I Timothy 3:1-2a

What does it mean to be blameless?

Recently we have concluded our study in the first two chapters of I Timothy and we have been able to look at some fairly simple concepts regarding worship, false teachers, etc.  We have also dealt with some controversial subjects such as:  the role of men and women within the church and more recently last week, the concluding verses of chapter 2 and the meaning of “women being saved through childbirth.”

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each of the qualifications as listed in I Timothy 3:2-13 and Titus 1:6-9.  Even though these are characteristics that are listed specifically for pastors, we believe that these are also characteristics that every Christian can put into practice.

In light of the context, why would the Apostle Paul give such a list?

Is it because people sometimes have misdirected affections (vs. 2)?

Is it because people sometimes have misguided values (vs.2-4)?

Is it because people sometimes have mistaken priorities (vs. 4-5)?

Is it because of a missing dynamic (vs. 2-5)?

This listing has some unique qualities within it:  1) It is a list of qualifications, not specific duties.  2) Most of the items are observable, outward behavior.  3) None of these items are distinctively or exclusively Christian in origin, but rather they represent the highest ideals of moral philosophy at this time within Greek culture.  Paul was concerned with Christian virtues as well as having virtues that reflected the highest ideals of the culture as well.

We want to look at the first characteristic of being blameless.  Some translations have this word translated as without reproach.  I prefer the term blameless because it carries the idea of without blame or accusation.  It literally means nothing to take hold upon. 

Sometimes this term can be misinterpreted as requiring perfection of some sort, but rather it requires three things:

1)      A perfect cleansing –

2)      A consistent growing –

3)      A persistent praying –

There should be nothing in our lives that Satan or the secular society can take hold of to criticize either our church or Jesus Christ.  Our conduct is to be unimpeachable, especially our moral conduct.

Positionally, this term occurs first within the list because it is a general, covering term for the following list of qualities or virtues that are found in the following verses. 

The main thrust of this term blameless is that of possessing or having a good reputation.  How important is a good reputation?  Proverbs tells us “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1)

We must remember that it takes time to build a great reputation, but also remember that a good reputation can be destroyed much quicker than it was built!

Resources

Gordon Fee, New International Biblical Commentary – 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus

            (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984).

Gene Getz, The Measure of A Man

            (Ventura:  Regal Books, 1995)

Douglas McLachlan, Unpublished Notes from I Timothy 3.