Untitled Sermon (4)

B. The Deacons. 3:8–13 8. Likewise. Just as a pastor lives in a glass house and represents all a Christian should be, so does the deacon. He must be chosen for what he is and not what he has or who he is in the world’s eyes. There are musts for him as well as the pastor or overseer. Deacon means servant. They were initially chosen to wait on tables and minister to particular situations in the church (Acts 6:1 ff.). They are not to “run the church.” They are to relieve the pastor from tasks that would hinder him from giving himself to prayer and ministering the Word (Acts 6:4). Grave. On the positive side, the deacon must be worthy of respect. Not double-tongued. It simply means not saying one thing and meaning another. Not given to much wine. The biblical testimony is consistently against the use of strong drink. The practical application of the principle in modern society is total abstinence for all concerned. Not greedy of filthy lucre. The temptation is there even to the most godly deacon. It cannot be tolerated as it is the root of all other evil. 9. The faith. To be a deacon a man must be grounded in the faith. Belief is the basis of behavior. Pure conscience. His behavior must conform to his belief so that his conscience is pure. 10. Proved. By his belief and behavior. A new convert cannot be grounded and must not be thrust into prominence. 11. Wives. The construction and context seems to indicate “deaconesses” as Phoebe (Rom 16:1). To be sure these qualities must be in the wives of deacons as well or the deacon’s ministry would be blemished and hindered for not ruling his own house well. Grave. Same as the deacon (vs. 8). Not slanderers (Gr diabolos), the word for the devil. A slanderer is a devil indeed. Sober. Same as in 3:2. Faithful in all things. This covers a multitude of areas in practical matters of the church. 12. See verses 4 and 5 above. 13. Used the office … well. The motivation to do so is a positive promise. Purchase. Obtain or acquire is the sense. Good degree. It means standing or respect in the church. Not a promotion, for that would make the motives wrong. Great boldness. Confidence and assurance to speak with authority. This was sought after in the early church (Acts 4:13, 29ff.). C. The Purpose of This Charge. 3:14–16 14. Hoping to come unto thee shortly. Paul planned to come shortly with his apostolic authority to set things in order there, but the problems could not wait and so he writes his instructions. 15. The house of God … the church. This most assuredly refers to the local church in Ephesus. The emphasis here is in order and structure in a local church. There has to be order, or organization, a chain of command and a policy of correct behavior for God’s work to function properly. No Christian is an island unto himself, nor is anyone to do that which is right in his own sight. 16. Now comes one of the greatest, most profound statements of Scripture. The depths of the truths of verse 15 he calls the mystery of godliness. Mystery (Gr mystērion) does not mean mysterious but a “secret,” now being made known. It was used of Greek rites which were secret. Godliness. Godliness is “profitable” (4:8) and “great gain” (6:6). The doctrine which follows will produce this highly treasured godliness. Notice the couplets: “flesh” and “spirit”; “angels” and “nations”; and “world” and “glory.” Was manifest in the flesh. Christ the eternal Son became flesh (Jn 1:14), to provide salvation which was to be both preached and believed. No wonder it is called “so great salvation” (Heb 2:3). Justified in the Spirit. The flesh refers to His humanity and Spirit refers to His deity. He proved to be all He claimed. Seen of angels. The holy angels witnessed His every move, such as His birth (Lk 2:9), temptation (Mt 1:13), Gethsemane (Mt 26:53), resurrection (Mt 28:2), and ascension (Acts 1:10). Preached unto the Gentiles. This good news is to go to all the world (Mt 28:19). This is the Christian’s responsibility after Christ performed the work of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20ff.). Believed. Man’s responsibility is to respond to these great truths and believe. Received up into glory.

Edward E. Hindson and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds., KJV Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994), 2500–2501.