qualifications for overseers and deacons

Abstract

1 Timothy 3:1–13 discusses the appointment of two categories of church leaders, namely, overseers and deacons. The passage stresses moral virtue over performance and abilities for one to be appointed as an overseer or deacon. It, of course, does not deduce roles and abilities are trivial for leadership ministry. Paul delineates the necessity of qualifications to participate in the specified leadership roles. The term ἐπίσκοπος, ‘overseer’ is mentioned in sundry places of the New Testament, and it is the same as ‘bishop’ or ‘elder.’ Eligible deacons, according to 1 Timothy 3:8–13, must have almost the same sort of virtues as the overseer. There is a natural continuity and connection between the two sections, vv.1–7 and vv.8–13. The term ὡσαύτως, ‘likewise’ in verse 8 ostensibly pinpoints that the criteria for an overseer and deacons are cognate. Even though Church management, teaching ministry, and hospitality are not explicitly associated with deacons, it does not mean that the deacons were not required to or did not have these qualifications. The term διάκονος, ‘deacon’ can be identified as a ‘servant’ or a ‘minister’ which, of course, does not suppose that the deacons were more into menial or physical service than leadership. In Titus 1:6–9, Paul expounds on a parallel list of qualifications for elders. The passage dominantly deals with men’s leadership, yet there is a plausible intrusion in 1 Timothy 3:11 that explicates regarding women or wives. The list of qualifications needs to be applied even in the contemporary church. It is anticipated that the church in Ethiopia will adhere to the qualifications presented in Timothy 3:1–13 and Titus 1:6–9 whenever they appoint church leaders. Appropriate appointment of Church leaders is very significant to give guidance concerning the spiritual life of the believers (to help believers to know how they ought to conduct themselves in God’s households, 1Ti 3:15) and thus enhance church growth (so that the body of Christ may be built up, Eph 4:12). The leaders reinforce the covenant community to comply with the divine precepts and keep orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Qualified leaders can bring a substantial impact on the church’s development. Exegesis on 1 Timothy 3:1–13 is crucial in probing the right scriptural solutions to the problem that has been troubling church leadership.