"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 quote relates the requirements for becoming a bishop. Strong's bible dictionary defines a bishop as the overseer of a church, the same as a pastor. Therefore in order to qualify as pastor of any legitimate church, the candidate must meet all the requirements Paul laid out in today's quoted text.
There are many who contend that a pastor (preacher) must have, at some point, received a specific call from God to that office. According to what Paul wrote here, that contention doesn't hold up. The office is one that a person "desires" not one he is 'called' to. Although, a man who truly demonstrates desire to do the work of a bishop has surely devoted himself wholly to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and therefore would appear to have been specifically called to that obligation.
The important thing to remember from this lesson is that there are, as today's quote demonstrates, specific qualifications that must be met before a man can be declared a bishop, or overseer of a church.~
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