Senior Overseers / Senior Bishops

In 2 Timothy 2:5, we see the Apostle Paul had a full assurance of the genuine and unhypocritical faith which was in Timothy. When Timothy was appointed to the ministry at Macedonia, this ministry gift of God was given to him "by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership" (1 Timothy 4:14). Later in his ministry, Timothy was again reminded to by the Apostle Paul "to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). Timothy surely met all the qualifications required for the ordination of bishops/overseers, and he was now charged to oversee ministry at Macedonia, and the Apostle Paul gave Timothy specific instructions as a ministry focus.

An important function of Timothy's personal ministry as a senior bishop/overseer was to appoint spiritual leaders for the work of the kingdom of God at Macedonia. He was given the responsibility of appointing overseers/bishops, as well as appointing deacons who met the qualifications for ordination.

Ordaining overseers and deacons, as well as removing them if necessary, must be done carefully and honestly before the Lord. The instruction for both giving of honor and for open rebuke, as appropriate, is that it would be carried out "without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure" (1 Timothy 5:21-22).

The laying on of hands for ordination into the ministry is an elementary principle of Christ as seen in Hebrews 6:2. It is a foundational doctrine which must be properly implemented so the body of Christ would move on to maturity of the good works "which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

1 Timothy 3:1-7 describes the qualifications for a bishop/overseer. Those who aspire to this position are recognized to desire a good work in Christian ministry.

1 Timothy 3:8-13 describes the qualifications for a deacon. A deacon is designated to serve with the bishops/overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways. Christians who have served well, meeting the qualifications described, gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.