1 Timothy
Chapter 3
(What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study I conducted on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. AMP – Amplified Bible. MSG – Message Bible. BBE – Bible in Basic English. The main text I am using is the New American Standard Version.)
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS
All believers, even if they never plan to be church leaders, should strive to follow these guidelines because they are consistent with what God says is true and right. More is learned through living God’s Word than through lectures.
1 Ti 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.
“a trustworthy statement” – a true saying KJV & BBE – faithful and trustworthy saying AMP
A person can aspire to hold an office out of good or bad motives. The "trustworthy statement" Paul cited assumed good motives: the desire to do a worthy work, not personal gain.
“overseer” – bishop KJV – superintendent AMP
"Overseer" is a term that emphasizes this leader's leadership and management responsibilities and is evidently synonymous with "elder" and "pastor" or "shepherd". At the time Paul wrote the Pastorals the office of elder was common in the churches since he had appointed elders in churches that he had founded (Acts 14:23).
Paul puts his stamp of approval on the desire to become an overseer by saying, “it is a fine work he desires to do.”
1 Ti 3:2 – An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1 Ti 3:3 – not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
The qualifications of an overseer:
Above reproach – blameless KJV – a man of good name BBE – well-thought-of MSG
Husband on one wife – committed to his wife MSG
Temperate – vigilant KJV – self-controlled AMP –cool and collected MSG
Prudent – sober KJV – sensible AMP – accessible MSG – serious-minded BBE
Respectable – of good behavior KJV – having respect for order BBE
Hospitable – opening his house freely to guests BBE
Able to teach – He must know what he's talking about MSG
Not addicted to wine – not given to wine KJV – not be over-fond of wine MSG
Not pugnacious – no striker KJV – not a bully, quick-tempered, hot-headed AMP
Gentle – considerate AMP – patient KJV
Peaceable – not a brawler KJV – no fighter BBE
Free from the love of money – not covetous KJV – not greedy AMP – not money-hungry MSG
Manages his own household well – handle his own affairs well MSG – Ruling his house well BBE
Not a new convert – recent convert NIV – novice ABP – newly taken into the church BBE
Good reputation outside the church –
“above reproach” – means that he should possess no observable flaw in his character or conduct. That is, there should be no cause for justifiable criticism now or in his past that anyone could use to discredit him and bring reproach on the name of Christ and the church. The Greek word means "not to be laid hold of." No one is perfect, but an elder should be a person that no one can legitimately criticize for the way he lives.
“temperate” – means sober, vigilant, clear-headed, and well-balanced.
“prudent” – means self-controlled (NIV).
“respectable” – means orderly, of good behavior, dignified and decent in his conduct.
“hospitable” – means one who opens his home to others. This was an especially essential quality in the early church since there were few public accommodations for traveling ministers and much need to take in needy Christians temporarily.
“able to teach” – means apt, qualified, and competent to explain and defend the truth of God. This is the only qualification that involves ministry skill or gift. The style of communication undoubtedly varied according to individual gifts. Nevertheless, all would have been expected to teach only after prayerful meditation on the Word and practical application of the Word to their own lives.
"not addicted to wine" – means not a slave of drink, or drunkard.
"pugnacious" or "violent" describes a striker. This is a person who resorts to physical or verbal violence to vent his anger and or to settle disputes.
"gentle" means patient and forbearing.
“peaceable” describes a person who is not quarrelsome. He is not a fighter or a brawler – he is uncontentious.
"free from the love of money" should be obvious. Poor people as well as the rich may love money. Not all rich people love it and not all poor people seek it. The opposite of this attitude is contentment.
1 Ti 3:4 – He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
"Manages his own household well" means that he has control of his family. Family members submit to his leadership out of respect for him. The overseer’s responsibilities in the church are quite parental, so he should have proved his ability in the home before he receives larger responsibility in the church. The home is the proving ground for church leadership.
“keeping his children under control” is an example of managing his own household well.
Remember this passage: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is righteous. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), that it may become well with you and you may be upon the earth a long time.” Eph 6:1-3 God has always been concerned about family relationships.
1 Ti 3:5 – (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
Here is a good question – “If you can’t manage your own household – how do you expect to manage a church?
1 Ti 3:6 – and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
"Not a new (recent, NIV) convert" – requires a judgment call. How new? There should be evidence that he can function as an overseer without becoming conceited. Conceit is what put Satan where he is.
1 Ti 3:7 – 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.
"A good reputation outside the church" – with unbelievers is essential so that he will not bring reproach on the name of Christ and the church. Does he pay his bills? Does he have a good reputation among unsaved people with whom he does business? He should.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS
Deacon means "one who serves." This position was possibly begun by the apostles in the Jerusalem church (Act 6:1-6) to care for the physical needs of the congregation—at that time, the needs of the Greek-speaking widows. Deacons were leaders in the church, and their qualifications resemble those of the elders.
1 Ti 3:8 – Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
“deacon” – servants (MSG) – other translations use: Helpers, Church Officers, Ministers,
The qualifications of deacon:
men of dignity
not double-tongued
not addicted to much wine
not fond of sordid gain
holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience
husbands of only one wife
children of good manners
household of good manners
1 Ti 3:9 “holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” – Not just believing in the mystery of faith but holding to them. This describes a man of conviction who behaves in harmony with his beliefs. "The mystery of the faith" is the body of doctrine that God has given us by special revelation. Today "mystery" implies knowledge withheld, but in the Bible it often means knowledge revealed.
1Ti 3:10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
All leaders should be worthy of respect. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. The reason for the testing is to see if they are ready to take on the responsibilities of the office. Integrity comes out of a combination of three things – character + truth + testing.
ADVICE TO WOMEN
1 Ti 3:11 – Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
Here in the midst of speaking about the qualifications of deacons we find a verse on “advice to women”. This seems strange to me. But some translations see this verse as speaking to the wives of deacons. See below:
“Likewise, also their (deacons) wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.” (NET)
“Even so must their (deacons) wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” (KJV)
Given its context, there is a strong argument for this verse to refer to the wives of deacons.
The NET translation notes also presents another option:
Or “also deaconesses.” The Greek word here is ???a??a? (gunaikas) which literally means “women” or “wives.” It is possible that this refers to women who serve as deacons, “deaconesses.” The evidence is as follows: (1) The immediate context refers to deacons; (2) the author mentions nothing about wives in his section on elder qualifications (1Ti 3:1-7); (3) it would seem strange to have requirements placed on deacons’ wives without corresponding requirements placed on elders’ wives; and (4) elsewhere in the NT, there seems to be room for seeing women in this role (cf. Rom 16:1 and the comments there).
It should be noted that in their final translation the NET Bible chose the option that this verse referred to wives of deacons. That being the case, when a person is called as a deacon, it is just not the deacon that is looked at but also his wife. The wife should also be dignified, not a malicious gossip, but temperate, and faithful in all things.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS CONTINUES
1 Ti 3:12 – Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.
This verse is not speaking about having the “perfect” family – but that the father is striving to do his best to lead all the members of the family in a godly manner.
1 Ti 3:13 - For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Here is the reason to set the qualifications and to serve well as a deacon. Deacons can obtain for themselves a high standing and confidence in the faith of Christ Jesus. All Christians should strive of godliness. All Christians should strive to be a positive influence to everyone around them. But the position of deacon is a position of great responsibility and honor.
THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
1 Ti 3:14 – I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
Here Paul is writing instructions down for Timothy in order to teach him. In so doing – we too can be instructed.
1 Ti 3:15 – but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
The household of God is the church.
The church is a body not a business.
The church is an organism not an organization.
For a Christian to try to survive outside the church is an act of disassociating themselves from the family of God. God has made us for relationships. We are to have a relationship with Him but we are also to have a relationship with fellow believers in Christ. In fact, we are commanded to meet with other believers (Heb. 10:23-25) so that we and the church can be strengthened.
Paul speaks of the church as the: “pillar and support” – “pillar and ground” KJV – “pillar and foundation” AMP – “pillar and base” BBE – “support and bulwark” NET
Unless the foundation is solid – the building will fall.
1 Ti 3:16 – 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.
Here we find an early confession of faith. It consists of six points:
1. He who was revealed in the flesh
2. Vindicated in the Spirit
3. Seen by angels
4. Proclaimed among the nations
5. Believed on in the world
6. Taken up in glory.
Constable says of this verse:
“The six strophes probably describe Christ's (1) incarnation, (2) resurrection, (3) post-resurrection sightings (probably by angelic messengers), (4) proclamation by the disciples (between His resurrection and ascension), (5) regeneration of those who heard and believed this witness, and (6) ascension. This interpretation has in its favor the chronological sequence of Christ's entire earthly ministry.
Other interpreters view these descriptions as follows. (1) God revealed Jesus Christ in flesh (human nature) in His incarnation, and (2) the Holy Spirit vindicated His claims in His resurrection. (3) Human messengers saw and worshipped Him following His resurrection and ascension into heaven, and (4) His disciples proclaimed Him to all people through the worldwide preaching of the gospel. (5) Those who accept the gospel on earth believe on Him, and (6) God received and exalted Him in glory following His ascension.”
There may be other interpretations of these six points, but I think it is clear that these six points reveal to us the glory of Jesus. This verse affirms the humanity and divinity of Christ. In this verse the heart of the Good News is proclaimed and this is "the great mystery of our faith".
