Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Tim 3:1-7

It was great to celebrate Easter with you all last week.

This week we will be getting back to where we left off in 1 Timothy looking at Paul's instructions to Timothy on Church Conduct.

Today we will be in 1 Tim 3.

We are looking at Paul's epistle or letter to his younger disciple Timothy:

* Straightaway, Paul charges Timothy to remain in Ephesus.

No doubt a tough place to minister because it was a Roman city, a worldly environment with mass idolatry of the goddess Diana.

* And, this young 30-35 year old Pastor Timothy was overseeing a number of house churches in Ephesus.

* There were people drifting, and Timothy was charged to fight the good fight, and to confront these false teachers to teach no other doctrine.

* Paul himself was not guilt free...as he reflected on his own testimony- a former persecutor of the church.

Yet, God extended grace to call him into ministry.

* And, Paul has a lot to say about church conduct.

* He gave instructions on prayer, roles of men and women in the church, on authority and order in the church.

Now in Chapter 3 Paul will focus on the Qualifications of the Overseers, first looking at the Bishop, and then the Deacons.

Let's Pray and then we will read 1 Tim 3:1-7

Verse 1: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work."

1. "This is a faithful saying"- Paul starts this chapter with his 2nd of 5 "Faithful sayings" in the Pastoral Epistles.

The Greek translation is "Faithful is the saying"- It's a trustworthy statement or a true saying.

2. If a man desires...he desires a good work:

3.

There are many variants in the Greek for the word "desire"...we see 2 variants in this verse.

4. 1st "Desire" oregō: This variant is only seen 3x in the New Testament, and the word can be defined "to stretch out, to reach after."

It gives us the image of taking the action of stretching one's self out in order to touch or grasp something.

There is some effort and energy expended; this person doesn't give up, but reaches out for that which they long for.

5. 2 "Desire" epithumeō: This variant is defined "to set one's heart upon; to lust after; to covet."

This is not so much describing the action, but moreso the feeling...perhaps the motive.

6.

This desire could be framed in the negative...such as coveting.

But, in this verse, the desire is a positive or a good desire...

7. If a man is stretching out for, if he is reaching for the position of a bishop, his heart is set upon a good work.

8. Bishop- with my Catholic upbringing, when I think of a Bishop, I think of an older man with long robes, a pointy hat and a shepherd's crook.

9. episkopē- def. a visitation; an investigation; oversight.

The idea is overseership, the office of an elder.

10.

In the Bible, we often see the words "Bishop" and "Elder" used interchangeably.

11.

In Acts 20:17, Paul calls for the elders (presbuteros) of the church, and in verse 28 he addresses these same men as overseers (episkopos).

12. epi "over" skopos "watcher"- overwatcher or overseer.

13.

In Tit 1:5, we see Paul instruct Titus to appoint elders (presbuteros) in every city, and 2 verses later refers to the same men as Bishops (episkopos).

14.

And note...Elders and Bishops...plural.

There were to be Elders/Bishops in every city...many High Churches do not have Bishops in every city because this position has been elevated.

To prove my point, there are over 19,000 cities in the United States.

Thare are only 265 active U.S. Catholic Bishops.

Definitely not one Bishop per city.

15.

There is a tendency to want to place the position of the Bishop above the position of the Elder, and I personally struggle with this mentally probably because of my Catholic upbringing, but in Paul's day this was not the case.

16.

Lange said, "As to its real meaning, it is proven beyond doubt that in the days of the Apostle the [Bishop] ἐπίσκοποι had no higher rank than the [Elder] πρεσβύτεροι."

-Lange

17.

Another scholar said, "Elders make up all the church office roles: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, [I would say that is one role pastor/teacher; poimēn kai didaskalos...there's a Granville Sharp rule there] miracle workers, healers, and administrators.

However, the nt usage of episkopos and presbyter is fluid and flexible and does not support a rigid division of the two offices."

-FSB

18.

The Greek words for elder (presbuteros) and bishop (episkopos) should remind you of a couple denominations and forms of church government.

19.

Presbyterian derives from presbuteros, the word for elder, and the Presbyterian church's source of authority is from a synod of presbyters or elders.

20.

Episcopal derives from episkopos, the word for Bishop, and the Episcopal church's source of authority is it's college of Bishops.

21.

Today, there SO many forms and variations today of church government, which in one sense has caused some division, but also gives the church strength.

If we had just one model, it would be really easy for Satan to figure us out and defeat us.

But, we can't figure ourselves out.

There are so many denominations and non-denominations and variations of the church, that the enemy has no chance to figure us out.

22.

One last soapbox, it is also interesting to see how the Holy Spirit through Paul gave us these positions and functions of Bishop and Elder for the church, and what we have done with it from a hierarchical standpoint.

23.

Church hierarchy began to formulate early in the 2nd Century A.D. by the church father Ignatius.

He started to assign a three-tiered hierarchy with one bishop (episkopos) overseeing a council of elders (presbyterion) and a group of deacons (diakonoi).

24.

Today, In some denominations, there has become quite the complex hierarchy:

25.

In Catholicism for example the tops guy is...the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops (with at least 4 subtitles of Bishops- Cardinal Archbishops, Archbishops, Diocesan (Diocese-an) Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops), Priests, and Deacons.

And, there are other positions as well such as Abbots, Monks, Nuns, and The Laity.

26.

In their defense, The Catholic church is massive worldwide and likely some of this complexity is to have order, and I can appreciate this, but man, it is so far removed from the original Biblical NT language.

27.

I do think there is also a danger in these massive hierarchy's because the higher positions get too much esteem or reverence, and there can be a prideful danger with this.

28.

The role of Bishop biblically speaking is much more fluid and generic than that presented today by some of the more traditional churches today.

29.

You will never see on our website, or on the website of most non-denominational churches any person with the title of Bishop, and it's because of what that position has become and the association with that position.

30.

But, we do capture the biblical intent to have an overseer, people who are watching over the church.

And, for all of you present today, you will have this responsibility as you serve in your respective roles.

31.

When Paul wrote about Bishops and Elders, I am confident he had none of this complexity in mind.

It was simple.

There were to be men overseeing the house churches and work of the Lord, but many people have taken and interpreted how the church should be run.

32.

Lastly on this verse, the man that desires this position, desires a "good work."

33.

Good Work lit.

translates as "beautiful work" or "honorable work."

Work ergon in Greek is defined at work.

34.

MacDonald said, "There is the tendency to think this is a dignified, ecclesiastical office, entailing little or no responsibility, whereas overseership is actually humble service among the people of God; it is work."

35.

Spurgeon said, "What is the use of a lazy minister?

He is no good either to the world, to the Church, or to himself.

He is a dishonor to the noblest profession that can be bestowed upon the sons of men."

36.

Paul is not only talking to Timothy about his expectations for Timothy- to work hard in this honorable position, but also this expectation extends to the men Timothy would put into this position as God raised them up.

37. And, there were specific qualifications for this role as we see in Verse 2.

continue to verse 2-3

Verse 2-3- "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;..."

1. Verse 2 says A Bishop "Must Be"... "must" means...

2. def.

"it is necessary"...with that definition the list seems a bit rigid and perfectionistic.

3. Another definition is "ought to" which seems like these qualifications are goals to aspire to.

4.

This is a great list and guide for us all to aspire to, and the leader of a church certainly should have a list to measure up against.

5. James 3:1 "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."

6. Qualifications of a Bishop:

7. We will see 15-18 descriptors, depending on if you link some of these qualifications together.

The focus of these qualifications for the Bishop center upon the godly character of this man, not necessarily his education, intellect, natural charisma, talent, giftedness, etc.

8. Jesus surrounded Himself with men of various professions...fishermen, tax-collector, a zealot, but no Pharisees or Scribes...not the elite of the educated, until He chose Paul.

9. A big issue Jesus took with the religious elite were their heart issues.

He called them "hypocrites" and "white-washed" tombs.

They had a character issue, a heart issue.

10.

I would encourage you to examine yourself as we go through this list and see how you compare.

If you feel convicted in any of these areas, pray and ask the Lord to help you.

Get with a brother or sister in Christ and get some accountability.

So, here's the list...

11.

Blameless:

12. def "without reproach" or "nothing to take hold upon."

This is not the same as sinless, but carries more the idea of having a good reputation and being without offence to believers or unbelievers.