ON THE VANGUARD

QUALIFICATIONS part 5
“He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
I Timothy 3:7

We end our study today in I Timothy by looking at one more qualification for being an ‘episkope’. Before we do, let us once again define this word. The Greek word ‘episkope’ means an elder or bishop. However, we also found this same word has a little deeper meaning to it and is defined as the act by which God looks into and searches out the ways and deeds, or character, of man. With these definitions fresh in our mind, we read that the ‘episkope’ must have a good reputation with outsiders. Let us now define what this means.
The word here for ‘good’ is the same word used for ‘well’ in verse 4. This is the word KALOS, meaning to leave no room for blame. The word for ‘reputation’ is the Greek word MARTURIA, which means testifying, or what one testifies as if before a judge. In seeing these words in their original language, we read that the ‘episkope’ must also have a blameless testimony with unbelievers. But how can this be as no person has ever been without sin except for Christ? While this may be something we cannot fully obtain, we do have a way. It is only because of the sacrifice of Christ that we even have the chance to stand before the throne of judgment and be seen as clean. It is His sacrifice that becomes our testimony. And how is the enemy defeated? In Revelation 12:11 we read that, “They overcame [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Our blameless reputation comes as a result of the price Jesus paid for us, our accepting His price, and our denouncement from the enemy.
But why is this good reputation needed? It is needed so that we do not fall into disgrace and the enemy’s trap. The ‘episkope’ is not to fall, EMPIPTO, into disgrace, ONEIDISMOS. ‘Oneidismos’ is defined as reproach, from the root word ONEIDIZO, meaning to be cast into one’s teeth. Paul is stating here that a good reputation is needed so that we do not fall into the teeth of the enemy, because it is then he will chew us up. We probably have all been there, or close to there, where our actions did not match our words and we were the enemy’s snack. But he also urges this so that we do not fall into the enemy’s trap. This is the Greek word PAGIS, meaning a noose, snare, entanglement. It also means the allurement to sin by which the devil holds us bound. I venture to say we have all been here as well.
As we close the book on the qualifications found in I Timothy 3 alone, I want us to consider how this verse relates not only to the minister, but also to the one whose character is being searched. Whether we ever step into ministry or not, we are called to be witnesses. We are to reflect God’s ways so that people will be drawn to a personal relationship with Christ. When our example is poor, we can never be a ‘kalos’ witness. But when our example reflects these words of Paul, we then hold a greater chance of allowing our actions to speak. If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then I want my picture to be worth something. I want my lifestyle, pulpit or not, to speak volumes of God and in the end draw others to Him. How about you? Pulpit or not, will you step up and be an ‘episkope’?