1 Timothy 3 (Nasb)

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1 Timothy is when Paul was free, II Timothy is when he went back to prison.

Sometimes people don’t want to step up as a leader. There was initial reluctance in Moses, awed readiness in Isaiah, skeptical cynicism in Nathanial and eager sincerity in Matthew. Maybe it can be good:

1 Timothy 5:22 - Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Overseer / bishop = episcopas (Catholic, etc.)

Elder = presbyter (like the Presbyterian Church (USA); polity is important for them (The political process in The Church)

Deacon = diaconos (congregational)

The cornerstone of Calvin’s form of church government is the office of elders. Page 197 The Church In History by BP Kuiper

Both Calvin and Luther provided for the care of the poor through the deacons. Page 200

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer (episkope, noun, feminine)

investigation, inspection, visitation that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad oversight overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church

it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, episkopos (noun, masculine)

an overseer a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church

then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife (monogamy / polygamy vs. divorce), temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious (inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative), but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

6: 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (In this book Paul is contrasting good and bad leaders.)

3: 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children (so therefore a parent) under control with all dignity

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) (If you are a good parent, you are a good leader.)

(Remember there were false teachers): 4: 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth vs. 3: 2-5, 12;

3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil (diabolos – prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, metaphorically applied to a man who by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him; something to be aware of this Halloween?)

7 And 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. (The devil lays traps for us. Do we see them? Do we fall into them?)

(The only other reference to overseer in the NT is) Titus 1: 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, (see above) not fond of sordid (dirty, filthy, wretched, squalid) gain,

8 Deacons (diakonos) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister the servant of a king a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use a waiter, one who serves food and drink

likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain (like above),

9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (If someone says they know it all, watch out!)

10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. (Therefore women can be deacons.)

12 Deacons (diakonos) must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

13 For those who have served well as deacons (diakonea) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon to minister to one, render ministering offices to be served, ministered unto to wait at a table & offer food and drink to the guests, of women preparing food to minister i.e. supply food and necessities of life to relieve one's necessities (e.g. by collecting alms), to provide take care of, distribute, the things necessary to sustain life to take care of the poor & the sick, who administer the office of a deacon in Christian churches to serve as deacons to minister to attend to anything, that may serve another's interests to minister a thing to one, to serve one or by supplying any thing obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.