This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” (1 Tim. 3:1 CSB)
Does it strike you as odd that Paul needed to tell the Christians in Ephesus that overseeing a congregation is a noble work? The fact that Paul wrote these words to Timothy suggests that corrupt church leaders in Ephesus had soiled the reputation of the role of overseer. Perhaps they had so tarnished the image of the role that respectable Christians didn’t want the job! They may have feared ruining their good name by being in that position.
Christians from different church traditions use various terms to describe the role of the person who leads, oversees, or shepherds their congregations. Sometimes these descriptions can refer to the person behind the pulpit, or they may apply to positions within a church leadership hierarchy. More often than not, we use them as titles. However, we use these words differently than the New Testament does.
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