The Character of Deacons

Reading:  1 Timothy 3:8-13
    
    Just as he has given guidelines for the character of overseers, so Paul advises Timothy as to what “deacons” should be.  The word translated “deacon” in this text is the generic term for a servant.  Paul has in mind a special class of servants who will be a unique part of how the church accomplishes its work.  “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain”(1 Tim 3:8).  Like elders/overseers, Paul expects deacons to have developed personal discipline in their speech, addictions, and view of money.  “They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience,” meaning that they grasp the gospel and make earnest effort to live by it.  

    Paul also warns against prematurely appointing men to the work:  “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless”(1 Tim 3:10).  He is not advocating “provisional” deacons who must prove themselves over a probationary period; he is highlighting men who have distinguished themselves as trustworthy by prior behavior.  Paul has guidelines for deacons’ wives (1 Tim 3:11) and home lives:  “Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well”(1 Tim 3:12).  Like overseers (1 Tim 3:4), deacons demonstrate their fitness to serve by the way they show fidelity to their wives and manage their children.  He wants Timothy to promote this kind of selfless work as a tone-setter for the church and a way to accomplish important spiritual tasks.  “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus”(1 Tim 3:13).

    God’s plan for local churches includes men who are devoted to serving in special ways.  They are trustworthy and dependable; the church is counting on them.  They are examples in character, knowledge, and relationships.  Most of all, they are like Jesus because they are willing to serve. 

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One Thing to Think About: Is my conscience clear (1 Tim 3:9)?

One Thing to Pray For:  God to continue to raise up men of character to serve his people 
 

The Character of Overseers

Reading:  1 Timothy 3:1-7
    
    As Timothy works with the church at Ephesus, Paul wants him to seek out, develop, and appoint men to oversee the group.  Here he gives guidelines for the type of man he should look for.  “The saying is trustworthy:  If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task”(1 Tim 3:1).  Though some are improperly ambitious, Paul stresses that it is still good and appropriate for men to seek spiritual leadership.  “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money”(1 Tim 3:2-3).  Each of these characteristics implies a good man who has disciplined himself over a period of years.  These traits—from self-control to hospitality to gentleness—are not something he occasionally does, but have become who he is.

    His character is also shown by his role as a father.  “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”(1 Tim 3:4-5).  God expects an overseer to have children who respect and obey him.  This is a proving ground for his ability to lead.  Paul also adds that “he must not be a recent convert”(1 Tim 3:6) and that “he must be well thought of by outsiders”(1 Tim 3:7), which both imply that he has some time in the faith under his belt.  Timothy should look for men who are not a flash-in-the-pan, but whose faith and character are stable and proven.

    Paul is guiding Timothy to the kind of character he should seek as he builds the leadership at Ephesus.  Character is not revealed in a moment, but over long periods of time in a variety of areas.  A man who can teach well but is a drunkard does not have the character needed for the role.  A man whose family obeys him but who leads by violence and harshness does not have the character needed for the role.  No man is perfect, but we can all seek to develop this type of character in our personal lives and homes.  

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One Thing to Think About: How might these verses create an unrealistic expectation of overseers?

One Thing to Pray For:  God to continue to raise up men of character to lead his people 
 

Men and Women

Reading:  1 Timothy 2:8-15
    
    Paul has just asserted his authority to Timothy (1 Tim 2:7, also 1:1, 12), so his expressions of “I desire”(1 Tim 2:8) and “I do not permit”(1 Tim 2:12) are more than mere opinions.  Even though men and women are equal in Christ (Gal 3:28), God has different visions for their unique gifts and roles.  “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling”(1 Tim 2:8).  “Holy hands” is a phrase that emphasizes the purity of our lives as a basis for our prayers (see Job 16:17, Psalm 141:2, and James 4:8-9).  Men set a tone of holiness, self-discipline, and piety.  “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works”(1 Tim 2:9-10).  Christian women are not to dress in a flashy or ostentatious way, but to emphasize their inner (rather than outward) beauty.  “Likewise” implies that both men and women have an obligation to seek holiness and self-control, though manifestations may look a little different.

    Paul also has instruction about teaching:  “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor”(1 Tim 2:11-14).  God intends men to be in a position of spiritual authority.  Paul sees this in God creating Adam first and in the biblical emphasis on the woman being deceived.  He is not arguing that all women are gullible or that women are unable to teach, but that God has a plan for men and women that involves men being teachers.

    Such teaching is controversial in our day, yet someone must lead.  These verses are a call to men and women to respect God’s expectations for them.  Yet while women are denied a teaching role over men, this is no excuse for male domination, condescension, or abuse.  None of us is above submitting to others (Eph 5:21); all of us are to be holy, self-controlled, and honorable.

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One Thing to Think About: Does our modern culture affect the way I read this passage?  Should it?

One Thing to Pray For:  A pure and self-controlled life, so that I may “lift holy hands” as I pray
 

God Wants All People to Be Saved

Reading:  1 Timothy 2:1-7
    
    As he works with the church in Ephesus, Timothy needs to stress certain priorities.  “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”(1 Tim 2:1-2).  Christians are a people of prayer, petitioning God on behalf of those around us.  Paul wants us praying for our rulers at all levels, acknowledging the blessing of their leadership.  This remains true even when we disagree with the policies or character of those leaders (as often happened for Christians under Roman rule).  The specific request of our prayers is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”(1 Tim 2:2).  We ask that government leave us alone to obey God unhindered, allowing our transformed lives to change the world from the ground up.

    But Paul also seems to connect the government’s lack of interference to the reception of the gospel.  “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”(1 Tim 2:3-4).  God wants all people to be saved; this is his will for the world.  When government allows us to live a peaceful and quiet life, the gospel can be preached and obeyed unhindered.  Our prayers have a purpose:  not merely that we can have happy lives, but that the gospel can have free course in a freer society.  We pray toward this end.

    Paul informs us that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”   Statements of God’s desires are invaluable.  They give us a clue to God’s heart and will.  They help us to pray confidently, knowing that we are on the same page with God.  They transform our desires so that we are in tune with God.  God wants all people to be saved.  Do I?

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One Thing to Think About: How is God opening doors around me so that others can come to know the truth?

One Thing to Pray For:  Our leaders to allow us to live peaceful and quiet lives 
 

Redeeming the Past

Reading:  1 Timothy 1:12-20
    
    Paul is frank with Timothy about his past.  “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent”(1 Tim 1:12-13).  Paul has not forgotten the shameful things he did prior to his conversion; he still considers himself “the foremost” of sinners (1 Tim 1:15).  Yet because of Jesus, his evil is not the end of the story.  He “received mercy” and “the grace of our Lord overflowed for me” and Jesus “judged me faithful”(1 Tim 1:13, 14, 12).  Now his story only confirms that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”(1 Tim 1:15).  Paul’s regret over what he has done drives him to praise and serve Jesus.  Now his past becomes part of the gospel he preaches.

    So Paul encourages Timothy to “wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience”(1 Tim 1:18).  Not everyone’s story has the happy ending Paul’s does.  “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme”(1 Tim 1:19-20).  As much as Paul is a good example for Timothy, these men are patterns to avoid.  They “have made shipwreck of their faith.”  In the ancient world, shipwrecks were utter disasters.  Cargo was destroyed, ships were damaged, and lives were lost.  Shipwrecked faith implies a hopeful beginning that later turns terrible.  Paul’s words are both a sad commentary on the lives of Hymenaeus and Alexander and a sharp warning to Timothy:  a good beginning does not guarantee a good ending.

    We cannot change the past, but Jesus can redeem the past.  He can take our mistakes and misfortunes and turn them into something powerful and useful.  He can forgive our sins.  He can use our past to help us relate to others.  He can transform our pain into a warning.  He can mold us into stronger, deeper people.  He can use us for ministry to others.  What Jesus has done for Paul gives us encouragement for how we deal with our past and hope for how Jesus will redeem current hardships and use them for good.

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One Thing to Think About: What temptations or challenges might lead me to make shipwreck of my faith?

One Thing to Pray For:  Faith and a good conscience