After describing an orderly worship environment
and prohibiting women from teaching men in an assembled gathering,
Paul tells Timothy who should have that role. Like marriage—where a
man takes the responsibility of leading, loving, and providing for
a wife and children—a man must desire the responsibility not just
the role. If any man aspires (Gr. oregomai, ‘to reach out to
grasp’) to be an overseer/elder/pastor (Gr. episkopē, ‘to inspect,
superintend’; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4), he desires a good task
(Gr. ergon, ‘toil, labor’). Overseeing is the hard work of leading
others. A man must be able to lead himself, lead others, and lead
others to lead others. A man wanting to lead a church should have a
history of being followed by men. If you think you are a leader,
turn around, if no one is following you, you’re just out for a walk
(Rom. 12:6-8)!