1 Timothy 3
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
Qualifications for Overseers or Elders.
3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5ff
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Elders
A
list of duties for elders can be compiled from New Testament texts which refer
directly to elders and the things for which they are said to be responsible.
These observations can be organized in the following way.
Take
the Oversight
Oversee
the particular flock to which the Holy Spirit assigns them. (Acts 20:28)
Take
the oversight of the flock willingly, and of a ready mind: not by constraint,
for filthy lucre, or as being lords. (I Peter 5:2-3)
Take
care of the church. (I Timothy 3:5)
Rule.
(Hebrews 13:7)
Rule
well. (I Timothy 5:17)
Consider
matters – including doctrinal matters. (Acts 15:6)
Send
chosen men to answer matters. (Acts 15:22)
Ordain
decrees – establish policy. (Acts 16:4)
Be
Available
Labor
among the people. (I Thessalonians 5:12)
Take
heed unto all the flock. (Acts 20:28)
Feed
Feed
the flock of God. (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2)
Speak
the word of God. (Hebrews 13:7)
Labor
in the word and doctrine. (I Timothy 5:17)
Exhort
Watch
for the souls of the people. (Hebrews 13:17)
Admonish
the people. (I Thessalonians 5:12)
Warn
the flock. (Acts 20:31)
Give
account for the people either with joy or with grief. (Hebrews 13:17)
Hold
fast the faithful word to exhort and to convince the gainsayers by sound
doctrine. (Titus 1:9)
Minister
Support
the weak. (Acts 20:34)
Pray
over the sick when called. (James 5:14)
Direct
the sick to proper medical treatment. (James 5:14)
Monitor
Your Own Life
Take
heed unto themselves. (Acts 20:28)
Watch
for wolves and for perverse speakers among themselves. (Acts 20:31)
Labour,
using their own hands to minister unto their own needs and the needs of those
who are with them. (Acts 20:33,34)
Remember
Jesus’ words, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:34)
Be
an example. (I Peter 5:3)
Maintain
a faith that can be followed, demonstrating the end of their conversation.
(Hebrews 13:7)
Qualifications for Deacons
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own household.
Acts 6; 1-7 ESV
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priestsbecame obedient to the faith.
Deacons
in the New Testament included Epaphrus (Colossians 1:7), Tychichus (Ephesians
6:21), Timothy (I Thessalonians 3:2), Mark (II Timothy 4:11), Stephanas (I
Corinthians 16:15), Onesiphorous (II Timothy 1:18), Archippus (Colossians
4:17), among others. It is interesting to note also, that even though Paul had
the authoritative position of Apostle, he identified himself as fulfilling the
role of a deacon in many ministry contexts. The implication of this is that the
role of primary leadership in the church includes many deacon type
responsibilities. The basic distinction between the offices of elder and deacon
is that elders rule and deacons do not. Otherwise there are many similarities
between the two offices. A list of duties for deacons can be compiled by
observing the biblical references to the things men did in the role of deaconing.
Labour
in the Gospel, preaching Christ. (I Thessalonians 3:2; Ephesians 3:7;
Colossians 1:23; II Corinthians 4:1,5)
Edify
the saints. (II Corinthians 3:3; I Thessalonians 3:2)
Distribute
financial aid (benevolence). (Romans 15:25; II Corinthians 8 and 9)
Carry
messages of spiritual concern from one believer to another. (Colossians 1:8;
Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:22)
Labour
fervently in prayer for the spiritual welfare of other believers. (Colossians
4:12)
Be
zealous toward other believers. (Colossians 4:13; II Timothy 1:17)
Comfort
the hearts of believers. (Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 4:7)
Comfort
believers concerning their faith. (I Thessalonians 3:2)
Help
and labor. (I Corinthians 16:15-16; Hebrews 6:10)
Refresh
the imprisoned. (II Timothy 1:16)
Seek
to reconcile the lost. (II Corinthians 5:18)
Express
spiritual gifts to one another. (I Peter 4:10)
No comments:
Post a Comment