A bishop or deacon must be a mature person in the faith
Published 9:11 am Friday, July 19, 2019
BY TONY HOSS
Q. Please explain what Paul meant by “Not A Novice” when he gave the qualifications of a bishop.
A: In 1 Timothy 5:19, the apostle Paul is describing for Timothy the necessary qualifications of a man who would be appointed a “bishop.” There he uses the word “novice”; the word only appears once in the New Testament. We need to note that a bishop is referred to as an elder or an overseer in other passages. This term and the office has to do with the careful overseeing of the flock (church) of God. According to Paul the prospective bishop must not be a novice. In the King James Version, the word bishop is translated from the Greek word neophutos, which literally means “newly planted.” Our modern word for this word is neophyte and simply means one who is not a beginner or a novice.
There are obvious reasons why Paul specified that an Elder/Bishop/Overseer should not be a novice. First, Paul said, “lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” There is no question to the pressures that an elder is under due to the responsibilities he has. Therefore, this man must be one who is mature so that he will not allow his ego to get in the way of his duties. Those with less experience and maturity may allow such a position to interfere with their duties. A mature man will understand the gravity of the work he is called to perform; he realizes that all honor and glory is due God and not himself.
To Titus Paul said, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” Titus 1:9 KJV. Paul states this because of the experience that the job demands. An elder must have a deep understanding of the Word of God. With experience a qualified man can overcome many of the arguments against the truth. One who has not faced these challenges and has not been trained in the scripture will be unable to defend the truth.
In Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, he discusses several characteristics that an elder must possess. Consider the following characteristics Paul listed: blamelessness, temperance, hospitality, holiness, gentleness, self-control. When we combine each of these with the other, we have a man who has developed and matured over time. If he meets all other qualifications, he is now prepared to perform the duties of an elder. Taken together, these qualities form a picture of a man of mature faith, as these attributes develop over time. On the other hand, while a newer Christian may already have some of these characteristics, he simply cannot possess them to a full extent as a beginner. As Peter said, Christians must be tested with fire. This figurative fire is that which purifies us and is part of the maturing process.
Conclusion
When and how a person grows from a novice to a mature person depends on the individual. We know that different people grow to physical maturity at different rates; the same is true for spiritual maturity. As one prepares to hold the office of an elder, we must keep in mind the teachings of Paul. Unless a person is spiritually mature, he will not be able to do the “good work” of shepherding the disciples of Jesus (1 Timothy 3:1). All people should strive toward such maturity; only in this way can we be effective servants in whatever capacity the Lord would use us in His kingdom.
(Questions and Answers is provided by Tony Hoss, Minister of Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton.)