The credibility of what you represent depends on your character and resulting behavior in every area of your life.
People are watching. All the time. Who you are and what you do, even in private, matters. If someone trusted to represent a cause turns out not to be who you thought they were, it shakes your ability to trust the cause itself.
In the first two chapters of 1 Timothy, Paul addressed the false teaching pulling the church in Ephesus off course and pointed Timothy toward guarding the gospel and its mission. Now in chapter 3, Paul turns to the people who carry that message. The emphasis is on the leaders in the church, the overseers and deacons, because they are the most visible and therefore the most susceptible to harming people’s trust in the gospel. But the message applies to every Christian. All of us are witnesses to God’s glorious, merciful, redeeming message of abundant life and eternal salvation. The degree to which people in this world find that message credible and compelling depends on our character and behavior.
We must guard our witness.
Character and Behavior of Overseers
Paul begins with what he calls a “trustworthy saying.” If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
What is an overseer? The terms overseer, elder, shepherd, and pastor appear often and sometimes interchangeably throughout the New Testament. One of the most useful references is Acts 20, where Paul addresses the church leaders he calls “elders” (Greek presbyteros). He then tells them in verse 28: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Greek episkopos), to shepherd (Greek poimaino) the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” The elders are assigned, through the Holy Spirit, the roles of overseeing and shepherding.
Notice in verse 1 that Paul essentially says this job might not be for everyone. Aspiring to it is noble, but the standard is high. What follows is a description of a person whose faith has had a tangible impact on their character and resulting behavior. This person is the opposite of a hypocrite. They practice what they preach. Their character aligns with their beliefs.
Paul lists five positive traits an overseer should have: above reproach, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable. Four negative traits an overseer should not have: not a drunkard, not violent (but gentle), not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. And three abilities: husband of one wife (the literal Greek reads “one woman man”), able to teach, able to manage his own household well.
Verses 4 and 5 are particularly interesting. Paul suggests a close connection between a household and the church, which he calls the “household of God” later in verse 15. A father’s job is not only to protect, provide for, and instruct his children, but also to serve as a model (to the extent humanly possible) of God’s unconditional love. So an overseer’s role is not only to protect and instruct the church, but also to model God’s love and care.
This list is not easy to live up to. The temptation is to focus on the traits that come naturally and sweep the rest under the rug. But the mature approach is the opposite. Be grateful for what comes easily, then focus on the areas where you struggle, the ones you cannot overcome on your own. These are the ones where you need to trust Jesus and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to convict you, keep short accounts, and press through with repentance.
Think about a shepherd. The shepherd’s primary function is to protect and care for the sheep. A shepherd doesn’t get filled with pride over the power he has over the sheep. The sheep are the valuable asset, the very reason for the job. The job is to protect the thing of value that matters most, not to put yourself first.
Or think about a firefighter. The most important role is to protect people from a fire. Does a firefighter become filled with pride over the power they hold over life and death while trying to rescue someone from a burning building? No. The job comes with risk. A shepherd could be attacked by a wild animal defending the sheep. A firefighter could be seriously burned, even to death. What about an overseer? That is where verses 6 and 7 come in.
Paul adds two more requirements: the overseer must not be a recent convert, and he must be well thought of by outsiders. Church leaders are constantly susceptible to the snares of the devil. Satan wants nothing more than to disgrace God’s work and God’s people by trapping church leaders in sin before a watching world. The phrase “pastors have clay feet” captures this well. No matter what people see from the ground up, hidden in their shoes are feet made of clay. Leaders are more susceptible than other Christians to come crashing down. Maturity in the faith and a strong reputation with non-Christians are critical defenses.
The same is true for every Christian. All of us are susceptible to Satan’s desire to expose our imperfections to the world. Focus on maturing as a Christian, especially in the disciplines of prayer, growing intimate with the Bible, giving generously to others, and fellowshipping with other Christians. Make every effort to be in good standing with non-Christians in the world.
Discussion
- Paul says aspiring to the office of overseer is a noble task, but the bar is high. Why might this job not be for everyone? What is the risk?
- How should we think about the character traits on this list that we know we struggle with?
Key Takeaways
- Character and behavior are the currency of witness. What you represent is only as credible as the life behind it.
- Focus on your weak spots, not your strengths. The traits that come easily deserve gratitude. The ones that don’t require dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- Leaders carry risk, not privilege. Like shepherds and firefighters, overseers exist to protect something more valuable than themselves.
Character and Behavior of Deacons
A deacon is the English translation of the Greek word diakonos, which means “one who serves humbly.” The focus of the deacon’s role is serving the various needs of the church and its people. This is a leadership position, and not one to be taken lightly. The word “minister” is often used interchangeably with “deacon.” If a church has a children’s ministry, those who lead and serve in that ministry are ministers, or deacons.
The character traits Paul lists for deacons share much in common with those for overseers. One notable difference is that deacons are not required to have the gift of, or even the ability to, teach the Word. That requirement would be overly restrictive, since not everyone is a teacher, and teaching is not central to the service leadership of deacons. However, verse 9 says they must “hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” While deacons are not required to teach, they are required to have a solid grasp of the gospel message, and their behavior should be consistent with it.
Verse 11 raises a significant translation question. The Greek word gyne can mean “woman” or “wife,” and the word “their” does not appear in the original text. So verse 11 could be addressed to the wives of (male) deacons, or it could be addressed to women deacons, deaconesses. Looking at the broader witness of Scripture, Romans 16:1-2 expressly identifies the woman Phoebe as a servant (deaconess) of the church at Cenchreae. Paul is not excluding women from this leadership role. True to his pattern, he recognizes the differences between men and women and suggests women in this role pay special attention to certain requirements, but he is not excluding them.
Be careful not to rank these two leadership roles in order of importance, as though overseers hold a higher position than deacons. Jesus led in his own ministry as both a shepherd and a servant. He had a harder time convincing his disciples of the importance of humble service, but he never stopped trying. He washed their feet at the last supper to drive the point home.
From the world’s perspective, humble service might seem menial and unattractive. But that is not how followers of Christ see it. Paul drives his point home by listing two rewards deacons who serve faithfully will receive: they gain good standing for themselves, and they gain great confidence in their faith. Their human need for appreciation is fulfilled, and their spiritual need for stronger faith is fulfilled.
Discussion
- What are some of the similarities and differences between the character traits Paul lists for deacons and those he listed for overseers?
- Why is it important not to rank overseers above deacons?
Key Takeaways
- Deacons serve humbly, and that service matters deeply. Jesus modeled both shepherding and serving. Neither role is lesser.
- You don’t need the gift of teaching to lead through service. But you do need a solid grasp of the gospel and a life consistent with it.
- Faithful service brings real rewards. Good standing and growing confidence in your faith. Both needs, human and spiritual, are met.
Why It All Matters: The Great Mystery of Godliness
Paul closes the chapter by stepping back and showing why guarding our witness, especially for church leaders, matters so much.
Verse 15 is a key verse in the New Testament for understanding the identity and the mission of the church. Paul calls the church the “household of God,” reinforcing the connection between how a family functions and how authority and responsibility work in the church. God is the ultimate authority over the church, and the family members are responsible for their behavior before him.
He calls it the “church of the living God,” highlighting it as the place of gathering where God most clearly manifests his presence.
And then an architectural analogy: the church is a “pillar and buttress of the truth.” The irony is that we work hard to remind people the church is not the building, it is the people. Yet here Paul says the church is like a critical part of a building. Like a pillar that holds up the structure, the church has the responsibility to hold up the truth, the gospel message from God’s Word. The church is not the source of the truth, not the foundation. But it has a special, divinely given role to uphold, protect, and make available the truth.
Paul ends the chapter with what is believed to be an excerpt from an early church hymn. He calls it the “mystery of godliness.” His use of the word “mystery” does not mean something no one can understand. It means something that was hidden but is now revealed, like a great mystery novel. What makes the mystery of the gospel so rich is that it was hidden from humanity for so long, but its revelation was more than worth the wait.
The hymn is a beautiful, short summary of the gospel message:
God the Son was revealed to humanity as a man himself. He was vindicated, publicly proven and proclaimed innocent, by the Holy Spirit, by God himself. He was seen by angels, exalted before the heavenly realm, proving that he is a divine being. He was preached among the nations and believed on in the world, God’s redemptive plan being executed before our very eyes. He was taken up in glory, both the Ascension after his resurrection and a foretaste of the ultimate exaltation of Christ after his return.
All of us are witnesses to this message. And the degree to which people in this world will find it credible and compelling depends on our character and behavior.
Discussion
- What does it mean for the church to be a “pillar and buttress of the truth”?
- How does the “mystery of godliness” hymn in verse 16 connect back to the importance of guarding our witness?
Key Takeaways
- The church is the household of God. It functions like a family, with authority and responsibility before him.
- The church upholds the truth. It does not create it. Like a pillar in a building, the church holds the gospel up for the world to see.
- The mystery of the gospel was worth the wait. Hidden for ages, now revealed in Christ, and entrusted to us to guard and proclaim.
Something to Sit With
All of us are witnesses. Not just the leaders. Not just the visible ones. All of us.
The credibility of what we represent depends on how we live. People are watching. The gospel message does not exist in the abstract. It walks around in our shoes. It speaks through our words. It shows up in how we treat people when no one else is looking.
Guard your witness. Not by being perfect. But by being honest about where you fall short, depending on the Holy Spirit where you are weak, and pressing into the disciplines that shape your character over time.
- Where is your character aligned with what you say you believe? Where is it not?
- Which items on Paul’s list come naturally to you? Which ones require the Holy Spirit’s help?
- What would it look like for the people in your life to see your faith as credible and compelling this week?
“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16, ESV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “overseer” mean in 1 Timothy 3?
The Greek word is episkopos, meaning one who watches over or supervises. In the New Testament, the terms overseer, elder (presbyteros), shepherd, and pastor are often used interchangeably. Acts 20 shows Paul addressing the same group of leaders as elders in one verse and overseers in another, assigning them the task of shepherding.
What is the difference between an overseer and a deacon in the Bible?
Both are leadership roles in the church. Overseers focus on teaching, protecting, and shepherding the congregation. Deacons (from the Greek diakonos, meaning servant) focus on humble service to meet the practical needs of the church and its people. Both roles require godly character, but only overseers are required to be able to teach.
What does “husband of one wife” mean in 1 Timothy 3?
The literal Greek is “one woman man.” This phrase describes a man characterized by faithfulness and devotion to his wife. It speaks to the quality of character and commitment, not merely marital status. It is one item in a larger list of traits that together describe a person whose faith has visibly shaped their behavior.
Does 1 Timothy 3 allow women to serve as deacons?
Verse 11 is debated because the Greek word gyne can mean either “woman” or “wife.” Some read it as Paul addressing the wives of male deacons. Others read it as a reference to women deacons, or deaconesses. Romans 16:1-2, where Paul commends Phoebe as a servant (deaconess) of the church at Cenchreae, supports the view that women served in this role.
What is the “mystery of godliness” in 1 Timothy 3:16?
Paul uses the word “mystery” not to mean something unknowable, but something that was hidden and is now revealed. He then quotes what scholars believe was an early church hymn summarizing the gospel: Christ was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.
Why does Paul call the church a “pillar and buttress of the truth”?
Paul uses an architectural analogy. A pillar holds up a building. The church holds up the truth by upholding, protecting, and making the gospel available to the world. The church is not the source or foundation of truth, but it has a divinely given role to support and proclaim it.
This lesson is part of the Guarding What Matters series.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway.