The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:1–16, ESV)Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We live in a world of Job Descriptions. Everyone who is looking for a job wants to know if they qualify. St Paul, here in our text, gives one such list. It isn’t a job description for a CEO, but for Overseers and Deacons. These words are used in the New Testament to describe pastors.
I’ll be honest with you. This is a daunting list. I often find myself asking, “Am I really qualified?” I know my own weaknesses. I know my own faults. Both are numerous. I am indeed a sinner who needs Jesus. I know how easy it would be to make this sermon self-serving. All Pastors are a bit narcissistic.
But Paul isn’t hand us a pastors checklist for perfection. He is showing us, as a congregation, what it looks like when Christ shapes his servants to reflect his care.
I (and every pastor I know) look for God’s grace often, to endeavor to live out these qualifications, not for myself (ourselves) but in service of the church, in service of this congregation. God doesn’t give us this list to feed our pride. He gives it to say how Christ himself provides shepherds and servants so his people can benefit.
Paul says, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer (pastor), he desires a noble task.” I can testify, it doesn’t always feel so noble. But what the world sees a noble is not what God sees. Luther says, this “noble task” isn’t about prestige, but it is about the cross—hard labor, humility and suffering for the Word of God. It isn’t a career ladder to a better job, or a better church. It is Christ’s way of feeding his sheep his Word and Sacraments.
CFW Walther, the first president of the LCMS said, “The ministry is no human arrangement but God’s own institution.” (Kirche und Amt, Thesis I). What he means is that God describes what the ministry is, not us. So, we have Paul’s list.
Overseers: Must be above reproach, sober-minded, faithful in their households. And Deacons: dignified, truthful, and merciful. Oh and, also a man. I know this is controversial in the church at large. But it is very clear here in God’s word.
In a society that had women priests around every corner, Paul states clearly a pastor must “be the husband of one wife.” He doesn’t say “having one spouse.” He is clearly counter-cultural. The two words husband and wife that are gender specific. Literally he says, “one-woman man”. He didn’t use the common word for a person which is general neutral ἄνθρωπος, he used ἄνδρα, meaning husband, not spouse. It isn’t just a principle; it is gender specific.
The idea is God’s. It isn’t about ability. It doesn't claim men are better that women. Many women have the skills to be a good pastor. God chooses differently. It is about his created order. Nothing else. The church isn’t free to change what God desires because it is culturally relevant. Walther again: “The call to the ministry belongs to those qualified by Scripture, not by human preference.”
The fact is, Jesus was a man. He uses men, just as his twelve apostles, as his stand-ins. The pastor stands in Christ’s stead (in persona Christi). It is never about lording over others but serving others as Christ has by preaching, baptizing, absolving and feeding his body and blood. And in case you hadn’t thought it through it is the only requirement for a pastor that isn’t personal. Not all men are qualified to be pastors either.
An aside. Pastors are men, sinful men. They are prone to all the temptations of all men. In fact, you don’t have to think very hard to see examples of pastors who have fallen into grievous sin, particularly sexual sins. It is a great tragedy to the church. It causes the world to cluck their tongues and say; they are no better than anyone else. It causes the church, and especially the individual congregations involved, to doubt God’s provision for the church. It causes anger at the man and even at God. CFW Walther, who had a lot to say on the topic of pastors, said: The treasure does not lose its value, even if carried in a poor vessel. The truth is all pastors are flawed, sinful, poor vessels. And sin is sin. There are some sins, though, that are disqualifying for the office of the ministry. Those include sexual sins. But remember, God doesn’t promise sinless pastors, he only promises that he works through sinful men. Despite the sin, and even unbelief, he still preaches God’s word, he still baptizes, he still delivers his gifts faithfully. It is never about the faithfulness of the pastor, but the faithfulness of God. Also, there is no sin that isn’t covered by Jesus’ death. Even if a man can no longer be a pastor, he can still be forgiven in Christ.
Let’s talk a little about the two words Paul uses for a pastor in our text. First deacon (Greek: Διακόνους). The word itself means servant. You may have heard that means “through the dust”. That’s a folksy breaking down of the word into two ideas that probably aren’t intended. But I kinda like the image. The servant runs through the dust to deliver what is needed. It is at the heart of the pastoral service. Jesus himself came into the dust of earth to serve. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve (διακονῆσαι) and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). (by the way the word “serve” in Jesus words is the same root word!)
Just think of the times the pastor is called to run through the dust. Sitting at the hospital bed when a member is broken and afraid. Offering council when a member is angry with the church. Visiting shut-ins with the Word and the Sacraments. Pouring water on the head of an infant. And the many quiet hours alone with an open bible, wrestling with a text on behalf of the congregation he serves. Getting dusty for the people of God, according to God’s call.
But, why pastors? Why sinful men? If flows from the Gospel itself. Article IV of the Augsburg Confession tells us the CenterPoint of our faith.
Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4 [3:21–26; 4:5].The article tells how we become justified in God’s sight. Not by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Nothing is more important in the Christian faith. The very next article V says this:
So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given [John 20:22]. He works faith, when and where it pleases God [John 3:8], in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake.So that we may obtain this faith. God gives pastors to churches. In the words of my beloved professor, Norman Nagel. “God not only gives the goods, by he gives the way they can be got.” In other words, God provides what we need, at the time we need it, in a place where we can find, in a physical person. The question you may ask is “How do I know the promises of God are for me?” Well, the answer is “Because your head got wet in Holy Baptism.” God provided a means for you to be sure. He provided a pastor (normally) to do it.
In other words, God didn’t leave His promise floating in the air. He made sure it would reach you. He gave the ministry — pastors to preach it into your ears, to pour it on your head in Baptism, to place it on your tongue in the Supper. Or as Luther said, “The pastor is nothing more than Christ’s mouth and hands for his people.
It is God’s work. He has provided salvation to people. Jesus became a man, a human male, who preached and taught, ate and laughed, touched and cried. A true human being, whose death on the cross was for the sake of his people. All of it is very human, very physical. Of course he wasn’t only a man, he was God. So, his death on the cross was more than human. It stood for the sins of the whole world. And faith in Jesus is all that is required for salvation.
God not only provided salvation — He guaranteed that you would actually receive it. And the ways he does it, like always, in ways very physical. Words spoken, water poured, bread and wine given to eat and drink. That’s why the office matters. Not because pastors are perfect, but because God cares that nothing blocks His gifts from reaching His people. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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