”Faithful the word: If any is aspiring [the job of] oversight, a beautiful work he is desiring.”
-What Paul is about to say is totally trustworthy. He likes to use this phrase apparently (1 Timothy 1.15; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). These things, these phrases of words, these sayings he is saying, we can trust them. They are true and reliable and we can take them to the bank. Or wherever else we need to go with them, cuz they are money. On the money.
-Now, Paul began here by unpacking the need to guard against strange doctrine, and has addressed the beauty of the Law and the priority of managing the work of God. He has also highlighted the need for the church to be praying, and finally has just touched on the role of women in the church, and this all leads him to now discuss this role of overseer, the ones overseeing all this. The word in the Greek is episkopos. Literally, one who scopes (or watches) over something. Overseeing is what the elders of an assembly are called and appointed to do (1Peter 5.1-2, Acts 20.17, 28). They are shepherds who watch over the sheep, protecting the flock from false teachers and other ravenous wolves, leading and feeding the sheep, helping up those who have fallen down and bringing back those who have strayed and gotten lost. This is the head function role of the body of Christ, which is exactly what Paul just said he does not permit the women to do. It’s not that they cannot play a significant role in helping to implement of all this, and it’s not about competence or status. It’s just that this buckstopping, this watching over is a role done by qualified men.
-Now, the word “man” is not used in this verse - in fact, the NASB is the only modern translation (besides the King James updates) with that word. The accompanying pronoun and subsequent nouns are all indeed masculine, however the insertion of that word here is gratuitous. One wonders if in the NASB we have a vestigial homage to the KJV and ASV?
-But Paul says this work of oversight is beautiful, baby. That’s because the flock over which these men are entrusted with keeping watch is the beautiful, incomparable Bride of Christ. This work is near and dear to the heart of Jesus, Who laid His own life down for these sheep. He is the consummate Good Shepherd. And as is often the case when someone goes out of their way to paint something in a good light, this happens to be one of those oh-so-important jobs which require long hours and careful vigilance and which will most likely be disrespected by the world. But it is beautiful all the same. Heroic, in fact. Isn’t that what heroes do? They rescue, save, protect others. They do great things on behalf of others, and generally without thought of repayment. They’re not in it for themselves. Great feats of self-accomplishment are not intrinsically heroic. Great feats done for others but which are handsomely rewarded are also less beautiful in that sense. No, you don’t go into this kind of beautiful heroic work for yourself, for what you can get out of it. Cuz in essence you are saying, I am going to lay my life down for someone(s) else, regardless of the cost (or the pay). This one who is aspiring oversight is saying, I would like to watch out over the souls of these others. I am willing to stand in the gap for them. And THAT is beautiful.
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