1 Timothy 3:1-16

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: 1 Timothy

Rusty's Notes

63 AD
- Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.

Crisis in Ephesus
Provocation: In this letter, Paul reminds Timothy how the believers ought to behave themselves in the community (3:15).

• He encourages Timothy to be faithful to his ministry, and exhorts him to combat the proto-gnostic heresy that is spreading like a cancer in Ephesus.
• Paul gives Timothy practical instructions on how to do it.
  • Paul calls for the need to select new overseers (3:1ff) and exhorts the church to give respect to those overseers who are serving well (5:17ff).

 
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS AND DEACONS
1 TIMOTHY 3
1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

• “aspires” – sets their hearts to
• “Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
• “Elder” is the translation of the Greek word presbutes, which means “an old man.”[1]
• Probably the overseer served over a single house-church with the group of overseers from within a city constituting “the overseers.”[2]
• This is not a position that one tries to qualify himself for or applies to.
• It is one that comes natural because of character and situation.
• Paul did not take this lightly. He gave 15 qualifications for the role of Pastor/Elder

2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. 4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

1. Blameless – “Above reproach” - This word literally means “nothing to take hold upon”

- No man living is sinless, but we must strive to be blameless, or “above reproach
- Criticized publicly.
- Reputation is important
- Protect yourself from criticism

1. The husband of one wife – Paul could be referring to polygamy even though that was a given even to be included in the church.
   • Paul could be talking about being divorced and remarried. But he could have also used the term for divorce.
   • It is better to see Paul having demanded that the church leader be faithful to his one wife.[3]
2. Self-controlled/vigilant – Keep your head in all situations.

- Sensible judgment in all things.
- Cool and collectible

1. Prudent/sober – Serious attitude about certain things.
   • Do not cheapen the Gospel message with a foolish behavior.
   • Trustworthy and sensible
   • Balanced in judgment
2. Respectable – Demands dignity and orderliness in behavior.
   • Orderly outward life is a reflection of inward stability.
3. Hospitable – Necessary as Christians traveled and spread the Gospel message.
   • The task for caring for missionaries and strangers was respectable in both the Christian and Greek cultures.
4. Able teacher – demands competence and skill in communicating Christian truth.
   • One who can teach others needs also a willingness to accept teaching.
   • An overseer needed the ability both to explain Christian doctrine and to refute or oppose error.
5. Not addicted to wine – The word describes a person who sits long with the cup and thus drinks to excess.
   • The fact that Paul advised Timothy to use wine for medicinal purposes (1 Tim. 5:23) indicates that total abstinence was not demanded of believers.
   • Sad to say, some of the members of the Corinthian church got drunk, even at the love feast that accompanied the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:21).
6. Not a bully but gentle – Paul was actually referring to a physical displays.
   • Do not punch people.
   • Gentle is in reference to compassionate in how you communicate.
7. Not Quarrelsome – Peaceful attitude
   • This was important to combat false teaching
8. Not Greedy – It is possible to use the ministry as an easy way to make money, if a man has no conscience or integrity.
   • Covetous pastors always have “deals” going on outside their churches, and these activities erode their character and hinder their ministry. One who manages his own household completely
9.  Having children under control with all dignity - The verb for “manage” carries the idea of governing, leading, and giving direction to the family.
   • The term demands an effective exercise of authority bolstered by a character of integrity and sensitive compassion.
   • Its use in v. 5 with the verb “take care of” defines the quality of leadership as related more to showing mercy than to delivering ultimatums.
   • It demands primarily a character and manner of discipline that develop a natural respect.
10. Manage the church – A pastor will manage the church just as he does his own family.
11. Not a new convert - it would be important to select leaders with enough maturity to avoid the pitfalls of pride.
    • The danger of appointing a recent convert to a place of leadership is that he may become a victim of conceit that comes with his important new position.
    • To be “conceited” (typhoō) means to be blinded.
    • The pride in a prominent position produces a blindness that blunts spiritual alertness.[4]
12. Good reputation - The “good reputation” is literally a “good witness.”
    • This is an appeal that the church leader have a good name and standing in the wider community.
    • The mention of the leader’s name should not cause flare ups among the opponents of the gospel.

The behavior of the leader should provide an example of integrity and commitment to the gospel he professes.[5]
8 Deacons,

• The English word deacon is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos, which simply means “servant.”
• It is likely that the origin of the deacons is recorded in Acts 6.
• The first deacons were appointed to be assistants to the Apostles.
• In a local church today deacons relieve the pastors/elders of other tasks so that they may concentrate on the ministry of the Word, prayer, and spiritual oversight.[6]

likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical (no gossip), not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. 11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. 12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

• I do not refer to our people as deacons (other than Luke Dunnuck).
• But I do refer to our people as though they are deacons/servants.
  
  

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that 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. 16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit, (empowered)
seen by angels, (messengers)
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.[7]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 219). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 113). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 114). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 221). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 3:1–16). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.