Godly Character Is The Qualification For Overseers: Bishops, Elders, Pastors. Plus Deacons. That Also Is A Worthwhile Pursuit For All Believers.
OUTLINE:
OVERSEERS. (3:1–7).
DEACONS. (3:8–13).
BELIEVERS. (3:14–16).
CONTEXT:
Paul Wrote This Letter To Timothy:
To Help Him Stand Firm In The Midst Of False Teachers.
To Focus On True Doctrine To Keep The Church Safe.
To Guard Against Being Distracted: Myths, Genealogies.
True
Doctrine Took Form In Chapter 2:
Paul Explained The Primary Purpose Of Prayer.
Prayer Exists So That The Gospel Will Advance.
Remember:
Pray For Things All Mankind To Be Saved
And To Pray For Our Political Leaders.
Paul
Further Explained:
There Are Special Aspects Of Orderly Worship.
There Are Specific Roles Of Men In Leading The Church.
OVERSEERS. Bishops, Elders, Pastors: (3:1–7).
DEACONS. (3:8–13).
BELIEVERS. (3:14–16).
1
TIMOTHY 3:1–7
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEER:
ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT:
THE TERMS BISHOP, ELDER, PASTOR ARE SYNONYMOUS.
BISHOP MEANS OVERSEER.
ELDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE CHURCH.
(ACTS 20:17, 28; 1 PETER 5:1–3).
ELDER IS GREEK FOR PRESBUTES MEANING: AN OLD MAN.
MATURE PEOPLE WITH SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE.
(TWO NAMES FOR THE SAME OFFICE, TITUS 1:5, 7)
PASTOR MEANS SHEPHERD: LEADS AND CARES FOR THE FLOCK.
Church
Organization Was Quite Simple In Apostolic Days:
There Were Pastors (Elders, Bishops) And Deacons (Phil. 1:1).
A PLURALITY OF ELDERS:
OVERSEEING THE WORK OF EACH CHURCH,
SOME INVOLVED IN RULING THE ORGANIZATION.
SOME INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM OF RULES / POLITY.
OTHERS INVOLVED IN TEACHING.
BUT THESE MEN HAD TO BE QUALIFIED.
It Was Good For A Growing Believer:
To Aspire To The Office Of Bishop,
To Achieve It Was To Develop Christian Character
To Meet The Following Requirements.
To Become An Elder/Bishop Was A Serious Decision.
NOTE:
All Of The Qualifying Adjectives In This Passage Are Masculine.
WHILE THERE IS AMPLE SCOPE FOR FEMALES IN MINISTRY IN A LOCAL ASSEMBLY, THE OFFICE OF OVERSEER IS NOT GIVEN TO WOMEN.
PAUL
GAVE 16 QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MAN
TO MEET.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS ARE EXPECTED.
THESE ARE FOR THE OFFICE OF:
BISHOP / ELDER / PASTOR.
(1) BLAMELESS (V. 2A).
CLEAN-HANDED.
ABOVE REPROACH.
UNIMPEACHABLE.
(2)
THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE (V. 2B).
NOT DIVORCED.
NOT REMARRIED.
Excludes In The Case Of The Death Of A Wife.
An OVERSEER Who Has Been Divorced:
Opens Himself And The Church To Criticism From Outsiders.
Can A Dedicated Christians Who Have Been Divorced And Remarried Serve In Other Offices In The Church ?
Yes But They Are Disqualified From Being OVERSEERS.
(3)
VIGILANT (V. 2C).
WATCHFUL.
ALERT.
LEVEL HEADED.
GOOD JUDGMENT.
(4)
SOBER (V. 2D).
SERIOUS ATTITUDE.
EARNEST ABOUT THE WORK.
HOLDS GOSPEL MESSAGE IN HIGHT ESTEEM.
(5)
OF GOOD BEHAVIOR (V. 2E).
ORDERLY.
ORGANIZED IN THINKING.
ORGANIZED IN LIVING.
ORGANIZED IN TEACHING AND PREACHING.
MODEST.
(6)
GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY (V. 2F).
LOVES THE STRANGER.
GIVES A HAND TO OTHERS.
(7) APT TO TEACH (V. 2G).
TEACHER OF THE WORD OF GOD.
PREACHER OF THE WORD OF GOD.
CAREFUL STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD.
(8)
NOT GIVEN TO WINE (V. 3A).
NOT GIVEN TO WINE IN EXCESS.
Excludes Wine For Medicinal Purposes.
NOTE:
The Jewish People Diluted Their Wine With Water.
It Was To Make Sure It Was Not Too Strong.
It Was Because Water Was Not Pure In Those Days.
It Was Healthier To Drink Diluted Wine In Moderation.
A Godly Pastor Would Want To Consider Weaker Brother.
(9)
NO STRIKER (V. 3B).
NOT CONTENTIOUS.
NOT COMBATIVE.
NOT ARGUMENTATIVE.
NOT CONTRAVERSIAL.
(10)
NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LOVE OF MONEY (V. 3C).
NOT PRONE TO MISUSE MINISTRY FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
NOT TO GAIN PROSPERITY THROUGH TWISTING THEOLOGY
(11)
PATIENT AND GENTLE(V. 3D).
WILL LISTEN TO OTHERS.
WILL TAKE CRITICISM WITHOUT REACTING.
WILL PERMIT OTHERS TO MAKE DECISIONS.
(12)
NOT A BRAWLER (V. 3E).
MAKES PEACE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
IS NOT SHORT TEMPERED.
(13)
NOT COVETOUS (V. 3F).
DOES NOT COVET MONEY.
DOES NOT COVET POPULARITY.
DOES NOT COVET A LARGE MINISTRY.
DOES NOT COVET SEE FAME AN SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT.
(14) A GODLY FAMILY (VV. 4–5).
MARRIED WITH CHILDREN IS USUALLY GOD'S WILL.
CHILDREN OF OVERSEER MUST RESPECT HIM.
YOUNG CHILDREN MUST OBEY HIM.
FAMILY GIVES STRENGTH TO OVERSEER LEADERSHIP.
LOVE, TRUTH, DISCIPLINE ARE DEMONSTRATED IN HOME.
MUST BE CONSISTENT AT HOME AND CHURCH WITH FAMILY.
CARES FOR THE NEEDS OF THE HOME AND THE CHURCH.
(15) NOT A NOVICE (V. 6).
MUST NOT BE A NEW CHRISTIAN.
MUST BE MATURE IN THE FAITH.
MUST USE GOOD JUDGMENT WHEN ACCEPTING A CHURCH.
(16) A GOOD TESTIMONY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH (V. 7).
MUST HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION OUTSIDE CHURCH.
MUST BE TRUSTWORTHY IN BUSINESS.
1
TIMOTHY 3:8–13
QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS:
The Practical Servants Of The Church.
DEACON IS FROM THE ROOT WORD: DIACONATE.
DIAKONOS WAS THE SERVER AT TABLE.
DIAKONEIN MEANS TO ENGAGE IN SERVICE OF SOCIALLY.
NOTE: DEACONS DON'T EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER PEOPLE.
TO MINISTER THROUGH SERVICE ESPECIALLY TO:
THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS.
(8b-12) Deacon Must Be:
4 AREAS EMPHASIZED:
1. DEACONS MUST HAVE SELF-CONTROL.
2. DEACONS MUST HAVE ORTHODOX CONVICTIONS.
3. DEACONS MUST HAVE BEEN TESTED AND APPROVED.
4. DEACONS MUST HAVE AN IRREPROACHABLE HOME LIFE.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Reverent.
Not Double-Tongued.
Not Given To Much Wine.
Not Greedy For Money.
Holding The Mystery Of The Faith With A Pure Conscience.
FIRST BE TESTED.
THEN LET THEM SERVE AS DEACONS.
BEING FOUND BLAMELESS.
Likewise Their Wives Must Be Reverent,
Not Slanderers,
Temperate,
Faithful In All Things.
Husbands Of One Wife.
Rules Their Children And Their Own Houses Well.
FAITHFUL
DEACONS GAIN 2 THINGS:
A PROMISE FOR DEACONS.
For Those Who Have Served Well As Deacons:
THE FIRST:
AN EXCELLENT STANDING.
THE SECOND:
GREAT ASSURANCE IN THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS (13).
1 TIMOTHY 3:14–16
QUALIFICATIONS FOR BELIEVERS.
GODLY CHARACTER IS NOT JUST HELPFUL FOR THOSE WHO ARE OVERSEERS OR DEACONS.
CHARACTER IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH.
Instructions No Doubt Refer To What Has Come Before.
The Exhortations Refer To What Is To Follow.
The
Clearly Stated Purpose Of These Instructions Is To Inform The
Ephesian Congregation How People Ought To Conduct Themselves In God’s
Household.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE CHURCH IS THE PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH?
“If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
First
Timothy 3:15 Is The End Of Paul’s Description Of Proper Conduct For
Church Members, Including Leaders.
He
Nowhere Mentions A Unique Power Of These Leaders To Make Doctrinal Or
Interpretive Decisions.
Nor Does He Declare Members Of The Body Incapable Of Making Those Interpretations Themselves.
Paul Specifically Says That His Written Words Are What Define Proper Conduct.
Paul Is Assigning Authority To The Written Word.
Paul Explicitly Tells Timothy To Oppose Those Who Teach Unsound Doctrine.
Paul Refers To Those Proclaiming The Gospel As Stewards Of The Truth, Not The Source Of It.
Paul Explicitly Says There Is Only One “true” Foundation For Our Faith, Which Is Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11),
“THE CHURCH” IS NOT THE SOURCE OF TRUTH OR THE CREATOR OF TRUTH.
“THE CHURCH” IS WHAT HOLDS UP AND HOLDS FIRM THE TRUTH IN THE WORLD.
“The Church,” The Entire Population Of Christian Believers,
The PILLAR And BUTRESS—Not The Source—Of God’s Truth.
Paul Cited The Content Of This Truth In The Form Of An Excerpt From An Early Hymn About Christ, Who Is The Essence Of The MYSTERY:
THE
FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE EXCERPT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. He Who Was Revealed In The Flesh:
INCARNATION.
2. Was Vindicated In The Spirit:
RESURRECTION.
3. Seen By Angels:
ASCENSION TO HEAVEN.
4. Proclaimed Among The Nations:
EVANGELIZATION.
5. Taken Up In Glory:
ACCESSION TO HIS HEAVENLY THRONE.
No comments:
Post a Comment