What are the qualifications a bishop or pastor must meet in 1 Timothy 3?
Scripture requires a bishop or pastor to be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, and not covetous. He must also rule well his own house, having his children in subjection; deacons face the same standard.
Les teaches from 1 Timothy chapter 3, starting at verse 1, that if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. The bishop or pastor must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, and apt to teach. He must not be given to wine, not a striker, and not covetous. The other part of his requirement is that he rule well his own house, having his children in subjection. Les notes that the deacons are given the same thing. He also says this whole process of leadership in the realm of the Spirit demanded that Paul was married and had children, though what happened to Paul's wife and children is unknown.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;