Paul’s Criteria for Leadership
Paul’s criteria for church leadership are primarily delineated in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. While each of the pericopes related to leadership criteria is not lengthy, they are comprehensive and prescriptive for the church. In a discussion of overseers, who are also known as elders, the primary responsibility they have is to “teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17).”[1] Thus, it is paramount that there be criteria, and criteria that are followed for the integrity of God’s church.
It is interesting to note that, “[W]hen citing the qualifications for leadership to his colleague Timothy, Paul bypasses outcomes and goes right to the character of the leader’s life. The leader must be ‘above reproach, 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 … managing his own household well with all dignity … well thought of by outsiders’ (1 Tim. 3:2-7).”[2] All of the criteria target the character of the prospective leader. In Titus 1:5-9, due to false teachers, the Cretan church needed mature leaders, and therefore, Paul “identified the qualifications of elders or overseers of the church (1:5-9).”[3] Clarke observes that in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 that out of the eighteen adjectives, which are masculine and singular, that twelve of them (upright/just, devout/godly, sober/restrained, gentle/gracious, respectable/modest, sensible/moderate, self-controlled, blameless, beyond reproach, loving what is good, hospitable, and able to teach) delineate desirable qualities and six are disqualifications (arrogant/stubborn, quick-tempered, greedy for profit, [not] covetous, [not] quarrelsome/contentious, and a recent convert).[4] He says, “In addition to these repeated adjectives, two nouns appear in both passages as character types that should be avoided: the overly assertive person or bully … and the heavy drinker …. This limited element of overlap suggests that the list was neither formalized nor exhaustive; rather it painted a broad set of appropriate qualities.”[5]
And in discussing the criteria for community leaders, Howell explicates the qualifications that such leaders must meet. This criterion applies to overseers, which its referent would be any ministry leader (1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9). For the leader’s reputation with others, which includes non-believers, they must be above reproach (1 Tim 3:2) and have a good reputation with outsiders.[6] Concerning character virtues the leader must be temperate (3:2), self-controlled (3:2; Tit 1:8), attractive or honorable (3:2), gentle or forbearing (3:3), not a recent convert, lover of what is good (Tit 1:8), upright (Tit 1[7]:8), and holy (Tit 1:8). In the category of self-management, the ministry leader must be disciplined (Tit 1:8), not given to drunkenness (3:3; Tit 1:7), not a lover of money (3:3), not quick-tempered (Tit 1:7).[8] In their relations with others, the leader must be hospitable (3:2; Tit 1:8), not pugnacious (3:3; Tit 1:7), not quarrelsome (3:3), and not self-willed (Tit 1:7).[9] In the sphere of their family, the leader must be the husband of one wife (3:2; Tit 1:6; cf. 1 Tim 3:12 [deacons]; 5:9 [widows]) and manage his own family well, which is proven through the behavior of the children and their respect toward their father and the godly character of the wife.[10] Concerning ministry skill, the only one that Paul says that the ministry leader needs is the ability to teach (3:2; cf. 1 Tim 5:17; Tit 1:9).[11]
While seeking candidates for church leadership positions that match the criteria is crucial, equally important is the cultivation of future leaders who will match them. Liefeld, in a well-composed and prominent statement on the development of leaders in the church concerning being qualified for leadership, says,
The inclusion of the “trustworthy saying” in 1 Timothy 3:1 also underscores the importance of having qualified leaders. It is directed to those who are cautiously debating whether to be publicly available for the work. Not only should the church be looking for people who are qualified, but those with potential should be developing within themselves the qualities that will one day qualify them for the work. It is not enough for a church to hunt at the last moment for people to elect as elders at an annual meeting. It is a long-term, ongoing process. Early on in a Christian’s life one should be growing spiritually and using the Spirit’s gifts for the good of the church, with the possibility, humbly considered, of special ministry such as elderhood. Although this passage does not say so, elders and other mature Christians should be encouraging younger believers to seek God’s leading in this direction.[12]
After having examined the person of Paul, looking at the characteristics of his leadership, and the church leadership criteria that he laid down for the church to follow, a discussion on the imitation of Paul’s leadership will be presented.
The next post in the series will cover imitating the leadership of Paul.
Footnotes [1]9Marks, “The Biblical Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons,” accessed June 5, 2020, https://www.9marks.org/article/biblical-qualifications-and-responsibilities-deacons/. [2]Joseph M. Stowell, Redefining Leadership: Character-Driven Habits of Effective Leaders (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 28. [3]Lea and Black, 487. [4]Andrew D. Clarke, A Pauline Theology of Church Leadership: A Pauline Theology of Leadership (London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2013), 50. [5]Ibid., 50. [6]Howell, 288. [7]Ibid., 288-289. [8]Ibid., 289-290. [9]Ibid., 290. [10]Ibid., 290-291. [11]Ibid., 291. [12]Walter L. Liefeld, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 1999), 14r.
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