 3:4)

22. Elder Issues in Context: • “Husband of one wife” • the real test: how does one’s interpretation of this phrase fit into the context of “proven character”? • are we to conclude that the elder becomes a moral degenerate overnight or incapable of spiritual guidance once his wife dies? • of course, if resignation is what the scriptures required we would accept it as the wisdom of God, but this is the point to be proved…

23. Elder Issues in Context: • “Husband of one wife”: meaning? • it requires a marriage sufficient to provide the experience required by 1 Timothy 3:5 • it forbids polygamy & requires marital fidelity in keeping with God’s will • polyandry/polygamy not the problem (1 Timothy 5:9) • but does it forbid remarriage? • a judgment call for each local church • if God approves remarriage (1 Cor. 7:39; Romans 7:1-3), can it be reproachable?

24. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children” • Faithful to the father or faithful to God (i.e., a believer)? • A plurality or a single child? • The problem of one child out of many who never becomes a Christian or who apostatizes? • If every child must be a Christian, what of an elder who begets another child while an elder?

25. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children” • how does one’s treatment of this topic fit into the context of “proven character”? • How does the number of children affect being “above reproach”? • How does begetting a child later in life nullify being “above reproach”? • a child’s faithfulness or unfaithfulness may reflect upon the father

26. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: context? • immediate context “not accused of dissipation or rebellion” (Titus 1:6) suggests obedience toward one’s father • parallel context “under subjection with all dignity” (1 Timothy 3:4-5) suggests obedience toward one’s father • moot point if the father is teaching them to follow Christ and a sufficient time for testing has passed

27. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: meaning? • Word family for “faith” (pi,stijpistis), occurs 562x in NT, overwhelmingly refers to faith in Christ • Adj. “faithful” (pisto,jpistos), 67x in NT, overwhelmingly means “trustworthy” in the fulfillment of some responsibility • Substantive usage of this adjective in every clear case (13x) always means “believer” in reference to faith in Christ

28. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: a parallel • Titus 1:6 – “having faithful children [obedient]” • 1 Timothy 3:4 – “children in submission [obedient]” • The usage in Titus 1:6 is apparently substantive (essential – the real nature of the thing) and, therefore, refers to children who are “believers”

29. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: what %? • Must all be Christians? • Must all “of age” be Christians? • Must all “at home” be Christians? • What if one never obeys the gospel? or if one falls away many years later? • The issue should be closely judged as with each of the other qualities: not with absolutism, but wisdom

30. Elder Issues in Context: • Each case must be decided by each congregation for itself, regarding what is reproachable • Do not automatically consider a man qualified in this regard because all of his children are faithful Christians • what if his wife were solely responsible? • Do not automatically consider a man disqualified because one is not faithful • may be extenuating circumstances

31. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: a plurality? • Not in keeping with English usage • “Parents with children entering first grade must pre-register their children by August 1.” • “Do you have any children?” • “We are unable to have children.”

32. Elder Issues in Context: • “Faithful children”: a plurality? • Not in keeping with Greek usage • Rachel bore no children (Genesis 30:1) • Teach your children (Deuteronomy 11:19; Colossians 3:21; cf. Ephesians 6:4) • Died without children (Matthew 22:24; Luke 20:31; 1 Chronicles 2:30, 32) • Parents for children (2 Corinthians 12:14) • A widow with children (1 Timothy 5:4)