Lesson 552

(Lesson 552)(02-19-13) 1 Timothy 3:1-7, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 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; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Today's lesson contains the qualifications under which the character of a man must fall in order for him to hold the office of Bishop of a Church.

Strongs' bible dictionary defines a Bishop, as that term applies in this lesson, as: Investigation, inspection, visitation: (1) that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad: Oversight (2) Overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder, the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church.

By the forgoing definition of the office, it is made clear that a Bishop, within the setting which Paul placed this text, is the equivalent of todays "pastor". He is to oversee all the activities of the Church. By being "apt" to teach, a bishop is required to have complete knowledge of the gospel. I don't believe this definition requires a bishop to "preach" two or three times a week as many of today's pastors do. All Christians should be "apt to teach" since teaching the gospel is the great commission given directly from Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.", I believe the requirement to be "apt to teach" applies equally to all Christians.

The above qualifications exclude women from holding the office of Bishop because a Bishop must be: " the husband of one wife", thereby eliminating that possibility.

There are many "churches" existing today that simply ignore these qualifications and select "Bishops" who are female, divorced, unmarried and even in some instances, homosexual. This clearly demonstrates how far today's "church" has strayed from it original intended course.~