September 20, 2009
Morning Service

I Timothy 3

 

Review:

1.      In chapter one Paul has charged Timothy to confront those that are teaching another gospel than that which Paul had taught.  He charged him to war the good warfare.

2.      Paul told the church at Thessalonica that he would send Timothy to comfort, and establish them in the faith.  Timothy’s work was to encourage UNITY of the teaching, and no rebellion, or false teaching.  When this type of atmosphere is present, there is COMFORT, AND ESTABLISHMENT. 

3.      Last Sunday in chapter two we saw what God through the Apostle Paul had given Timothy to pass on to the churches in respect to prayer in public worship, an the woman’s roll in public worship.

 

Today we are looking at chapter 3, let’s begin.

 

1Ti 3:1-16 KJVR  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 

• Here we find the first office mentioned in Paul’s teachings. 
• BISH'OP, n.

1. An overseer; a spiritual superintendent, ruler or director; applied to Christ.

Ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls. 1. Pet.2.

 

2. In the primitive church, a spiritual overseer; an elder or presbyter; one who had the pastoral care of a church.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

·        A bishop then must be blameless, This indeed would be a special person.  To find someone blameless.

·        the husband of one wife, This would eliminate a woman, and also a single man.

·        vigilant,  means to be watchful.  Watchful in spiritual things.  Watching for the return of our Savior.  Watching for the well being of the Christians.

·        sober,  “without excesses of any kind,” “moderate and discreet”

·        of good behavior,  I think we can understand good behavior.

·        given to hospitality,  host  “love of strangers, “guest,” “friend”; “innkeeper”

·        apt to teach;  this actually should arrive from the five fold ministry that Paul tells us of in the Ephesian letter:  Eph 4:11 KJVR  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

(3)  Not given to wine, Which means that wine cannot have control of him. 

·        no striker, One apt to inflict blows or hit another.

·         not greedy of filthy lucre; Gain in money or goods; profit; usually in an ill sense, or with the sense of something base or unworthy.  No lover of money.  Letting not the desire for money control you.

·        but patient, Not easily provoked; calm under the sufferance of injuries or offenses; not revengeful.

·        not a brawler,  “not contentious”  “not a brawler,”

·        not covetous;  A strong desire after the possession of worldly things, It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness. 

(4)  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?) 

·        Does this mean also that the Bishop should have children?  I don’t think so.  Just that if he does they should not be unruly, or do anything that would bring reproach on him.

·        And the idea being, if a man can’t run his own household, how will he be able to control the church, which has many households.

 

 

(6)  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 

·        Novice doesn’t necessarily mean someone young.  Even an elderly person could be a novice.  It means someone that hasn’t been in the faith very long.

(7)  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without;

·        Here is a place where you must discern the spirits.  It is only natural for worldly, or carnal people to speak evil of a spiritual person.   Jesus said, Luk 6:26  Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

·        However, The idea is, that he must have a fair reputation with them for integrity of character. His life must be in their view upright.

·        Peter said this;  1Pe 2:12 KJVR  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The reason being;

lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

·        Satan will use every trick of the his trade in order to bring disgrace, and mistrust on someone, and gossip, or trying to defame a person is one of his best.

 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS:  SERVANT Referring that this also is an office in the church.

We know by Acts chapter 6 the reason for this office.

Act 6:1-3 KJVR  And in those days, when the number of the disciples were multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.  (2)  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  (3)  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Peter said, you choose them, and we will appoint them, by laying our hands on them, and charging them before God, to be faithful to this calling.

 

Paul gives very similar qualifications for the Deacons;

(8)  Likewise must the deacons be grave, ( means a serious person )not doubletongued, ( meaning not saying one thing to one person, and something else to someone else ) not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;  (9)  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.  ( being sure of what they believe )  (10)  And let these also first be proved; ( not a novice )  then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 

Then qualifications for the wives of Deacon’s;

(11)  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.  (12)  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  (13)  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

(14)  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:  (15)  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

·        We end the chapter with this mystery.

(16)  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

·        IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.

·        THIS CAN BE NO OTHER THAN OUR LORD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

·        THIS WORD GOD, TOOK ON HUMAN FLESH, TO PRESENT HIMSELF AS THE VERY SON OF GOD, AND TO DIE ON CALVARY FOR MAN’S SINS.   HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THE ATONING WORK OF CALVARY?