1 Timothy 3 part 3
Notes
Transcript
1 Timothy
1 Timothy
Background
Apollos “founded” the church of Ephesus, but he only knew about John’s the Baptist’s baptism of repentance. Paul Priscilla and Aquila “explained the way of God to him more accurately” (Acts 18:26). While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went to Ephesus and baptized the disciples of Apollos/John the Baptist “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). They did not know about the Holy Spirit, but when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit filled them and 12 men began to prophesy. Paul stayed in Ephesus for 3 years (A.D. 46-48) before a riot cased him to leave for Macedonia, where he had already sent Timothy.
Paul circumcised Timothy. Timothy had a Greek father, and a Jewish mother, Eunice. Timothy’s half-Jewish heritage let Paul to circumcise him to be able to minister to Jews. Titus, on the other hand, was a Gentile, and Paul did not circumcise Titus. Timothy was perhaps the closest friend of Paul.
Timothy was converted on Paul’s 1st missionary journey (Acts 14), joined him on the 2nd missionary journey, and was in Ephesus during Paul’s 3rd missionary journey and after.
Paul wrote 13 letters to the churches. Here, in approximate chronological order:
Galatians - 1st missionary journey
1 Thessalonians - 2nd missionary journey
2 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians - 3rd missionary journey
2 Corinthians
Romans
Ephesians - 1st Roman imprisonment
Philippians
Colossians
Philemon
1 Timothy - After Acts
Titus
2 Timothy - 2nd Roman imprisonment
Pastoral Epistles Compared
In Chapter 1
Paul greets Timothy, foreshadowing his topics (mercy, commandments, true son).
Paul tells Timothy to deal with false teachers. These false teachings were used to justify bad morals.
The law is for the ungodly and disobedient. There is not a law for the righteous person.
Paul gives his testimony:
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
5. Timothy must keep up the good fight for the true gospel, “in keeping with the prophesies”.
6. Some have “shipwrecked” their faith. Paul “delivered them to Satan” so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
In Chapter 2
Paul gives instruction on prayer.
For kings and all in authority.
So that we may live quiet lives.
For it pleases the Savior since he wants all to be saved.
Therefore men pray without anger or argument.
Therefore women dress in good works. There is order in the church.
Starting with Chapter 2, the rest of the letter is a handbook for order in the church. Paul sprinkles in some gospel and warnings against false teachers, but primarily he instructs Timothy on how to run an orderly congregation.
Let’s keep a critical eye on our own church as we study 1 Timothy. We surely don’t get everything right. But, I do think that we get a lot right.
Paul begins his “handbook” with instructions on prayer.
Now, in chapter 3, he talks about the qualifications for leadership.
In the New Testament, the elder is the pastor, is the bishop. These are three different titles for one office.
In Acts 20:17, Paul “sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders (presbyterous) of the church”....and in Acts 20:28 says, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit appointed you as overseers (episkopous) to shepherd (poimainein aka pastor) the chuch of God, which he purchased with his own blood.” Elder/pastor/presbyter/bishop/etc. these refer to the same office in the church. Part of what we believe as Baptists is that the local church is under authority.
The following acrostic acronym, spelling BAPTIST, summarizes Baptists' distinguishing beliefs:
Biblical authority (Matt 24:35; 1Pet 1:23; 2Tim 3:16–3:17)
Autonomy of the local church (Matt 18:15–18:17; 1Cor 6:1–6:3)
Priesthood of all believers (1Pet 2:5–2:9; 1Tim 2:5)
Two ordinances (believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper) (Acts 2:41–2:47; 1Cor 11:23–11:32)
Individual soul liberty (Rom 14:5–14:12)Saved and baptized church membership (Acts 2:41–2:47; 1Cor 12:12; 2Cor 6:14; Eph 4:3)
Two offices of the church (elder and deacon) (1Tim 3:1–3:13)
Deacons
Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) (What Did Deacons Do?)
The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word diakonos. It usually has the general meaning, “servant,” in a broad range of contexts. For example:
The servants at the wedding who carried the water containers (John 2:5, 9)
Christ is called servant to the circumcision (Romans 15:8)
Paul calls himself a servant (=minister) of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6)
And of the gospel (Colossians 1:23)
And of the church (Colossians 1:24)
See also 1 Corinthians 3:5.
Tychicus is called a faithful servant in the Lord (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7)
Timothy is called God’s servant (1 Thessalonians 3:2)
The disciples are told that if they would be great they must be servants (Matthew 20:26):
Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) (What Did Deacons Do?)
But there is a strong tendency of this verb (diakoneo) to refer to the kind of serving that involves very practical acts of supplying material needs, and literally table-service.
Angels came to serve Jesus in the wilderness, i.e., tend to his needs (Matthew 4:11).
Peter’s mother in law rose from her sick bed to serve her guests (Matthew 8:15).
The women who followed Jesus served out of their own pockets (Matthew 27:55; Luke 8:3).
Martha served from the kitchen (Luke 10:40; John 12:2).
Paul’s carrying money to Jerusalem is doing service (Romans 15:25; 2 Corinthians 8:19).
The serving of Onesiphorus is described as often refreshing Paul in connection with his not being ashamed of Paul’s chains, which I take to mean that he visited him in prison (2 Timothy 1:16–18).
Paul wants to keep Onesimus, the converted slave, with him so he can serve him in prison (Philemon 13).
The saints of Hebrews are described as serving the saints in love (6:10), and later they are described as visiting saints in prison (10:32–34).
In 1 Peter 4:10–11 speaking and serving are treated separately as though there may have been a word ministry (perhaps the teaching of elders) and a non-word-serving ministry (perhaps the service of deacons).
Matthew 25:44 may be the best summary in the NT of the kinds of activities done by one who “serves.”
Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) What Did Deacons Do?
From Matthew 25:44 we could include dire needs arising from hunger, thirst, alienation, nakedness, sickness, imprisonment. That would imply that the basic notion of “serving” in the sense of being a deacon is to help meet needs for
• food,
• water,
• acclimatization,
• clothing,
• health,
• and whatever needs arise from emergencies (like imprisonment).
Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”
None of those reclining at the table knew why he said this to him. Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor.
Jesus himself didn’t keep the moneybag.
In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
What makes you want to give to charity? (or not?)
Are men better at managing money than women?
What do deacons do?
Do pastors have unique temptations?
Do pastor’s kids HAVE to behave at church?
Would you fire a pastor for something other than a moral failure?
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. 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.
Diagram
There was clearly a problem with prayer in the church...
I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 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. And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Applications
Applications
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 2
Paul suggests that the way the church conducts itself in corporate worship (unity, modesty, proper submission) bears significantly on its effectiveness in world evangelization.