Today's readings are Psalm 46, Nehemiah 4:7-23, and 1 Timothy 3:1-16.
Our reading today in 1 Timothy 3 may cause some confusion. Some translators call the people at the start of the chapter "elders" while others call them "bishops" or "overseers." What are these people? Are they an elite group of high ranking professional clergy? Are they pastors? Are they godly "lay leaders"? The Greek term used here literally means "overseers." The English "bishop" is a word directly derived from this Greek word. And in the Bible that word is used as a synonym for the word "elder."
Based on what we know from the text of 1 Timothy 3 these people show exactly the character qualities we would expect of any mature Christian man who is married. The title "overseer" indicates that these men are recognized as leaders. But there is no indication that they would belong to a special group of "professional" ministers. They are mature Christian men.
May the Lord raise up many godly overseers and deacons in every church congregation where his word is proclaimed faithfully.
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