First Timothy - Chapter 3

THEME: OFFICERS IN THE CHURCHES

Our chapter begins with the words “This is a true saying” which might have also been translated as ‘This is a faithful saying” meaning it stands the test of time and is one you can depend upon.

The first office discussed is bishop which actually meant an overseer or superintendent. In the early church this position was called a presbyter, or elder, or shepherd, or minister, or pastor. In use of any of these titles the word “reverend” was never attached. A bishop in the early church never had authority over other bishops nor did he have authority over other churches. Even Paul never spoke of himself as bishop of any church.

3:1

Should a man desire the office, he desires a good work.

3:2

He must be blameless, not guilty of any accusation. He must be the husband of one wife which some in the early church meant he must be married before taking the position. Scripture tells us Paul was not married but most scholars are sure that he was married at one time and lost his wife to death. He could not have been a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, as a single man. He must be vigilant meaning temperate in nature, calm and even tempered. He had to be sober meaning serious. He must be of good behavior meaning orderly in his conduct and orderly in his approach to the business of the church. He should be given of hospitality, meaning willing to spend time with other bishops especially over common meals together. He must be apt to teach which means he loves the Word and has a particularly willing nature to teach it apart from just preaching it.

3:3

The bishop (pastor) must not be a drunkard, not violent in discussions, not hungry for money and should be a patient man which he will need to be successful.

He cannot wish to settle disagreements with fighting and should not covet.

3:4-5

The bishop must remain in control of his own household and raising children who are under his control. If he cannot properly handle his own home and family, how will he handle his duties in his church?

3:6

He should not be a recent convert. Caution should be the rule in appointing pastors who have some level of maturity and have grown in faith strongly as he will need those attributes to be a good pastor. If he comes to the office too soon after conversion it is possible his pride may lift him up in his own mind and be a good candidate for Satan to use his status against him.

3:7

A good report must be in place for him before he assumes the office else if any difficulties are in his background, he can be snared by Satan who will use such matters against him.

3:8-10

Now Paul represents the requirements for the office of deacon. These are similar to those for bishop but not quite as demanding. He must be serious in his approach to the office, and should be dignified. He cannot be two faced as such a must understand he cannot please everyone. He cannot tell people what they want to hear and must tell the same story to all people in his church. He cannot be given to much wine as scripture teaches temperance. Wine was used for some medicinal reasons in the early church days and in 1st Timothy 5:23 Paul will suggest wine for Timothy for his stomach issues. This man must also not be consumed with a love of money and show integrity toward finances, both personally and for the church.

The deacon must hold a pure conscience concerning the mystery of the faith, being well learned and able to engage each person in the congregation properly concerning education in those mysteries. Each deacon should not be new to the church and be thereby proved there and found without blame in past matters.

3:11-13

The wives of deacons must also be serious, be truthful and using no slander, and remain sober and faithful in approach to church matters. Deacons must also be husbands of one wife and have their household under control and peaceful. A deacon should exhibit boldness in the faith in Christ and should stand strongly for the faith, standing ready to defend the faith to others.

3:14-15

Paul was in Macedonia and Timothy was in Ephesus but Paul hoped to soon visit. If he finds it difficult to come as planned he has given Timothy the factors of how he should behave in the house of God and how he can implement the instructions given by him to Timothy to assure a stable and growing church. 

1st Timothy is a book about church order. Paul is writing to tell the church, and its leader how to act properly to proclaim the truth of God to the world outside. These plans have stood the test of centuries thereby assuring how important they are.

3:16

This verse seems to have been one of the creeds of the early church, to be understood, used, and repeated in worship time to remain in each heart of those in the assembly. Paul restates here the mystery that is without controversy. God was manifested (appeared) in flesh, and was justified in the Holy Spirit (from His baptism onward), was seen of angels, preached Himself to Gentiles, was believed on by those who came to Him, and was received up into glory.

Seen of angels means they saw Him (at His birth and numerous times afterward). The last point is powerful for believers because after He was received up He sits at the Father’s right hand (the position of power and authority) and will be our intercessor until the moment of our rapture and His second coming.