An overseer watches over the church as God’s steward.
An overseer must be above reproach.
Overseer is the bishop word. Paul says the office is a noble task, then requires a life: above reproach, able to teach, managing his own household, not a new convert. Titus is told to appoint elders, and the reason given is that an overseer must be above reproach. Peter tells elders to exercise oversight without domineering. Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of souls. The church has overseers. They are the elders. The bishop page is this same office.
- Able to teach is not optional in the list.
- A new convert is not to be set over the church.
- Oversight is care, not ownership.
An overseer must be above reproach.
Able to teach.
The Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
- Overseer is bishop.
- Paul identifies the elder with the overseer.
- The life must be above reproach.
- He must be able to teach.
- Peter forbids lording it over the flock.
- Christ is the Overseer of souls.
- The Word – Watcher, overseer.
- The Same – Elder and bishop.
- The Life – Above reproach.
- The Word-work – Able to teach.
- The Manner – Not domineering.
- The Chief – Christ.
- 1 Timothy 3:1-2 – “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer must be above reproach… able to teach.”
- 1 Timothy 3:4-6 – “He must manage his own household well… He must not be a recent convert.”
- Titus 1:7-9 – “An overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach… He must hold firm to the trustworthy word.”
- 1 Peter 5:2-3 – “Exercising oversight… not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
- 1 Peter 2:25 – “You have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
- Acts 20:28 – “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
- Philippians 1:1 – “With the overseers and deacons.”
- Titus 1:5 – “Appoint elders in every town as I directed you.”
- Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17 – “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.”
An overseer must be above reproach, able to teach.
An overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach.
You were straying like sheep, but have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The overseer shepherds under Christ. He is the elder. He is not the owner of the flock.
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