The gospel ministry is a serious task. The Apostle Paul esteems the work of the minister as a high calling. Ministers should be men of social and academic gifts, ripe in Christian experience and commanding the respect of non-Christians. In successive verses Paul instructs Timothy as to the qualifications of deacons; they, as well as ministers, should be men of integrity, sobriety and conscientiousness.
There are two church offices mentioned in the Bible. They are pastor and deacon; both are essential to the well-being of the church. The Lord qualifies men for these church offices. The office should seek the man; the man should not seek the office.
Paul begins verse 1 by writing, "This is a true saying..." The New International Version says, "Here is a trustworthy saying." To be called into the gospel ministry is the most noble of tasks. It was William Carey who said of his nephew, Felix, who left the ministry to become a diplomat or ambassador, "He shriveled up to become an ambassador."
The Revised Standard Version translates this verse, "If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task." To aspire is to exert oneself in order to obtain something. Paul gives high praise to the office itself; it is indeed an office worth aspiring to, despite the rigorous prerequisites.
The word translated bishop is episkopas meaning, "an overseer, a curator, a guardian, a watchman or a superintendent." Luke uses the word in Acts 20:28 admonishing the pastors to, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. In this passage the word has the connotation of, "an overseer; or who maintains diligent inspection over someone or something, to maintain standards of behavior or performance." For the
labor gang the episkopas could be the boss; for the manufacturing plant, a production superintendant; in a college, a Dean; in a local church, a bishop or pastor. (Yeager, Volumes X and XV, pp. 460, 377).
1. The Negative Qualifications of a Pastor
An overseer should, "Not (be) given to wine." That is, he should not be a winebibber (paroinon), one who has wine by his side all the time. He must not be given to violence toward anyone, not a striker (plekten) or a brawler (amachon). His character is to be above that of contentiousness; he should not be a quarrelsome and noisy individual. He must not be a lover of money; "Not greedy of filthy lucre" (aphilarguron). That is, he should not covet what others have; he should not be avaricious.
A pastor (bishop) should not be a novice (neophuton) or a recent convert; that is, he needs to have some experience in the work of the Lord. A convert to Christianity should not be given the responsibility of pastoral work immediately after his conversion. The reason Paul gives here is, "Lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil (the slanderer)." Yeager says, "It is only God's grace that has protected the young preachers in their formative years. This warning from Paul should motivate Christians who have a young pastor to spend many hours in prayer for him and to surround him with all the Christian love and understanding possible...It is not necessarily true that because a preacher is young he is a novice. Growth in grace following regeneration can be rapid. One need not have been a Christian for years before he develops the maturity reguired of the pastor of a church. Much depends upon his intelligence, his application to biblical and other studies and his prayer life. Some middle-aged pastors are less mature than much younger men. However, in general, younger men are more likely to fall into the pitfalls about which Paul here warns (Volume XV, pp. 381, 383).
2. The Positive Qualifications of a Pastor
The qualifications of a pastor are not all negative; there are some positive qualifications. First of all, he should be blameless (anepilempton), or "above reproach," as the Revised Standard Version translates the word. The pastor should keep himself unspotted from the world. He should be the husband of one wife or literally, "A one women man (mias gunaikos andra)." Whenever a man is considered for a high office of pastor, he should have no record of divorce or other marital infidelity even before conversion. While it is true that the blood of Christ cleanses the vilest sinner, and all true converts can become members of the Lord's church, not every member is qualified to hold the highest office in the world.
The pastor should be vigilant (nephalion) or watchful; curbing his own passions. He should be sober (sophrona), calm and collected. He should be on his good behavior at all times; his life should be well-ordered. The pastor should be given to hospitality (philoxenon), a kind man and a friend to strangers. If he has any of this world's goods, he should be unselfish with them.
A crowning characteristic seems to be, "Apt to teach" (didaktikon), that is, qualified to teach, the imparting of knowledge to others. Of course, the pastor must be a learner first of all, then able to teach others the principles and precepts of God's word. He should be skilled in teaching others; he should possess some classroom charisma. He should possess patience toward others, especially the "babes" in the knowledge of God's word. He should be fair, reasonable, gentle and mild.
Furthermore, he should be a good manager of his own house. Verse 4 states that the pastor should he, "One that ruleth well his own house (proistamenos oikou), having his children in subjection with all gravity." It is logical that if the pastor is not a good administrator of his own household, he could not administer the affairs of the church which is a larger institution. Ruling should be done in a diplomatic way; that is, not as a dictator or a bully. The pastor is the human head of the church and the familial head of his own family. He should be well-spoken of, having a good reputation, outside the church (out in the world). Although he is not the pastor of the community in which his church is located, the community looks up to him as the spiritual leader in the community. He should have a good credit rating, paying his bills when they are due, and he should live within his means.
Can any man live up to God's standards for the pastor? Admittedly these are high standards and there are many! And it is true that the effectiveness of the gospel message depends upon the convicting power of God's Holy Spirit, but God uses human instrumentality to accomplish His work. Although few men possess all of these qualities, a lack of any of these qualities will hinder the work of God and diminish the progress of the gospel message.
3. Duties of Pastor and Church to Each Other
The Apostle Peter gives some further instruction as to the duties of a pastor toward his church and as to how the church should treat their pastor. First Peter 5:1 - 3 says, "The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples (ensamples) to the flock." So the work of the pastor is a two-fold work: (1) a feeder of the flock, and (2) an overseer and human leader. The church should follow their pastor as he follows the Lord.
The church should obey its pastor. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you." I Timothy 5:17 says, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." Furthermore, the church is to respect her pastor. First Timothy 5:19 says. "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses."
For what it may be worth, it is interesting that every adjective used to describe the bishop or pastor is masculine. Is Paul saying that the pastor should be a male? A blameless male? A one woman male? A sober male? A hospitable male? A teaching male? A male who is not greedy; a male who is not a brawler; a male who rules well his own house; a male who is not a novice; a male who is not lifted up in pride?
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While pastoring churches for over thirty years, this pastor wanted the sympathy of no one, but he did request the prayers of those he served, for the great task that was his. Although the task of pastor was not easy God's sustaining grace permitted me to pastor ten churches over a period of more than thirty years.
Related Passage: Acts 6:1 - 8
Moses gathered around him "able" men; helpers who judged (ruled over) the people of Israel. The first church needed men "helpers," "ministers," and "servants." There is little or no difference between the spiritual, moral and doctrinal qualifications of the pastor and the deacon. Hendriksen says. "The special tasks of the deacon are to gather the offerings which God's people in gratitude make to their Lord, to distribute these gifts in the proper spirit to all who are in need, to prevent poverty wherever it is possible to do this, and by means of their prayers and words of Scripture-based comfort, to encourage the distressed" (p. 130).
Hovey feels that the office of the deacon is, "A permanent office in the church; for not only is the permanent need of such officers evident, but deacons are mentioned with bishops as the ordinary officers, and their qualifications alone, besides those of bishops are specifically prescribed" (Volume VI, page 41).
1. The Origin of Deacons, Acts 6:1 - 8
In the first church at Jerusalem, the congregation had grown so rapidly and so large that the apostles could not care for needs of the large congregation. A material need arose; the needy widows were neglected (overlooked) in the daily ministration of food. Apparently this work had been done originally by the apostles. There is no indication that the oversight was deliberate; the apostles were busily engaged in preaching the gospel. A rivalry arose, not intentional, but it was unfortunate. The Grecian widows were neglected.
So the Twelve (apostles) called the congregation together for counsel. They said, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables." The apostles realized that the preaching of the gospel was of utmost importance. Others, who may not have been qualified to teach or to serve in other ways, could be called upon to serve tables. Men and women of less personal endowment can serve food while others preach and teach the word. In other words, some will minister to the spiritual needs while others will minister to the physical needs of the people.
Seven, in number, were chosen because it was decided that was the number needed. The congregation was admonished to, "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." The larger the church, the larger the number of deacons are needed.
The manner of selection used was for the entire church, the whole multitude, to make the choice. The apostles would lay their hands upon them. This "laying on of hands" was simply to designate them for the task that was before them. The first deacons were in no sense to constitute a "Board," except within the limited jurisdiction for which they were selected. Their work was simply to relieve the apostles of the task of ministering the welfare program so that they could devote all of their time to their duties of praying and preaching the word.
It is of special note that the apostles said, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." It is interesting to note the close relationship between the words "minister" and "deacon." Both are sent forth, and both are ministers or servants (diakonoi). To be an minister was also to be a deacon, but the reverse may not necessarily be true.
2. The Office of the Deacon, I Timothy 3:8 - 13
The deacons are to be spiritually qualified. They were to be men of honest report, having a good report among the community of disciples. They were to be full of the Holy Spirit; willing to be led of God in the tasks that were before them. In others words, they were to be teachable as well as being willing and harmonious workers. Another qualification was - filled with wisdom; that involves broad knowledge, common sense, logic, emotional balance and moderation.
Furthermore they were to be morally qualified. I Timothy 3:8 says, "Likewise (just as the pastor so the deacon) must be grave." Paul had used this word earlier (Philippians 4:8), where it is translated "honest." The word can also mean, "venerable, reverent, august, honorable." Needless to say the deacons should be serious minded, respectful, not flippant, but dignified. In conversation they should be reliable, dependable, sincere and truthful.
Furthermore, the deacons should be careful of their speech. They should not be double tongued (dilogous), "talking out of both sides of their mouth," speaking one thing to one person and something different to another. They should be abstainers of strong drink and not dope-fiends. They should not be a greedy (aischrokerdeis) individuals who are covetous; their lives should be characterized by generosity. They should be liberal and generous with their possessions and good stewards.
The deacons should also be doctrinally qualified. They should hold, "The mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." They should possess a good knowledge of Scripture, be able to teach and instruct others. Deacons should be so well qualified that if called upon they could fill the pulpit on occasions when needed. They are to be proven and experienced in the graces of Christianity. As the pastor, they are to be husband of one wife (not a divorcee); rulers of their own household and leaders in domestic life. It would be most helpful if the pastor and the deacons had the support of faithful and sympathetic companions.
In fact Paul states (I Timothy 3:11), "Even so must their wives (the women) be grave or serious (semna), not slanderers (diabolous), sober minded, faithful in all things." Did Paul mean the wife of the deacon or women in general? Yeager says, "The deacon and his wife, if they qualify, are equipped admirably to serve the Lord in a lowly but highly important capacity" (Volume XV, p. 386).
Verse 13 pronounced a special blessing upon the men who serve faithfully as deacons, "For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, standing or position and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." Yeager says further, "The first deacons put on aprons and served food to the poor people in the church. One who can do this with dignity and temperance has learned a great deal and has earned the respect of all" (p. 388).
3. Opportunities of the Deacon
The opportunities of the deacons are many. They can serve in temporal affairs and in secular matters as well as spiritual tasks. They can see that the tables of the poor, the pastor and the church members are filled with an abundance of food. They can free the pastor to concentrate on spiritual matters. They can study the finances of the church and make recommendations that will advance the cause of Christ and His church. They should be leaders and examples in the giving of tithes and offerings to the church.
The deacons should be active in the outreach of the church. They should promote fellowship in the church, and they should be concerned with the watch-care of those in need. They can be visitors of the sick, prospective members (new comers) and lost people. They can be an encouragement to the pastor, and they can serve unselfishly and fearlessly.
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Although deacons are not essential to the BEING of the church, they are necessary to the WELL-BEING of a church. Blessings are forthcoming; I Timothy 3:13 says, "They that have used the office of a deacon WELL purchase to themselves a good degree (a good standing with God)."
Truly the New Testament Church is blessed of God if it has a good, conscientious group of deacons who co-operate with the pastor and seek the welfare of the church in general.
The great Apostle Paul had further instructions to give to Timothy, but it would have to wait until later. Paul expected to be released from prison and hoped to be permitted to travel again. He hoped to see Timothy face to face, but in case he did not these instructions follow. If Paul was not liberated to travel again, he wanted young Timothy to know how he should conduct himself in the church and how he was to instruct others. The young minister must know how to supervise the worship services and the election of officers in the church.
Only the believer is able to acknowledge the great importance of verse 16. Both believer and unbeliever stand in amazement at the greatness of the Christ; neither are able to comprehend this great truth. This passage is for the saved to ponder and pray for direction.
The Lord's church truly is the PILLAR and GROUND of the truth. Pillar here means "a column; an architectural support." The word ground means "a foundation or a bulwark." The Revised Standard Version correctly translates this word, "bulwark." Hendriksen says, "As the pillar supports the roof, even better as the foundation supports the entire superstructure, so the church supports the glorious truth of the gospel. It supports the truth by: hearing and heeding it (Matthew 13;9); handling it rightly (II Timothy 2:15); hiding it in the heart (Psalm 119:111), and holding it forth as the word of Life (Philippians 2:15), or, if one prefers, by digesting it (Revelation 10;9), defending it (Philippians 1:16); disseminating it (Matthew 28:18 - 20); demonstrating its power in consecrated living (Colossians 3:12 - 17)" (p. 136, 7).
Hovey says, "The church is a column and base of this temple, sustaining it, and bearing it up for the gaze and wonder and faith of men. As a column, with its base, or foundation, sustains and lifts aloft the magnificent temple, displaying its splendor and strength, and the genius and skill of its architect, even thus is each church a column and base of the truth" (p. 45). The church is a divine institution; it is the church of the living God. The Lord's church is the only organization on earth which possesses all of the truth.
Paul introduces the great truth of Christ by writing, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness..." or "confessedly great is the mystery of our devotion." Confessedly
great or by common confession are the words that follow in the text. "Mystery" here means that which cannot be apprehended or understood, but more properly something once hidden or unknown until the present. The "mystery" (musterion) is the divine plan of redemption embodied in Christ, once hidden from, but now revealed to believers.
CHRIST is the subject of each clause that follows. He is God; God revealed to man. Christianity is Christ. He is the Center of Christian theology; He is the Object of the Christian faith. He is the Personality (the Person) of the mystery. It is the immeasurable greatness of the Christ that forms the subject of the hymn from which Paul now quotes six lines. OUR BLESSED LORD was:
1. GOD, Manifest in the Flesh
Our Lord was virgin-conceived; Christ was God veiled in human flesh. He was made visible; He shown, gleamed, was revealed and made known (ephanerothe). The transfiguration of our Savior, in some measure, let the disciples know of the glory which Jesus possessed before the world began. "The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,...full of grace and truth," so writes John (1:14). II Corinthians 8:9, "Though (Christ) was rich, yet He became poor...that ye, through his poverty might be rich." Paul writes (Philippians 2:5 - 8), "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. In the flesh, Jesus was made visible and made audible. Earlier in this same epistle Paul wrote, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, (THE) MAN CHRIST JESUS."
2. GOD, Justified in the Spirit
To be justified (edikaiothe) means to be validated, vindicated, stamped with approval, established as right. Christ's own perfect righteousness and the validity of His claims were fully established. John testified at Jesus' baptism saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him" (John l:32). Luke 3:22 testifies, "A voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." In Matthew l2:22 the devils were cast out, the blind could see, the dumb could speak, the deaf could hear. The power of the Holy Spirit was upon Him; He was vindicated by the Spirit.
3. GOD, Seen of Angels
God's host of angels perceived, beheld (ophthe), took heed of Him. Angels were interested in His birth; Luke 2:9 says, "And, lo, an angel of the Lord came unto (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;..." The angels worshiped, "Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, (and) good will toward men."
They strengthened Him in His triumph over Satan in the wilderness; Matthew 4:11 says, "Angels came and ministered unto him." In His Gethsemane experience, Luke 23:43 says, "There appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening him." Although these experiences and testimonies of the angels are important, the most glorious manifestation of the angels took place at our Lord's resurrection. Matthew (28:5) reads, "The angel answered and said unto the women, fear not; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Angels, furthermore, announced His ascension. Acts 1:10, 11 says, "And while (the disciples) looked steadfastly toward heaven as (Jesus) went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
4. GOD, Heralded among the Nations
John the Baptist heralded (ekeruchthe) or preached Jesus as the universal Savior. In John 1:29, 36, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." Not only was our Lord the Savior of the world but of the Gentiles as well. After His resurrection but prior to His ascension, Jesus gave the Great Commission in which He challenged the church to, "Go ye, and teach ALL NATIONS..." Our Lord was joyfully shared by the disciples in the Great Commission. Isaiah (49:6) prophesied of Jehovah's presentation of the universal Messiah saying,"Jehovah will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles (nations), that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
5. GOD, Believed on in the World
To be believed (episteuthe) means to be trusted, relied upon and committed. Salvation is to every tribe and nation; it is unrestricted by caste. The Psalmist wrote (72:8 - 11, 17), "(Messiah) shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth...All nations shall serve him...All nations shall call him blessed."
While writing to the Ephesians (2:11ff), the apostle stated that, "Being in time past Gentiles in the flesh...without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ." So many Gentiles are in God's plan of salvation; God has removed all distinctions. Paul further stated in Colossians 1:27 that God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." So men and women of every tongue, tribe, people and nation have believed on Jesus in a way that has transformed their very lives.
6. GOD, Taken up into Glory
Our blessed Lord was lifted up (anelemphthe) or exalted. He was exalted to God's right hand. Mark (16:19) writes, "So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." Again Paul wrote (Philippians 2:9), "Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
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"While the echo of men's voices saying, 'Crucify, crucify,' had scarcely died, heaven opened wide its portals, and upon receiving back its victorious King resounded with the echoes of the jubilant anthem, sung by ten thousand times ten thousands and thousands of thousands, 'Worthy is the Lamb'" (Hendriksen, p. 141).
False teachers abound today; some new thing is emphasized in our culture by these false teachers in every age since the time of the Lord Jesus Christ. These false teachers seek to counterfeit the truth in many ways. Emotionalism is rampant, but a church that is built upon emotion will not supply the needs of man's hungry heart. Man's soul and heart needs feeding on the Word of God.
In Paul's day he had to deal with the ascetics and the Gnostics. Although the church was ever so glorious, reflecting the radiance of its Lord and Savior (I Timothy 3:15, 16), apostasy was ever present. Chapter four deals with apostasy.
1. The Appearance of False Teachers, 1 - 5
The Holy Spirit seeks to evaluate teaching. He speaks specifically or expressly (rhetos) concerning what is right and what is wrong. Antichrist is working in this church age; he began his work as soon as our Lord started His Church. Paul used the phrase (husterios kaipois) which literally means, "in the later occasions (seasons)." In eras of this new dispensation, definitely marked out in God's foreknowledge, some will depart or apostatize from the faith, that body of redemptive truth, the Christian religion. Matthew 24:11, 12 says, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many...because iniguity shall abound, the love of many shall grow (wax) cold," implying that this will take place just prior to the coming of our Lord. Antichrist has always been working to thwart God's plan of the ages. The origin of apostasy is satanic but the spokesmen are human.
Seducing spirits are contrasted with the Holy Spirit. I John 4:1 says, "Test (Try) the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." "The 'spirits of seduction' were propagating their demonic teachings in Ephesus and throughout the churches in the first century, as Paul's warfare against Gnosticism and Legalism abundantly attests" (Yeager, Volume XV, p. 397).
These false teachers speak lies in hypocrisy (pseudologon hupokrisei); evil spirits victimize the unwary. Satan has a counterfeit ready for everything good and genuine. He causes the abandoning of the faith of many. Paul also writes of a seared (kekausteriasmenon),cauterized or burned conscience. Man's conscience, which is an endowment from God, is sometimes stifled; people argue with their consciences and at last reach the point where their consciences no longer bother them. Like a surgeon who cauterized a wound by burning; their consciences are seared over (calloused); they no longer feel their consciences.
False principles (teachings) always lead to false practice. These rebellious teachers forbid to marry. Celibacy for purity is contrary to the word of God. Hebrews 13:4 says, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled..." The married state has its place, but not on religious grounds.
These false teachers also forbid certain foods such as meat (flesh). Vegetarianism is not a means of sanctification. Every creature of God is excellent; "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Jesus said in Matthew 15:11, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth man." The Apostle Paul indicates that all foods (flesh and vegetables) are sanctified by the word and prayer. He clearly states that God created meat for the express purpose that we should receive and eat it with thanksgiving.
So asceticism and Gnosticism have no place in Christianity. Ascetics renounce the comforts of life with a view to attaining happiness and perfection. Gnostics favor the flesh either by abusing it or by overcoming it by indulging in it. Gnosticism despised God's ordinances, for example, the marriage-ordinance (Genesis 2:24) and the ordinance concerning food (Genesis 1:29, 30; 9:3). Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but accepted (metalempsin) gratefully, in keeping with what the word of God teaches about its use. When foods are eaten according to God's Word and blessed by prayer to God, He sanctifies them to our body's use.
The custom of asking a blessing before meals is found in the Apostolic Constitutions VII. 49, "Blessed be thou, O Lord, who hast fed me from my youth, who givest food to all flesh. Fill thou our hearts with joy and gladness, that, having always what sufficeth, we may abound unto all good works in Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom be unto thee honor, glory, and power, forever and ever. Amen " (Hovey, page, 51). John Calvin said, "It is a beastly way of eating, when we sit down at table without any prayer, and, when we have eaten to the full, depart in utter forgetfulness of God." (Ibid.)
2. The Duty of the Minister Toward False Teachers, 6 - 9
There comes a time when false doctrines should be condemned, but nothing takes the place of positive, constructive teaching and preaching. If true doctrines are preached and taught, then false doctrines and teachings will fall by the wayside. The enlightened mind can place the false doctrines in the proper category. Timothy was to warn others of coming perils and dangers. He was to teach the word as becomes an excellent minister of Christ Jesus. Paul wanted Timothy to calmly and logically explain the biblical teaching to his hearers.
As Timothy and the preachers and teachers of all ages will fill their souls from the word of God, they will have a wealth of material to teach their congregations. As the good minister grows in grace during the week, his congregation will grow in grace on Sunday. Yeager says. "There are few joys to compare with the thrill of the Bible student when he discovers where a given verse of Scripture fits into the jigsaw puzzle of texts which we call the New Testament. In such moments he is a workman who will not be ashamed for he has rightly associated each with all of the others, the interrelated components of the word of God (Vol. XV, p. 405).
Negatively, Paul wrote that young Timothy and other ministers of the gospel should shun tales told to entertain children, silly superstitions (graodeis) passed down from generation to generation. Ministers should never fritter away their time on religious trivia. Irreverent legends, profane, impure, godless fiction and silly myths have no place in the pulpit nor in Christian literature. Paul wrote in II Timothy 2:23, "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender (egennesen) or conceive strife."
In verse 8 Paul wrote, "For bodily exercise (gumnasia from which we get the word gymnasium) or training profiteth little (is of some value)..." Possibly he was drawing the parallel between the youth in the gymnasium who exerts himself to the utmost, discarding every handicap or burden in order to train freely, having his eye on the goal whether it is winning the race, the boxing match, the discus throw or whatever. So the Christian should show as much character realizing that spiritual training is far greater than physical training.
Whenever the minister trains himself in godly living this will profit immensely. Although bodily exercise profits some, godly exercising profits most. Spiritual exercise is the most important and the most profitable of the two. Paul admonished Timothy and all Christian ministers to "keep on exercising," spiritually; keep striving toward godliness; strive to live in a godly manner. Even encourage others to do so. God looks on the heart. Spiritual exercise profits the body, the soul and the spirit and brings value in the present life and in the life to come.
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"For, therefore, we both labor (kopiomen) and suffer reproach (agonizometha), because we trust in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe," Paul writes in verse 10. Faithful laboring always is rewarded. Activity should be geared to the glory of God and to the salvation of the lost. Labor, strive and agonize in the work of the Lord.
Paul is in no way minimizing physical exercising. In fact, he urges all to exercise physically. For the spirit moves from place to place in a body; therefore, keep the body fit. "Some preachers spend all of their time in their libraries and die too soon, with a boast upon their dying lips that they are good Christians. Paul advises Timothy to exercise with rigor every day for perhaps fifteen minutes, play golf or tennis or hike or fish once a week, and spend the rest of his time studying the Scripture and in prayer...It is not likely that Paul spent much time in the gymnasium. He got his exercise by walking all over Asia Minor, on his way to the next preaching appointment and making tents for a living" (Yeager, Volume XV, p. 408).
As an introduction to this passage, reread verses 9 and 10. Paul wrote, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For, therefore, we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."
Is Paul saying that verses 1 through 8 are faithful sayings or is he saying that what follows verse 9 is a faithful saying? Because spiritual training and exercise are of so much more importance than physical training and exercise, the Christian minister is challenged to literally, "toil and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God." Paul and Timothy (and all true Christian ministers and missionaries) are convinced of the truth expressed in the faithful saying.
The word translated "labor" here is kopiomen which means to toil; to expend effort in hard and disagreeable work. Paul used the same word in I Timothy 5:17 when he wrote, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor (kopiosin) in the word and doctrine. Ministering for the Lord is as hard a work as laboring in the cotton fields or the oil fields of the South. The other word translated "suffer reproach," is (agonizometha) from which our word "agonize" comes. It means "to strive, to compete; to struggle; to fight," as an athlete might exert energy to overcome an opponent. A wrestler "strives" to throw an opponent to the mat; a boxer "strives" to defeat his opponent with a knock-out punch."
The Apostle Paul is the example for all Christian ministers and missionaries. He and others have labored and toiled, exerting themselves to the utmost in the work of bringing the gospel, applying it to concrete situations, warning, admonishing, helping, and encouraging, generally amid great difficulties. They strive in the spiritual arena as they struggle against the forces of darkness. Why had he labored so? Because he had been trusting in the living God, and because God is the Savior of all men, especially faithful men. "God saves all Christians from hell, but He also saves some Christians in the special sense that He teaches them to exercise themselves, both in bodily exercise, with its temporal benefits, and in spiritual exercise with its eternal benefits" (Yeager, Volume XV, page 410).
1. The Minister in Public Life, 11 - 13
Verse 11 was Paul charge to young Timothy as he ministered to the Ephesian saints; this was what Paul would have taught them had his schedule permitted it, and had it been within the will of God. Timothy was told to "command," or "to call to their attention," and to teach what he had learned beforehand. "Timothy must teach such things as, 'Apostasy is coming, in the form of asceticism'" (verses 1 - 3). 'That error is an insult to God and to his work in creation' (verses 4, 5), 'An excellent minister is one who is nourished on sound doctrine which he transmits to others' (verse 6), 'The benefit which accrues from godly living transcends that which results from physical training' (verses 8 - 10)" (Hendriksen, p. 157).
The messenger of the gospel must live the Gospel. Of course, Timothy was young, but his life was to be an example to those Ephesians who might be much older and more seasoned in the Christian faith. Timothy was to conduct himself as to merit the respect of the much older Christians. Timothy was to be an example in what he said, how he behaved, how he emoted, what he believed and how he crucified the flesh (Yeager, Op. cit, p. 412).
Timothy was naturally a person of reserve and timidity, here he was wielding authority over those who were his seniors by perhaps ten and possibly as many as forty years. An old Greek idiom says, "Let no man THINK down upon you." Even though Timothy was a young man, he was to be respected because of his office; not that he would attain this respect by "acting big," or by bragging about his credentials. He was to command their respect by conducting himself as a man of sage counsel and consecrated, practical wisdom.
Timothy was to so conduct himself that he would be respected for his speech (personal conversation), his conduct (customs, habits, ways of dealing with people), his love (that deep personal attachment to his brothers and his genuine concern for his neighbors), his faith (that exercising of God's gift from which love springs) and purity in conformity to God's moral laws in thought and action) (Hendriksen, Op. cit., p. 158).
Until Paul was able to visit Ephesus personally, Timothy was to earnestly and diligently do three things. Timothy was to keep on being an example; he was to, "Give attendance to (public and private) reading of the Scriptures exhortation (warning, advising and encouraging), to doctrine (teaching)." The "reading of God's word" was to be done both privately and publicly. Timothy was to study God's word daily, and he was to read it publicly from the pulpit. In the early days of Christianity, few individuals had copies of God's word, so the public reading of the Word was of most importance.
True expository preaching involves "reading (anagnosei) God's Word and then explaining it and exhorting (paraklesei) others and helping or teaching (didaskalia) the hearers to apply its principles." Too many of God's ministers today read a passage from the Bible and "go off at a tangent," not returning to the word during the remainder of the sermon. They simply read a verse or two of Scripture "on which to hang a sermon." There is a place for topical and textual messages, but the true Bible scholar will soon find a wealth of material in the Bible that will "never run dry." It was Charles H. Spurgeon who said that the minister who preaches topical sermons only will wear out his congregation; the minister who preaches textual sermons only will wear himself out; but the expositor will find a wealth of material in the Bible which shall never run out; he can preach expository sermons for his entire lifetime and still have material in the Bible which he has not adequately covered.
2. The Minister in Private Life, 14 - 16
Furthermore, Timothy was warned not to neglect the gift (charismatos) bestowed upon him by the living God, and the gift which the presbytery saw in him when he was ordained to the gospel ministry. See also: I Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 12:7, 8. Once a man has been called of God and he makes known his call to the ministry and gives some outward evidence of that call, then another minister or a group of ministers usually "lay hands" upon him, thus, setting him aside for the work to which God has called him. That the call to the gospel ministry is a "gift" from God is evident throughout the Bible.
One wonders if Paul and Silas did not lay bands on young Timothy in Lystra during their second missionary journey. He was in all probability saved on Paul's and Barnabas' first missionary journey there. He reminded Timothy of this imposition of hands which symbolized the transfer of a gift from the Giver to the recipient. Paul wrote (II Timothy 1:4), "Therefore, I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of MY hands."
This gift is a charismatos which comes from the word translated "grace," in other passages. Many gifts or special abilities are given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian for enrichment in service. For the Christian there may be gifts of administration, operations, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophesying, discerning of spirits, helps, governments, language ability and others (I Corinthians 12:4ff). These abilities and gifts given to the minister are special.
Timothy, as all true ministers, possessed the gift of discernment between the true and the false, and the gift of being able to exhort, teach and guide. The young minister was to employ it to the best advantage; he must never grow careless, nor neglect to use this gift.
Furthermore, Timothy was admonished to "meditate," or "to care for, to practice, to give careful attention to, to think about" these afore mentioned things. Timothy's life was to be dedicated to these things; he was to give himself wholly to them that his profiting might appear to all. Timothy, and all other ministers of the gospel are to concentrate upon the great task of the ministry, and the glorious privilege of preaching the gospel. Young Timothy was to be absorbed in these teachings; he was to be IN them with his whole heart, with all his soul; he was to be completely wrapped up IN them.
Not only was Timothy to take heed unto himself and the teachings that had been handed down to him by Mark, Luke, Paul and others, he was to continue in them as long as he lived. Holy living and sound teaching go together, and they are the fruit of faith. Timothy should never let the focus of his duties, his gift and his privilege of preaching and teaching God's word become obscured by other things.
There was no turning back. If Timothy kept focused on the right things, he would both save himself and his hearers. Timothy was "To take care; concentrate on your theology; persevere in all your work," according to Yeager (Volume XV, page 416). If Timothy was faithful to God and His word, he would profit and be found faithful, but his congregation would also be preserved and successful in their growth in grace.
God promises a special reward to his faithful ministers, his faithful witnesses. Writing to Timothy later, Paul said, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (II Timothy 4:8).
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Timothy is to take heed to himself, as all ministers should. We are to let God's saving grace permeate our lives and manifest to the world that we are redeemed from the "beggarly elements" of this world. We should move from "saving" grace to "living" grace exercising ourselves in godliness.