1 Timothy (Written)

Monday, 18 December 2017

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 1 Timothy 3:14

This words of this verse are intended to cover everything already stated that ensures right ordination of those who are selected as leaders. The statement, “These things I write to you,” are generally considered to be concerning the ordination of men to the positions of overseer and deacon, but are certainly inclusive of the exhortations and prohibitions of the previous chapter, particularly the prohibitions. In order to determine who was qualified, he first had to exclude those who were not to be considered in the process.

His next words include a thought which has to be understood from the context. He says, “though I hope to come to you shortly.” Charles Ellicott notes, “The participle here has a concessive form, ‘though I hope,’ &c. ‘I write these special urgent directions to you, though my hope is that I shall be with you sooner than such detailed instructions presuppose.’”

In other words, it was Paul’s hope to be present for the selection and ordination process, but that may or may not actually occur. These words show us that Timothy was probably not the permanent leader of the church at Ephesus. If he were, then he would be the one to make these selections. But the need existed, Paul was unavailable, and so Timothy is being instructed in the process as an expediency.

Life application: The wisdom of God is seen all over this epistle. Even this verse shows us that the Lord had kept Paul back from Ephesus so that there would be a need to write these directions. In writing the epistle, it would eventually become a prescriptive part of the Bible, maintained for all time to ensure that proper selection and ordination procedures would be followed from that time and thereafter.

Lord God, the more Your precious word is studied and contemplated, the more the wisdom behind its writing is seen. What a beautiful tapestry of wonder and delight is found in this glorious gift, given graciously, by Your guiding hand. Thank You for revealing to us Your wisdom in the pages of the Bible. Amen.

Sunday, 17 December 2017

For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13

Paul now explains the benefits of having served as a deacon. He has spoken of their qualifications in order to hold such an office, and now he goes directly to the end result of having obtained that appointment. He does this with the words, “who have served well.” They are then the basis for the benefits. What is to be anticipated is based upon the previous verses concerning their qualifications. If they met the necessary qualifications as outlined, and then had served in accord with those expectations, a positive benefit will result. Therefore, those who were ordained who were not qualified, or those who failed to serve in accord with those expectations, are not to be included in the benefits he will note.

Understanding this, he says that the deacons who have served well will “obtain for themselves a good standing.” The Greek word for “standing” here, bathmos, is found only this once in the entire Bible. It is actually a step in a staircase, and so figuratively it indicates a degree or a rank. The tense of the verb “have served” changes to the present “obtain.” It is that they “have served well” being necessary for the step, or standing, which they then obtain. Some find in this a note that being a deacon is a qualifying step to that of an overseer or a preacher. Others see this as indicating a great reward in their eternal station at the bema seat of Christ. However, it could be simply that such a person is to be recognized thereafter as a person of dependability and integrity within the church – “Paulonious was a deacon who served well, and so we know that he can be trusted in all he does.”

Paul then adds in, “and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.” The Greek word translated as “boldness” is one which speaks of confidence in speech. Being combined with the thought of the faith which is in Christ Jesus, it then is referring to someone who has gained confidence to speak of the faith. He is thus one of firm convictions, who will stand on the faith. He will proclaim it without wavering, and he would therefore be recognized as a sound and dependable believer in Christ. Whether this means he will ever become a preacher or not is probably not the issue on Paul’s mind. Rather, he is continuing to refer to someone who can be trusted with imparting proper counsel – “Paulonious is someone you can go to when you need advice about the faith. He served well as a deacon, and he is a valuable resource when you need counsel.”

Life application: The more time one spends faithfully ministering, the more grounded he will normally be in his own convictions, and in his ability to communicate those convictions to others in their times of need. For deacons, they were already subject to scrutiny concerning their character. By serving in that office well, their character will continue to be developed. Such people will always be considered as valuable resources for others to seek out.

Lord God, we thank You for the ability to serve You in whatever way You have selected for us. You have molded each of us according to Your wisdom, so that some can serve through giving, some through prayer, some through encouraging others, or in many other ways. Help us to use our gift of service properly, and help us to mature in our lives so that others will find us dependable to come to in their own times of need. Help us to use our time wisely. Amen.

Saturday, 16 December 2017

Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 1 Timothy 3:12

This is almost a mirror of the requirements for an overseer. Deacons are to “be the husbands of one wife.” As before, this is not speaking of having been married and then remarried, such as in the death of the wife. It is speaking of polygamy. No polygamist was to be considered for such a position. The implication is that polygamy was something Paul does not forbid other than for leaders. And he could not. As the Apostle to the Gentiles, his words were carried to cultures which allowed this practice. Since then, they have been carried throughout the world to various cultures, some of which practiced polygamy.

There is no instruction forbidding this practice anywhere in Scripture, except for these church leadership positions. Polygamy was acceptable in Jewish religion and culture. He could not forbid what his own culture allowed. Rather, this prohibition is given to church leaders – no polygamy was allowed for deacons to be accepted. Any cult which allows church leaders to have more than one wife is not in accord with Scripture, and it is to be rejected.

Next Paul notes that all deacons are to rule “their children and their homes well.” This is a close repeat of what is instructed for an overseer as well. To understand all this means, refer to the commentaries on verses 4 & 5.

Life application: Being a deacon carries specific requirements. These are mandated for the selection process, and they are to be maintained during all the time a person performs the duties of a deacon. Due to the stress of the job, it would be good for the church to lift these men up in prayer, and also to be willing to give them the much needed support and encouragement the job requires.

How good it is to be in Your presence Lord. When we we rise, You are there. When we face a troubled moment, You are there. In the times when all is rosy and enjoyable, we know that You are there as well. Through good times and bad times, it is so wonderful to know that You are with us. Your presence is wonderful, and our fellowship is sweet. Thank You, O God, for being with us at all times. Amen!

Friday, 15 December 2017

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 1 Timothy 3:11

This words of this verse are highly debated. What is certain is that one with presuppositions concerning what it says will look to justify their position based on the seeming ambiguity of Paul’s words. The Greek reads either, “Women, likewise, must be…” or “Wives, likewise, must be…” If this is referring to “women,” then it means there is a class of deaconesses being addressed. For those who hold this view, they look to the fact that no restriction on the wives of overseers was given, and so it naturally means that it cannot mean deacon’s wives are being singled out. However, Meyer’s NT commentary reads –

“The reason of the special exhortation would then be, not, as Heydenreich says, that even the domestic life of the deacons should be considered, but that the office of the deacons, consisting in the care of the poor and the sick, was of a kind in which their wives had to lend a helping hand. Hence we can explain why the wives of the bishops are not specially mentioned.”

That actually would sufficiently resolve why the wives of the overseers is not mentioned. The duty is one of service (scurrying through the dust, as the term “deacon” implies). The wife, if a deacon is married, assisting in this would be an obvious part of the his duties. Albert Barnes gives further reasons why “wives” is the correct interpretation –

“(1) it is the obvious and natural interpretation.

(2) the word here used – “wives” – is never used of itself to denote deaconesses.

(3) if the apostle had meant deaconesses, it would have been easy to express it without ambiguity; compare notes, Romans 16:1.

(4) what is here mentioned is important, whether the same thing is mentioned of bishops or not.

(5) in the qualifications of bishops, the apostle had made a statement respecting his family, which made any specification about the particular members of the family unnecessary. He was to be one who presided in a proper manner over his own house, or who had a well-regulated family; 1 Timothy 3:4-5. By a comparison of this passage, also, with Titus 2:3-4, which bears a strong resemblance to this, it would seem that it was supposed that the deacons would be taken from those who were advanced in life, and that their wives would have some superintendence over the younger females of the church. It was, therefore, especially important that they should be persons whose influence would be known to be decidedly favorable to piety. No one can doubt that the character of a woman may be such, that it is not desirable that her husband should be an officer in the church. A bad woman ought not to be entrusted with any additional power or influence.”

As a final note of confirmation concerning this, the “deacon” is specifically addressed in verses 8, 10, 12, and 13 as “deacons.” Verse 11 is instructive of verses 8 & 10 as pertaining to the deacon, meaning qualifications of the wife of the deacon being described. Verse 12 is instructive for the deacon based on what is said in verse 11. In other words, the words of verse 11 describe the necessary qualification of the wife. After that, the deacon is then forbidden from having more than one wife. A “deaconess” is never mentioned or alluded to. The entire passage speaks of what pertains to the deacon directly, or to his wife who directly affects his qualifications.

The entire tenor of Paul’s words, from the restrictions placed on women in Chapter 2, all the way through his letter to Titus, along with his precise words of 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35, shows that this is speaking of “wives” specifically, not “women” in general. And so for these wives, Paul says that they “must be reverent.” It is the same word used in verse 8. Like the husband, the wife of the deacon must be honorable and bear dignity. She should be “deeply respected because [she is] viewed as majestic (having gravity)” (HELPS Word Studies).

They are also to not be “slanderers.” This signifies a false accuser, or one who unjustly criticizes others in order to hurt them, even to the point of severing relations. When an article is used in front of this Greek word, it speaks of the devil.

Along with this, they are to be “temperate.” The word means “clear minded,” “sober,” “circumspect,” etc. It was used to describe the overseer in verse 2.

And finally, the wife of the deacon is to be “faithful in all things.” The word signifies “full of faith.” In other words, her faith in what God has done is to direct all aspects of her life.

Life application: It is obvious that a verse such as 1 Timothy 3:11 will be looked at differently by those with presuppositions or personal biases in order to establish a desired doctrine. When difficult verses like this come along, the more conservative view should be considered first. Secondly, the context of the entire passage should be considered, and thirdly, the rest of Scripture which is prescriptive in nature should be considered. In the end, a misinterpretation will eventually lead a congregation away from soundness of doctrine. Therefore, difficult passages must be carefully and prayerfully evaluated.

Lord God, when we come to difficult verses in Your word, and when we desire to know the truth of their meaning, please hear our prayers for clarity, lead us to sound explanations, and keep us from biases which will draw us from what is right and proper. May our evaluations of Your word be conservative, well-considered, and ever-cautious that they are sound and proper. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 14 December 2017

But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 1 Timothy 3:10

Paul, after stating the requirements of those who will fill the office of deacon, now tells how individuals are to then get to that point. He begins with, “But let these also first be tested.” The word “these” is speaking of men who otherwise appear to meet the qualifications laid out by him. There are different opinions on what “first be tested” means. Some think it means by filling the job in a probationary way at first. Others, by a searching inquiry of the general community. And still others look to it as being actually tested via a proper trial. The word used signifies “to try (test) to show something is acceptable” (HELPS Word Studies). It is not a test which focuses on disproving something, but rather approving. What makes the most sense is that all three of the options should be employed.

Some of the qualifications must be determined by being placed into the position to see if the person has the metal to match the requirements. Others can certainly only be determined by asking others about the known character of the individual. And how can a person’s proper doctrine be known by others unless they hold a trial of inquiry into what he plans on teaching? Due to the important nature of the duties, the more thorough of an examination that is made, the more likely the filling of the job will be by someone who is proper.

Only after these (whatever particular testing is done) are complete, does Paul say, “then let them serve as deacons.” The order is set: 1) read the requirements as laid out by Paul; 2) test the individual to fill the position, and then; 3) ordain the one who meets the requirements and passes the test. The ordination necessarily follows this logical progression to ensure the one selected has been found “blameless.” The Greek word signifies one who is not convictable when properly scrutinized, as if in a court of law. He is found without reproach, and is therefore suited to the job.

Life application: Are you aware of how the overseers and deacons are selected and evaluated in your church? If not, you should be. You have a right to know who is assigned in leadership positions, and how those selections were made. The qualifications are not secreted away, but are laid out in the Bible. Therefore, all people should have access to how the church is making these selections.

Lord God, the qualifications for appointment of elders and deacons are laid out in Your word. The process to ensure these qualifications are met is also laid out there. Because this is so, each person has a right and a responsibility to ensure that the process of selection is also done in accord with it. Help us to be responsible church-goers, willing to carefully evaluate the process of ordination so that only qualified men will serve. Surely, with this, things should go well, and You will be pleased. Amen.