This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

The Qualities Of A Bishop

When God created the world, He set things in order according to His will and design. Before creation, the Father ordained His Son to come to earth and die for the sins of mankind. Knowing Jesus would return to the Father, order must be established for men to understand how to worship and what they must do to be saved. The agency Jesus promised to carry out the will of the Father was the church. He promised to build His church (not churches) and to establish an order of organization, doctrine, practice, and worship. Through the teachings of the Holy Spirit given to the early disciples, a pattern of organization was created for the model of how the church would be led. Those entrusted with the oversight were men of certain qualities required to carry out the work of leadership in the local congregation.

Luke records the events of the early church as it grew from its infancy in Jerusalem. As disciples multiplied and spread worldwide, local churches of saints were established. Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and many others took on great journeys to establish churches and establish the foundation of their organization. Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in the cities where they had established the Lord’s body. The church at Colossae had elders. Peter served as an apostle, preacher, and elder of the Lord’s church. Paul writes to two preachers outlining their work in establishing the leadership of the local church and the kind of men who would fill those roles.

Paul describes those who oversee the local church as “bishops.” These bishops had specific criteria for their character that God demanded. The qualities of these men set them apart from others in the leadership role. Not everyone could fulfill these qualities, and not everyone could serve as a bishop. To be a bishop is to be part of a good work. Desiring to engage in the leadership of the local church would be a heavy task for only the select few who formed the qualities required by God. These men would stand apart for the kind of character they possessed as individuals, heads of family, and a member of the community.

The family life of a bishop is very important. His life must be above reproach. This does not suggest perfection, as no man could fill that role. His example as a man, a husband, and a father play heavily into the world of tending the flock of God. He must exercise control of his passions, have a clear mind, possess good behavior, and engage with people in a friendly manner. One of the bishop’s works is a willingness to teach others the good news of Christ. Any opportunity he has, he will share the gospel. The spirit of Christ controls his character to be free of uncontrollable habits physically and emotionally. He is not a man driven by the covetousness of the world but by a gentle spirit toward others. The nature of the bishop is not to quarrel or to lord over others. He rules his house well, showing the example of faithful children taught the word of God.

A bishop must be a tried individual of spiritual character tested by the word of God. The Lord forbids the novice Christian to be a bishop as he is young in the faith. He would easily fall into many prideful pitfalls of the beginner. The character of the bishop is not only measured by his fellow saints but also by the example or testimony of the community. A bishop’s wife must be respected without charge of slander or gossip. Like their husbands, they must exercise self-control and show faithfulness in their lives.

Every church needs the proper kind of leadership. God places strict guidelines on those who seek to walk in the shoes of a bishop. Without these qualities, a man cannot serve in this role. The qualities outlined by Paul to Timothy (and Titus) are not suggestions. These make a man what God requires him to be. Every church must earnestly strive to follow the roles of leadership found in the New Testament pattern without hesitation. Churches who fail to establish the pattern for years without end fail to restore the New Testament church ordained by Jesus Christ. It takes courage to take on the role of a bishop. He is a humble man serving the cause of Jesus Christ and one who must give account before the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.