A Christian minister, often referred to as a pastor, elder, or overseer, is called to serve the body of Christ with a distinct set of character traits and attributes that reflect the teachings of Scripture. The role is not merely a position of authority but one of servanthood, requiring a life that exemplifies the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1. Above Reproach

A minister must be above reproach, living a life that is blameless and free from scandal. This is foundational, as it sets the standard for the congregation and the community. In 1 Timothy 3:2 , Paul writes, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."

2. Temperate and Self-Controlled

Temperance and self-control are essential attributes, reflecting a life governed by the Holy Spirit rather than by fleshly desires. Titus 1:8 emphasizes this, stating that a minister must be "hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."

3. Hospitable

Hospitality is a key characteristic, as it demonstrates love and openness to others, welcoming them into both the minister's life and the church community. This is highlighted in 1 Peter 4:9 : "Show hospitality to one another without complaining."

4. Able to Teach

A minister must be able to teach sound doctrine, guiding the congregation in truth and refuting false teachings. This is crucial for the spiritual growth and protection of the church. As 2 Timothy 2:24 states, "And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing."

5. Not Given to Drunkenness or Violence

Sobriety and peace are vital, as a minister must not be given to drunkenness or violence. This reflects a life of moderation and peace, as seen in 1 Timothy 3:3 : "not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money."

6. Gentle and Humble

Gentleness and humility are Christ-like attributes that a minister must embody. These qualities foster a nurturing and compassionate environment within the church. Philippians 4:5 encourages believers, "Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near."

7. Faithful Steward

A minister is called to be a faithful steward of God's mysteries, managing the resources and responsibilities entrusted to them with integrity and wisdom. 1 Corinthians 4:2 states, "Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

8. Devoted to Prayer and the Word

A minister must be devoted to prayer and the study of Scripture, seeking God's guidance and wisdom in all matters. Acts 6:4 highlights this priority: "and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

9. Loving and Compassionate

Love and compassion are central to the minister's character, reflecting the heart of Christ for His people. Ephesians 4:2 instructs, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

10. Courageous and Bold in Faith

A minister must exhibit courage and boldness in faith, standing firm in the truth of the Gospel and leading the congregation with conviction. Joshua 1:9 serves as a reminder: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

These attributes, grounded in Scripture, form the foundation of a Christian minister's character, enabling them to lead, serve, and shepherd the flock entrusted to their care.Leviticus 10:3-11
Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
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Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
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Numbers 16:9,10
Seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
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Deuteronomy 32:1-3
Give ear, O you heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
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1 Samuel 2:35
And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed for ever.
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1 Samuel 12:7
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
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2 Chronicles 6:41
Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.
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2 Chronicles 29:11
My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister to him, and burn incense.
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Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
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Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
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Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.
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Isaiah 6:5-8
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
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Isaiah 32:20
Blessed are you that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
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Isaiah 52:11
Depart you, depart you, go you out from there, touch no unclean thing; go you out of the middle of her; be you clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
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Jeremiah 1:7,8
But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak.
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Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
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Jeremiah 20:9
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
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Ezekiel 34:1-31
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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Malachi 2:6,7
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
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Matthew 10:16-24
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
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Matthew 11:25,26
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.
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Matthew 13:51,52
Jesus said to them, Have you understood all these things? They say to him, Yes, Lord.
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Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority on them.
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Matthew 23:8-11
But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers.
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Matthew 24:45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
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Luke 6:39
And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
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Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.
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Luke 12:42-44
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
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Luke 22:27
For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as he that serves.
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Luke 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
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John 3:27,34
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
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John 4:36-38
And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.
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John 10:2-5,11-15
But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
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John 13:13-17
You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am.
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John 15:20,21
Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
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John 17:16-18,20
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
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Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.
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Acts 4:8,31
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
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Acts 6:3,4
Why, brothers, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
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Acts 20:22-24
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
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Romans 2:21-23
You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?
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1 Corinthians 1:23,27-30
But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;
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1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
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1 Corinthians 3:7-10
So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.
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1 Corinthians 4:10-13
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are despised.
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1 Corinthians 9:16-23,27
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid on me; yes, woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel!
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1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
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2 Corinthians 2:15-17
For we are to God a sweet smell of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
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2 Corinthians 3:6-10
Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
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2 Corinthians 4:1-10
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
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2 Corinthians 5:11,18-20
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest to God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
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2 Corinthians 6:3-7
Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
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2 Corinthians 10:1,2,8
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
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2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification, and not to destruction.
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Galatians 2:8
(For he that worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
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Galatians 6:17
From now on let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
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Philippians 3:17
Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample.
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1 Thessalonians 2:3-12
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
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1 Timothy 3:1-15
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
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1 Timothy 5:17,21
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
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1 Timothy 6:11,13,14,20,21
But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
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2 Timothy 1:6-8,13,14
Why I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
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2 Timothy 2:1-7,14-16,20-26
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
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2 Timothy 3:14,16,17
But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
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Titus 1:5-9,13,14
For this cause left I you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:
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Titus 2:1,7,8,15
But speak you the things which become sound doctrine:
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Titus 3:1,2,8,9
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
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Hebrews 5:1-3,12-14
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
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Hebrews 13:6,7,9,17
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.
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James 3:1,13,16,17
My brothers, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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1 Peter 4:10,11
As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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Hymns for Christian Devotion
... 338. -- For a Life devoted to God's Glory. CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE. 339. ... 594. --
Death of a Christian. 595. ... 597. -- Death of a Minister. 598. -- The Same. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/

John the Beloved
... lessons of untold value to the Christian church ... not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to ... in his own soul, representing in his character the attributes ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 53 john the beloved.htm

What is the Christian Home?
... without hypocrisy." Here the Christian shows his real character. ... the case that even
the Christian mother, while ... lingers around your home to minister in holy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter i what is the.htm

Isaiah V. 1.
... the word: nothing marks their original character, except their ... a peculiar degree
with the attributes of the ... between a Christian and a Christian minister is but ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxviii isaiah v 1.htm

Self-Scrutiny in God's Presence.
... that the earliest creed of the Christian Church emphasized ... together" with God,
respecting his own character, is far ... concerned, and who alone can minister to a ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/self-scrutiny in gods presence.htm

Attributes of Selfishness.
... is an essential and an eternal attribute of his character. ... but to be our servants
and to minister to our ... is implied in selfishness as one of its attributes. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xviii attributes of selfishness.htm

False Brethren and False Principles in the Church: Spirit and ...
... a cross, or some other object of an emblematical character. ... each other with the kiss
of Christian recognition ... required to remember that his minister was "worthy ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter iii false brethren and.htm

Independence of Christianity
... exaltation of the Being and of the attributes of the ... is the highest honor that a
Christian minister can have ... in gall, writes a most fearful character about the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/independence of christianity.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... in the Church are priests, by what character are those ... if we could, ought we all
to minister and teach ... it has happened that the knowledge of Christian grace, of ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning christian liberty.htm

Be Ye Doers of the Word, not Hearers Only, Deceiving Your Own ...
... approve of virtue, and do admire the character and government ... maintain his standing
in the church as a good Christian. 6. See how a minister may be deceived in ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/be ye doers of the.htm

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