1 Timothy 3: The Mystery of the Faith
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 &quo