1 Timothy 3

In 1 Timothy 3, Paul follows on his teaching prayer and the order of men and women in the church with the order of the church itself in the qualifications of overseers (elders) and deacons.

Paul opens the passage in a very interesting way, "It is a trustworthy statement." Paul uses this clause four times in the New Testament, all in the two letters to Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:15 - It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

1 Timothy 3:1 - It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

1 Timothy 4:8-10 - For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

2 Timothy 2:11-12 - It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

In three instances, Paul is is talking about salvation, value of godliness, and life in Christ. But in the instance here, Paul is talking about the leadership of the church. As sure as our salvation is, the office of overseer in the church is a fine work. It may not seem like much, but put alongside the other statements where Paul uses the phrase "a trustworthy statement" that is staggering.

Further, we can infer that it is a good thing for a man to want to be an overseer for fine work is done in that office.

Perhaps it is inherent in our culture or we are too humble if that were possible, but it seems many are afraid to aspire to the office of overseer because of the high qualifications that are listed by Paul in v2-7:

• above reproach
• husband of one wife
• temperate
• prudent
• respectable
• hospitable
• able to teach
• not addicted to wine
• not pugnacious
• gentle
• peacable
• free from the love of money
• manages his own household well
• keeping his children under control with all dignity
• not a new convert
• good reputation with those outside the church

Whew!

I'm not going to get into each and every one of these, but will note a few.
Note that Paul says "able to teach" in v2, but he doesn't say " spiritually gifted in teaching." Nor does he say "preach"- Paul just says "teach," which includes things such as teaching Bible Studies, Sunday School, seminars and, of course, preaching. Hence, elders aren't required to be able to preach, but need to be able to teach.

Verse 4 says, "He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity." The NET Bible translates the end of verse 4 as, "keep his children in control without losing his dignity." So the elder must keep his children under control with all dignity. How many times have we seen parents in public completely lose their dignity while trying to keep their children under control?

I want to spend more time on Verses 6 and 7 which I think are very, very key to being an elder-

6and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Paul says that an elder should not be a new convert, which seems reasonable enough, but the exact reason he gives is very telling of what the heart of an elder should be. The elder shouldn't become conceited (Webster defn: having or showing an excessively high opinion of oneself) or he will fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Ezekiel 28:11-19, God speaks of Satan, referring to him as the king of Tyre. A beautiful angel who turned to violence and sin and was proud and corrupted his wisdom because of his beauty. Satan was cast down from the mountain of God and was consumed with fire. This is the condemnation uncurred by the devil. Also see, Isaiah 14:12-15 and Revelation 12, 20.

In 1 Timothy 3:7, Paul mentions the snare of the devil. Paul refers to snare of the devil also in 2 Timothy 2-

24The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

25with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

In both passages, Paul is warning against falling into the snare of the devil and both passages relate to those outside the church. In 1 Timothy 3:7, he says that elders must have a good reputation with those outside the church. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul's telling Timothy how to relate to those outside the church, "those who are in opposition." The snare of the devil isn't referring to what happened to the devil, rather the devil's trap is to ruin our reputation and relationship with those outside the church, thereby ruining our witness for Christ.

I will not spend time on 1 Timothy 3:8-13, but I did note a few things to think about-

1. Paul doesn't mention that Deacons need to be able to teach.
2. These men must first be tested to be beyond reproach (v10), but not mentioned for elders. Look at how beyond/above reproach is used differently regarding elders and deacons.
   
3. What is the meaning of v13? Why doesn't Paul say this about elders?

Finally, Paul tells Timothy why he's writing all this. In v15, "so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God." A key word here is "ought." In the Webster's there are a range of meanings for "ought"-

—used to express obligation <ought to pay our debts>, advisability <ought to take care of yourself>, natural expectation <ought to be here by now>, or logical consequence ought to be infinity>

In Greek, this is the word "dei" meaning "it is binding" or "it must." Hence this is much stronger than "advisable." This was Paul's definite expectation of how one would behave at church and "one" is referring to the elders and deacons of the church. Also, note that Paul doesn't say "If you have elders and/or deacons, then..." No. For Paul it was a foregone conclusion that the church would be lead by elders and deacons. In Titus, Paul's first task for Titus is to appoint elders not just in a church, but in every city (where a church was planted).

Paul the evangelist closes the chapter talking about the church- "the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" It is key that Paul refers to the church as the pillar and support of truth for in Chapter 4, Paul instructs Timothy guard against false teaching and teach the truth. In classic Paul fashion, all he's written culminates in Christ in the last verse-

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.

The life of Christ in 6 lines! Remember Paul launches into the gospel at the end of chapter 1, and again at the beginning of chapter 2! He does it again here in chapter 3!