Paul’s guidelines for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 as a template for churches in Nigeria

Abstract

The Apostle Paul has been an iconic theologian of the church. As a diverse society and a platform where there is expectation for excellence and orderliness, it is imperative for the church to be led by Christ-like, morally sound, and competent individuals. Based on media reports, most churches in Nigeria are mostly governed by individuals who have character deficit and lack leadership acumen. The church, as the body of Christ, must go back to the status-quo, which is the Holy Bible, for ethical direction. The study employed a socio-rhetorical method of studying 1 Timothy 3:1-7 towards developing theological and ethical guidelines for church leadership in Nigeria. In addition, the study made use of interviews as a research tool in gathering relevant information. The research reveals that Paul’s guidelines in 1 Timothy 3:1- 7 hinge on character, ministerial, spiritual, household, and social criteria which must be considered as standards for choosing anyone into ecclesiastical leadership positions. It is recommended that church leaders in Nigeria should appropriate the spiritual, ethical and social guidelines as stated in 1Timothy 3:1-7 as an evidence of faithfulness to God and excellence in Christian ministry.