1Tim 3:1 Overseer to DO good works

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Overseer to DO good works

1Tim 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

For the next couple of weeks well be considering Paul's commands concerning the requirements for positions of oversight in the church.

Paul speaks of two categorical positions of oversight in the church - that of overseeing spiritual matters (bishops), and that of overseeing practical matters (deacons). This chapter alludes to a distinction between the two, as does Php 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."

The word "bishop" here in the NKJV means "overseer", and is translated as such in many other versions. I take this position to refer to the overseeing of spiritual matters. In Titus we see that overseers are also referred to as "elders". I take the title "overseer" (or "bishop") to point to the FUNCTION of the role, and "elder" to point to the SPIRITUAL MATURITY required of the role.

The roles that Paul is referring to here are exclusive to men. For he introduced this topic with 1Tim 2:11-14 in which he excludes women from such roles.

Now there may be a number of reasons why a man may desire a position of spiritual oversight in the church - and not all of such reasons are good. But if its good works that he wants to do, then such a position can be an excellent place to carry them out. And that's what such positions are SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT - DOING GOOD WORKS

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

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