Thematic Bible: An overseer, a supervisor

So, pay close attention to your [own] lives, and to all [members] of the flock [i.e., the congregation] of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [i.e., elders, shepherds or pastors]. Provide [spiritual] food for the church of the Lord which He purchased by [shedding] His own blood. Verse ConceptsAtonementAttending ChurchCommitment, to God's peopleelders, in the churchBlood, of Jesus ChristChurch Authority, Of EldarsAtonement, Redemption ByBishops, DutiesAtonement, in NTBuying and sellingSolemn ChargesLeaders, SpiritualMarketsMinistry, In The ChurchOverseersGod Keeping WatchPurchasingRansomRedemption, In NtResponsibility, For God's WorldSecuritySelf DefenceShepherds, As Church LeaderSin, Avoidance OfValuesWatchfulness, Of LeadersPastorsChrist And His SheepNames And Titles For The ChurchChurch, Titles OfCorrecting A BrotherFeeding The FlockThe Church UniversalBloodThe churchTaking Care Of Your Body

[This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons. Verse ConceptsDeaconsAttending ChurchApostles, Function In Early ChurchLettersOfficersOverseersPaul, Apostle To GentilesRankSaintsServanthood, In Life Of BelieversShepherds, As Church LeaderUnion With Christ, Significance OfChurch, Examples OfAll Believers Are SaintsUs In GodAnxiety And DepressionServant Leadership

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of [only] one wife, sober-minded [Note: When this word, used here figuratively, is used in its literal sense, it means to abstain from intoxicating drinks], sensible, respectable, hospitable, capable of teaching. [He must] not be a drunkard or a fighter, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not wanting to get money by questionable [or, dishonest] means. [He must] manage his own family well and, with dignity, keep his children in subjection [or, "respectful"]. read more.
For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how will he be able to take care of the church of God? [He must] not be a new convert or else he could become conceited [i.e., over being in a leadership position] and fall into the [same] condemnation incurred by the devil. He must also have a good reputation among outsiders [i.e., non-Christians], or else he could fall into reproach [i.e., from worldly people] and [therefore] into the devil's trap.

The reason I left you in Crete [Note: This was an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Greece] was so you could set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city [i.e., where there was a church], as I directed you. [An elder must] not be guilty of just blame, [he must be] the husband of one wife, whose children are believers [Note: The word for "believers" may also be translated "faithful ones" or "trustworthy ones"], who have a reputation for not being wild or disobedient. As God's manager [of the church], an overseer must be free from just blame, not a drunkard, not a fighter [and] not in love with money. read more.
[He must be] hospitable, someone who loves what is good, sensible, upright, devout and self-controlled. [He must] hold on firmly to the trustworthy message, which is according to [our] teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort people with sound teaching and to convince those who contradict it. For there are many rebellious people, especially among the circumcision [i.e., the Jews], whose talk is useless and who deceive people. They must be silenced [because] they are upsetting entire families by teaching things they should not be for the shameful purpose of making money.