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1 Timothy 3:3
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3 Not [me] given to wine, [paroinos] no [me] striker, [plektes] not [me] greedy of filthy lucre; [aischrokerdes] but [alla] patient, [epieikes] not a brawler, [amachos] not covetous; [aphilarguros] KJV-Interlinear
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. NASB
Paul continues the description of the acceptable attributes of a Bible teacher.
He must not be a drunk. He must not consume alcoholic beverages to the point of being intoxicated.
Drinking is not forbidden. It was a common practice then as it is now, in most parts of the world, but there is a line that no one should cross and that line is drunkenness. When one is intoxicated to the point that he loses self control, then he becomes a sinner almost by default, and certainly a bad example.
He must not be pugnacious or a striker. In other words, he should not lead a life of violence. He must be in control of his temper and not strike out as a matter of habit. When confronted with aggression, he needs to be able to find a solution without retaliating or even instigating violence. This is in reference to social settings.
He must not be greedy or stingy, or heartless toward others. He needs to recognize (as we all do), that God provides for all, that we all have, and therefore sharing with others never provides a hardship on us, as God will always replace that which you give up. That does not mean that you become irresponsible, nor throw your family into jeopardy by pursuing excessive charity. There are reasonable limits on everything in life, including charity.
And in contrast to the negatives, are three positive attributes that should be a part of the overseer’s (bishop, teacher, elder) life.
He should be patient and tolerant, peaceable, and contented with his own situation in life.
Every teacher must not be impatient. Every teacher must be tolerant. Every teacher must be non-violent and non-confrontational. Every teacher should teach with objectivity and not with some hidden agenda in mind. Every teacher must be contented with their life.
Anyone whom you are teaching, will know less that you, otherwise if they knew as much or more than you, then you would have no purpose. Therefore, patience and tolerance in teaching is a must.
Likewise, when teaching, your motives must be to teach. That means no fame and no fortune. When you get into the gimmicks of life in order to advance yourself, then your objective, and your objectivity, is lost. You should teach such that your teaching will help others to be able to advance and better themselves.
In the spiritual life, God will provide for the instructor. If society is positive toward Bible doctrine, then among those folks, will be sufficient numbers who will support the teaching of the scriptures. And if society is generally not interested (taking never giving), then eventually God will remove the teachers, and remove the doctrine, and folks will wonder what happened when their life falls apart.
By the way, Isa. 57, is a good study demonstrating how God systematically removes the righteous from society, when society is generally negative toward God. And then things get bad, and people are clueless as to why.
So, even though these attributes apply to Bible instructors, they also apply to every believer as well.
God uses prepared believers. You’ll note that educational credentials are not listed among the characteristics required to teach. Although society leans heavily on academic preparation, which is a good thing, so do not misunderstand, but often times academics leads to very liberal views, and can be more detrimental to what one teaches, than helpful.
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