A.H. Strong defines a brawler as someone who roars, is boisterous- a growler-a murmurer, a contentious person. John MacArthur says, “Brawlers aren’t qualified to serve as elders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), because a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but be able to collaborate and work with the sheep.”
In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul lays out the qualifications of an Elder/Pastor/Bishop. He enumerates 15 total qualities they must have. Ole Ernest Lee has enumerated them in the passage:
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be (1) blameless, (2) the husband of one wife, (3) vigilant, (4) sober, (5) of good behaviour, (6) given to hospitality, (7) apt to teach; 3 (8) Not given to wine, (9) no striker, (10) not greedy of filthy lucre; but (11) patient, (12) not a brawler, (13) not covetous; 4 (14) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a (15) good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Not being a brawler is the 12th qualification Paul mentions on the list. Many think a brawler is someone who physically fights or is confrontational, and that is a type of brawler, but the order in which Paul lists their qualities is not random. Not being a brawler comes immediately after patience and just before not being covetous.
Brawlers are not patient and they are covetous. Brawlers can be loud, mouthy and arrogant, or they can be quietly stubborn, rebellious and selfish. The first type of brawler is easily identified- the second are like the serpent in the garden- subtle and deceitful. The first are much easier to deal with because they fight in the light of day. The second are careful to not tip their hand and therefore fool some believers.
Quite brawlers are narcissistic and believe their own lies. They play the victim. They engage in destructive behavior/gossiping under the guise of ‘concerned about a fellow believer.’ The quite brawler is not likely to change. The brawler has to move often from pastorate to pastorate because they are impatient and covetous. They rationalize their frequent moves because it is always someone else’s fault. They are just the victim. They have a martyr complex. They destroy churches. They disrupt friendships. And they delight in it. They get a kick out of chaos
Take some advise from Ernest Lee- AVOID a brawler, especially the quite ones. The scripture is clear they are not qualified to be in the ministry.
Ernest Lee Contendin 