In 1 Timothy 3:1–6 and in Titus 1:5–9, God requires that pastors conform to an uncompromising, holy standard. When it comes to being qualified for this sacred and high calling, it’s easy to say with Paul, “Who is adequate for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16). The resounding answer is “No one!”— That is, no one apart from God’s enabling grace. Paul clarifies, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant” (2 Cor. 3:5–6). Therefore, by God’s grace all shepherds can and must meet these qualifications.
The rest of this article will define God’s qualifications for pastoral ministry, explain the process of raising up men to meet these standards, and then consider why pastors must live by these standards for the spiritual health of the church.
What are the biblical qualifications for a pastor?
Except for the ability to teach, every pastoral qualification focuses on character. These qualifications are not snapshots of a man’s life but characteristics—consistent patterns of his life.
The qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–6 and Titus 1:5–9 tell the story of a godly leader.
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