Scripture Guide
1 Timothy 3
THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE:
“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.”
— 1 Timothy 3:1-16 (NIV)
Have you ever met someone whose inner life doesn’t match up with their outer life? By appearances, they seem respectable and growing in godliness, but inside, they’re a wreck. This chapter is all about Christian character, and specifically the inner life of Christian leaders. Paul focuses on who these leaders truly are and how their character matches their level of leadership in the church. I love how Paul ends this chapter: True godliness springs from Christ. If you read through the traits of these leaders in the church, they sound a lot like Christ. Paul’s hope in this passage is to cast a vision for Christian leaders who live out the gospel in every area of their lives—in both their inner and outer lives.
The Bible identifies two primary leadership roles in the church: elders, who are servant leaders, and deacons, who are leading servants. Elders care for the spiritual needs of the church. Deacons care for the material needs of the church. These leaders in the church are to be the models of the church. This is why Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) calls us to “imitate their faith.” I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t lead someone somewhere you’ve never been.” Though these leaders aren’t perfect, they’re called to lead people to true discipleship because they themselves have been discipled and are being discipled.
There’s a danger in prescriptive lists like these: for non elders and deacons to believe they’re excused from these requirements.
However, the Scriptures tell us that almost everything in 1 Timothy 3:2–7 is expected of every follower of Christ. In addition to teaching, these qualifications are intended by Christ for every member of the church. All of us are called to believe that Christ is King, to live a life above reproach, to be worthy of respect, to be temperate, to lead our households with kindness and grace, to not be controlled by substances, and to hold to our faith with a clear conscience—and much more. For Christians, all of life’s behaviors flow from who we are on the inside.
Group Discussion Guide:
Pick your favorites to discuss with your group, family, or friends.
- What words, phrases, or ideas stick out to you in this passage?
- Where do you feel the most significant gap between your inner life and your outer life right now?
- Which of the character traits described here feels most challenging for you in this season of life—and why?
- Paul assumes that leadership flows from who we are, not just what we do. How does that challenge the way you usually think about influence, parenting, marriage, work, or ministry?
- If almost all these traits are meant for every follower of Jesus—not just church leaders—what part of discipleship have you quietly outsourced to “professionals”?