13 Bible Verses about Bishops, Qualifications

IT is a true saying, If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desireth a laudable employment. A bishop then must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, temperate, sagacious, respectable, hospitable, well qualified for teaching; not addicted to wine, not using hard words or blows, not greedy of base gain; but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;read more.
presiding over his own family with propriety, having his children under subjection with all gravity of behaviour: for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God? Not a new convert, lest he be puffed up, and fall into the devil's crime. He must also have a fair character from those who are without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the snare of the devil.

THE presbyters among you I exhort, who am a co-presbyter and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, exercising your pastoral office not of necessity, but of choice, not for base gain, but with alacrity of mind; not as domineering over your allotted congregations, but as being examples of the flock.read more.
And when the arch Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that will never fade away.

For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do: if there be a man blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not under an accusation or debauchery, or disorderly conduct. For a bishop ought to be irreproachable, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not irritable, not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre;read more.
but the stranger's host, the good man's friend, grave, just, holy, temperate; firmly attached to the faithful word, according to the doctrine delivered, that he may be able to exhort with sound instruction and to confute the opposers.

And he himself appointed, some indeed apostles, and some prophets; and others preachers of the Gospel; and others pastors and teachers;

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed as shepherds the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. For this I know, that after my departure there will come among you grievous wolves, not sparing the flock: Yea, from among yourselves shall men arise, speaking perverting doctrines, to draw away disciples after them.read more.
Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, by night and by day, I have never ceased with tears to admonish every individual. And now, brethren, I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to finish the superstructure, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Now we entreat you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to account of them very highly in love for their work's sake. And live in peace among yourselves.

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

THE presbyters among you I exhort, who am a co-presbyter and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, exercising your pastoral office not of necessity, but of choice, not for base gain, but with alacrity of mind; not as domineering over your allotted congregations, but as being examples of the flock.

Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.

if there be a man blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not under an accusation or debauchery, or disorderly conduct.

Remember your presidents, who have spoken to you the word of God: the ultimate issue of whose conduct attentively observing, be imitators of their fidelity.

So as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that were at Jerusalem.

Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.