Qualifications of Overseers (Pastors and Elders)

[Sue J Love]

1 Timothy 3:1-7 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

“4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.”

See: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Who qualifies as an overseer? Pastors and Elders of the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, i.e. those of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ who by faith in Christ have denied self, died to sin, by the Spirit, and who are following the Lord in obedience to his commands as a matter of life practice, although not necessarily in absolute sinless perfection. He must be:

• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not dependent on wine
• Not violent but gentle
• Peaceable
• Free of the love of money
• He must manage his own household well
• Keep his children under control
• Not be a recent convert
• Have a good reputation with outsiders
• Be shepherds of God’s flock
• Not lording it over those entrusted to you
• Being examples to the flock

“As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4 BSB / Berean Standard Bible)

What Does This Mean?

So, what does it mean to be “above reproach”? It means to be a person of integrity, honesty, moral purity, and uprightness, who is faithful to God and to spouse. Temperate? A person of self-control and self-restraint, not given over to sinful passions and desires or to outbursts of rage or filthy language. Respectable? Living an honorable and dignified life in submission to God. Hospitable? Friendly and caring for all people, welcoming people into one’s own home. Able to teach? Follows the leading of the Holy Spirit and is a student of the Scriptures who studies and teaches in the correct context.

Not dependent on wine? Not addicted to alcoholic beverages; not a drunkard. Peaceable? Not someone who loves to pick fights and to attack with hate and rage with those in opposition. But also not someone who refrains from speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people out of fear of rejection or out of a desire to want to be liked and appreciated. Free of the love of money? Not doing the will of God out of selfish motives hoping to gain a fortune to spend on oneself in luxury, and with selfish motives. Too many very wealthy “pastors” living in luxury, stealing from the poor.

Manage his own household well? Loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, being faithful to her, showing her love, honor, and value in kindness and consideration with regard to her being his other half, one with him in marriage. Being an example before his wife and children of a godly man who is following the Lord, doing the will of God as a matter of life practice. Maintaining good discipline, not overly harsh or reacting in anger, but exercising restraint with wisdom in how to best help his children to properly show honor and respect to their parents.

Not be a recent convert? Need time in the Word, putting the Scriptures into practice in his daily life, learning what the Scriptures teach in the correct biblical context, not depending on other men to speak truth to him, but relying on the Scriptures (in context) and the Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth so he will be spiritually prepared to instruct others in the faith. Have a good reputation with outsiders? Watch out for this one! Many liars and deceivers and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” have good reputations with outsiders and within the gatherings of the church (or false church).

Be shepherds of God’s flock, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. This is critical! Too many pastors are acting like cult leaders or like military sergeants, ruling with an iron fist, acting like they are God to the people. I even had one pastor tell me that I should sit back and let him be God’s voice to me. No! No man is to replace God’s voice. God is God’s voice. But should pastors and elders be speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit, speaking God’s truth? Yes! But not many seem to be doing that. And we are still to test the spirits to see which ones are of God.

[Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:11-24; Luke 6:26; John 10:1-15; Romans 16:17-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:1-25]

Ministers of Our God

An Original Work / June 21, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Ministers of our God, harken to hear Him speak.
Have you given Him your hearts and souls today?
Hasten to give all to Him. Let Him cleanse your hearts from sin.
Cast yourselves on His altar. In your lives do not falter.

Ministers of our God, flee from all your idols.
Remove them from your lives. Be transformed today.
Listen to the words I say. Give your all to Christ today.
Let him rule within your hearts, cleanse from sin, His grace impart.

Ministers of our God, won’t you come to His cross?
Die to sin and yourselves. Penitently pray.
Humbly accept Him today. Let Him wash your sins away.
Receive Him into your hearts. His mercy and grace impart.

Qualifications of Overseers
An Original Work / June 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[Bill]

1 Timothy 3:1-7 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

“4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.”

See: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Who qualifies as an overseer? Pastors and Elders of the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, i.e. those of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ who by faith in Christ have denied self, died to sin, by the Spirit, and who are following the Lord in obedience to his commands as a matter of life practice, although not necessarily in absolute sinless perfection. He must be:

• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not dependent on wine
• Not violent but gentle
• Peaceable
• Free of the love of money
• He must manage his own household well
• Keep his children under control
• Not be a recent convert
• Have a good reputation with outsiders
• Be shepherds of God’s flock
• Not lording it over those entrusted to you
• Being examples to the flock

“As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4 BSB / Berean Standard Bible)

What Does This Mean?

So, what does it mean to be “above reproach”? It means to be a person of integrity, honesty, moral purity, and uprightness, who is faithful to God and to spouse. Temperate? A person of self-control and self-restraint, not given over to sinful passions and desires or to outbursts of rage or filthy language. Respectable? Living an honorable and dignified life in submission to God. Hospitable? Friendly and caring for all people, welcoming people into one’s own home. Able to teach? Follows the leading of the Holy Spirit and is a student of the Scriptures who studies and teaches in the correct context.

Not dependent on wine? Not addicted to alcoholic beverages; not a drunkard. Peaceable? Not someone who loves to pick fights and to attack with hate and rage with those in opposition. But also not someone who refrains from speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people out of fear of rejection or out of a desire to want to be liked and appreciated. Free of the love of money? Not doing the will of God out of selfish motives hoping to gain a fortune to spend on oneself in luxury, and with selfish motives. Too many very wealthy “pastors” living in luxury, stealing from the poor.

Manage his own household well? Loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, being faithful to her, showing her love, honor, and value in kindness and consideration with regard to her being his other half, one with him in marriage. Being an example before his wife and children of a godly man who is following the Lord, doing the will of God as a matter of life practice. Maintaining good discipline, not overly harsh or reacting in anger, but exercising restraint with wisdom in how to best help his children to properly show honor and respect to their parents.

Not be a recent convert? Need time in the Word, putting the Scriptures into practice in his daily life, learning what the Scriptures teach in the correct biblical context, not depending on other men to speak truth to him, but relying on the Scriptures (in context) and the Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth so he will be spiritually prepared to instruct others in the faith. Have a good reputation with outsiders? Watch out for this one! Many liars and deceivers and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” have good reputations with outsiders and within the gatherings of the church (or false church).

Be shepherds of God’s flock, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. This is critical! Too many pastors are acting like cult leaders or like military sergeants, ruling with an iron fist, acting like they are God to the people. I even had one pastor tell me that I should sit back and let him be God’s voice to me. No! No man is to replace God’s voice. God is God’s voice. But should pastors and elders be speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit, speaking God’s truth? Yes! But not many seem to be doing that. And we are still to test the spirits to see which ones are of God.

[Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:11-24; Luke 6:26; John 10:1-15; Romans 16:17-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:1-25]

Ministers of Our God

An Original Work / June 21, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Ministers of our God, harken to hear Him speak.
Have you given Him your hearts and souls today?
Hasten to give all to Him. Let Him cleanse your hearts from sin.
Cast yourselves on His altar. In your lives do not falter.

Ministers of our God, flee from all your idols.
Remove them from your lives. Be transformed today.
Listen to the words I say. Give your all to Christ today.
Let him rule within your hearts, cleanse from sin, His grace impart.

Ministers of our God, won’t you come to His cross?
Die to sin and yourselves. Penitently pray.
Humbly accept Him today. Let Him wash your sins away.
Receive Him into your hearts. His mercy and grace impart.

Qualifications of Overseers
An Original Work / June 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

May Jesus fill us with his love and wisdom.

When I read your list, the thing that came across to me was that this is man's decisions of what a good pastor is.

""• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not dependent on wine
• Not violent but gentle
• Peaceable
• Free of the love of money
• He must manage his own household well
• Keep his children under control
• Not be a recent convert
• Have a good reputation with outsiders
• Be shepherds of God’s flock
• Not lording it over those entrusted to you
• Being examples to the flock""

Certainly these are all good things to have, or at least many of them seem to be. But there is one thing missing in the whole collection, the man has to have faith. Or the family has to have faith for that matter.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen people with none of those things that are listed, be sent to America from overseas. Dimitri Dutterman, at least I think that's how his last name is spelled, a good example of this. A man with no family, was held as a prisoner to the Russian mob. Put to death at least three or four times on the electric chair, and told by God to go to America and preach. And he did.

Sue I think this whole concept of what is best qualifications needs to be thrown out the door. Because the best qualifications is someone who's following God's will

 

[Bill]

1 Timothy 3:1-7 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

“4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.”

See: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Who qualifies as an overseer? Pastors and Elders of the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, i.e. those of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ who by faith in Christ have denied self, died to sin, by the Spirit, and who are following the Lord in obedience to his commands as a matter of life practice, although not necessarily in absolute sinless perfection. He must be:

• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not dependent on wine
• Not violent but gentle
• Peaceable
• Free of the love of money
• He must manage his own household well
• Keep his children under control
• Not be a recent convert
• Have a good reputation with outsiders
• Be shepherds of God’s flock
• Not lording it over those entrusted to you
• Being examples to the flock

“As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4 BSB / Berean Standard Bible)

What Does This Mean?

So, what does it mean to be “above reproach”? It means to be a person of integrity, honesty, moral purity, and uprightness, who is faithful to God and to spouse. Temperate? A person of self-control and self-restraint, not given over to sinful passions and desires or to outbursts of rage or filthy language. Respectable? Living an honorable and dignified life in submission to God. Hospitable? Friendly and caring for all people, welcoming people into one’s own home. Able to teach? Follows the leading of the Holy Spirit and is a student of the Scriptures who studies and teaches in the correct context.

Not dependent on wine? Not addicted to alcoholic beverages; not a drunkard. Peaceable? Not someone who loves to pick fights and to attack with hate and rage with those in opposition. But also not someone who refrains from speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people out of fear of rejection or out of a desire to want to be liked and appreciated. Free of the love of money? Not doing the will of God out of selfish motives hoping to gain a fortune to spend on oneself in luxury, and with selfish motives. Too many very wealthy “pastors” living in luxury, stealing from the poor.

Manage his own household well? Loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, being faithful to her, showing her love, honor, and value in kindness and consideration with regard to her being his other half, one with him in marriage. Being an example before his wife and children of a godly man who is following the Lord, doing the will of God as a matter of life practice. Maintaining good discipline, not overly harsh or reacting in anger, but exercising restraint with wisdom in how to best help his children to properly show honor and respect to their parents.

Not be a recent convert? Need time in the Word, putting the Scriptures into practice in his daily life, learning what the Scriptures teach in the correct biblical context, not depending on other men to speak truth to him, but relying on the Scriptures (in context) and the Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth so he will be spiritually prepared to instruct others in the faith. Have a good reputation with outsiders? Watch out for this one! Many liars and deceivers and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” have good reputations with outsiders and within the gatherings of the church (or false church).

Be shepherds of God’s flock, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. This is critical! Too many pastors are acting like cult leaders or like military sergeants, ruling with an iron fist, acting like they are God to the people. I even had one pastor tell me that I should sit back and let him be God’s voice to me. No! No man is to replace God’s voice. God is God’s voice. But should pastors and elders be speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit, speaking God’s truth? Yes! But not many seem to be doing that. And we are still to test the spirits to see which ones are of God.

[Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:11-24; Luke 6:26; John 10:1-15; Romans 16:17-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:1-25]

Ministers of Our God

An Original Work / June 21, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Ministers of our God, harken to hear Him speak.
Have you given Him your hearts and souls today?
Hasten to give all to Him. Let Him cleanse your hearts from sin.
Cast yourselves on His altar. In your lives do not falter.

Ministers of our God, flee from all your idols.
Remove them from your lives. Be transformed today.
Listen to the words I say. Give your all to Christ today.
Let him rule within your hearts, cleanse from sin, His grace impart.

Ministers of our God, won’t you come to His cross?
Die to sin and yourselves. Penitently pray.
Humbly accept Him today. Let Him wash your sins away.
Receive Him into your hearts. His mercy and grace impart.

Qualifications of Overseers
An Original Work / June 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

May Jesus fill us with his love and wisdom.

After reading this post Sue, I think these are the qualifications that should be given to all the pastors not just those who are trying to qualify for overseas Adventures.

 

[Sue J Love]

May Jesus fill us with his love and wisdom.

When I read your list, the thing that came across to me was that this is man's decisions of what a good pastor is.

""• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not dependent on wine
• Not violent but gentle
• Peaceable
• Free of the love of money
• He must manage his own household well
• Keep his children under control
• Not be a recent convert
• Have a good reputation with outsiders
• Be shepherds of God’s flock
• Not lording it over those entrusted to you
• Being examples to the flock""

Certainly these are all good things to have, or at least many of them seem to be. But there is one thing missing in the whole collection, the man has to have faith. Or the family has to have faith for that matter.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen people with none of those things that are listed, be sent to America from overseas. Dimitri Dutterman, at least I think that's how his last name is spelled, a good example of this. A man with no family, was held as a prisoner to the Russian mob. Put to death at least three or four times on the electric chair, and told by God to go to America and preach. And he did.

Sue I think this whole concept of what is best qualifications needs to be thrown out the door. Because the best qualifications is someone who's following God's will

So you think we should throw out the Scriptures we don't agree with?

 

[Sue J Love]

May Jesus fill us with his love and wisdom.

After reading this post Sue, I think these are the qualifications that should be given to all the pastors not just those who are trying to qualify for overseas Adventures.

Yes, the qualifications are for all men who want to be pastors. And back then these qualifications were given to men who were already Christians. So these were in addition to the qualification of being a follower of Christ.