Something Greater

1 Timothy 4: The Value Of Godliness 1 Timothy 4:1-16 (ESV) What's gone before... Paul described our faith in Christ as a mystery, urging the church in Ephesus to make Christ the foundation of their godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world and taken up in glory. Moving on... "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Chri...

The Mystery of the Faith 1 Timothy 3:9 What has gone before... Paul described a second level of church leadership: deacons. The definition of the word, as well as the context, imply that the early church had appointed specific people to assist or act as "waiters", supporting whatever was needed to be done. Deacons were to have some, but not all, of the character qualities listed for overseers. The term "deacon" was applied to a wide variety of people, implying that nearly every one in the church who helped or served could be called a deacon. Moving on... Paul describes our faith in Christ as a "mystery": 1 Timothy 3:9 (ESV) "They [deacons] must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." MYSTERY: mysterion "moos-TAY-ree-on" (a secret or "mystery", through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites); from muo (to shut the mouth) Early in His ministry Jesus referred to ...

1 Timothy 3: Serving Well as Deacons 1 Timothy 3:8-13 What has gone before... Paul warned Timothy to avoid appointing an inexperienced Christian to a position of leadership. The warning focused on comparing a newly sprouted plant to a newly converted believer, emphasizing their need for a deep, healthy foundation upon which to lead others. Moving on... 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (ESV) "Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Ch...

1 Timothy 3: Not A Recent Convert 1 Timothy 3:6-7 "[An overseer] must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:6-7 (ESV) What do you think? What negative consequences can result from a young believer being appointed to a position of leadership? How would Paul's concern affect the appointing to leadership a man well-experienced in business, or counseling or teaching, but only recently confessed himself belonging to Christ? How would you define "recent"? Plant Growth "Recent convert" brings to mind the image of a newly sprouted plant. RECENT CONVERT: neophytos "neh-OF-oo-tos" (newly planted, a young convert; "neophyte"); from neos ("new", youthful, fresh or regenerated) and phyo (to "puff" or...

Managing A Household 1 Timothy 3:4-5 What has gone before... Paul warned Timothy to guard against relying upon leaders who were "lovers of silver", people who sought "sordid gain". The Greek word for "sordid" includes the idea of shame. Shame is the emotion a person feels when they are disfigured or disgraced in the eyes of other people. Yet the leaders of the church in Ephesus felt no shame for their greedy, contradictory teaching and control. God, through the ministry of Paul and Timothy, was demonstrating His knowledge of the shameful, sordid leadership in Ephesus, and He was providing a way of rescue for the church. Moving on... 1 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV) "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?" Managing a household well, supporting a family, loving a wife and children, requires th...

Self-controlled and Respectable 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul introduced and summarized the qualifications required for a person to be considered for the office of overseer: above reproach and well thought of. First on the list was faithfulness in marriage, followed by sober-mindedness, meaning alert and ready. Moving on... The next requirement for the office of overseer is that of self-control. "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled..." 1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV) SELF-CONTROLLED: sophron "SO-frone" (safe, or sound, in mind; self-controlled, moderate as to opinion or passion; from sos (safe, to save, to deliver or protect) and phrao (to rein in or curb) This seems related to sober-mindedness, with both characteristics focusing on remaining out of danger, maintaining caution. Being sober-minded means a person is alert and prepared, and self-control is the consequence of that vigilance: s...

Shame 1 Timothy 3:3 What has come before... Violent people, smiters, find it a pleasure to pound flat into the ground anyone who might challenge their personal privileges of superiority. "Insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers" taught whatever "truth" might profit them. Perverting or contradicting the foundational teachings of Christ, they effectively persuaded others to abandon faith, trading it for legalistic, traditional religion. Moving on... The definition of "sordid gain" includes the notion of "shame", vividly described by Paul in his letter to Titus. "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain wha...

Pugnacious Smiter 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Drunkenness destroys a person's marriage, blinds them to reality, exposes them to injury and disease, brings scorn from the community, alienates them from friendship and confuses their ability to teach and learn. Drunkenness can lead to violence, the second destructive behavior listed by Paul. Moving on... "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent..." 1 Timothy 3:2-3 (ESV) NOT VIOLENT: me plektes "may PLAKE-tace" (qualified negation, smiter, pugnacious or quarrelsome); from plesso (to pound, as if flattening out; to inflict with calamity); from plasso (to mould, shape or fabricate) Violent people, smiters, find it a pleasure to pound flat into the ground anyone who might challenge their personal privileges of superiority . "Violent" occurs only twice in the Bib...

The Destruction of Nobility 1 Timothy 3:1 What has gone before... Following seven character qualities that demonstrate a person's aspiration and desire to serve as a leader, Paul presented a list of six examples of behavior: three negative and three positive. A comparison of two versions of the list showed that the ESV combined two of these behaviors into one, while KJV reflected more accurately the six distinct behaviors. Moving on... "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." 1 Timothy 3:1-3 (ESV) Here, Paul lists three negative patterns of behavior which can destroy any one or all of the seven qualities of a "noble task". Drunkenness (staying near wine) Violence (smiter, pugnacious) Sordidness ...

Aspiration and Desire 1 Timothy 3:3 What has gone before... An overseer must be hospitable , one who is fond of guests, one who enjoys meeting new and different sorts of people, regarding new acquaintances as new friends. In the same breath, Paul cautions Christians to avoid grumbling , grudgingly attempting to show hospitality to others while inwardly complaining of the cost or discomfort. Hospitality is sharing with others what God has given us. Entertaining others at our home, or together at a restaurant, can easily connect with another characteristic of the ideal overseer: one who teaches others . More than being willing to teach others, Paul describes an overseer as one who is competent to teach, one who himself loves to learn and joys in helping others to learn. Teaching is to be more than a duty...it is to be a lifelong calling. Moving on... Following the seven broad categories of character qualities introduced in verse 2, Paul now lists specific behaviors ...

Above Reproach And Well Thought Of 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul exalts the " office of overseer ", which means spiritual health inspector. "Office of overseer" is often translated as " visitation ". The first " episcopate ", or group of church overseers, were probably the apostles, called by Jesus. Paul commended those who "aspire" or stretch out after and set their hearts upon the office of overseer, describing the work as a "noble task", something " beautifully good ". Moving on... Paul describes the the ideal overseer . The passage reads like a job-hunter's resume, listing knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the "noble task" of inspecting and protecting Christian churches. "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quar...

Hospitable and Able to Teach 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul's description of a person suitable for consideration as overseer of a church began with one who was above reproach: faithful in marriage, sober-minded, self-controlled and respectable. Moving on... "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable..." 1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV) HOSPITABLE: philoxenos "fil-OX-en-os" (fond of guests); from philos (dear, as a friend; fond or friendly, referring to an associate or neighbor) and xenos (foreign, as alien or novel; a guest or entertainer) "Hospitable" seems to provide at the same time the means and the motive for spending time with new acquaintances: treat them as friends and regard their quirks as entertaining. The word, "hospitable" is found three times in the Bible: used twice by Paul in similar directions to Timothy and Titus concerning overseers....