- The theme
- Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
- These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
- The greeting 1:1-2
- Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
- Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
- The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
- He re-iterates his verbal instructions to Timothy (written out)
- Timothy is to charge (parangello--to order or command) certain persons
- Purpose of charge / command -- Love (seeks the best of the other person)
- Problem -- Certain persons teaching --- Vain (mataiologia - empty) discussions (useless)
- How to avoid "empty" discussions? Good teaching should result in application
- Exhortations 1:12-20
- A positive encouragement 1:12-17
- God is patient with the worst of sinners (see Paul)
- God is merciful for those who repent (see Paul)
- A negative warning 1:18-20
- It will be a battle
- You will face opposition (even from believers)
- Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
- The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
- The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
- The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
- There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
- The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
- The nature of the local Church 3:8-13
- The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
- Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
- Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
- Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21
- We've just discussed the need for men to step up to the spiritual leadership of the church. Now we add some qualifications. "All men should pray at all time and in all places for the body," but not all men are qualified to lead or teach
- So the "saying is trustworthy" requires some discussion. What does it mean in this context?
- This is certainly true
- You can believe or trust this to be right
- The object of the belief or trust is the statement, aspiring to the office of overseer is a noble task. Let's first define overseer.
- Greek word, episkope, means to investigate, adjudge (in a positive or negative sense), to look over
- In some ways, this is an aspect of a shepherd as well
- We are going to define this as leadership in the church
- I think this word is equivalent to some other words in scripture
- These all are the word presbuteros which is translated as elder
- In 1 Peter, peter calls himself a fellow elder
- The word poimenas is translated Pastor and the word didaskalous is translated teacher
- Why the different words for leadership? I think it gives us a hint of the expectations of a spiritual head in the church. Constable suggest the following distinction
- "Elder” describes the maturity of those who normally hold this position
- “Overseer” describes the major responsibility inherent in the position
- “Pastor” describes the gift and work necessary to fulfill this position.
- Why is it a noble task?
- It is a "good" thing
- It is a special service to God and to the body of Christ
- IT is a beautiful thing to do
- We have 15 characteristics here and in the next few verses for an elder. Deacons will have 7 plus 2. Deaconesses have 4.
- Above reproach (anepilemptos) - above criticism, not open to blame
- The husband of one wife - There are 4 different views - I prefer the last view - "one-woman-man" - the list is moral and this makes the most moral sense
- This verse clearly precludes the possibility of a woman holding this officer or Paul would have said "the partner or mate of one spouse"
- Also verses 2-7 are all masculine in gender
- Sober-minded (nephalion) is translated in multiple ways
- I don't think it has to do with drinking since that is addressed later
- Clear-headed; doesn't run off with the latest ideas or theories; doesn't see a conspiracy in everything; doesn't believe a new thing just because everyone else does -- well-balanced (Constable)
- Self-controlled (sophron) is also translated in multiple ways (why - because the meaning is complex in Greek and not easily captured in English) -
- Some people like "discreet" and it fits with curbing one's desires and impulses
- Sometimes I say things I should not say, I could be more discreet -- I think this fits with humility - I don't need to bring up my experiences into every conversation. Sometimes I just need to shut up and listen to others
- Respectable (kosmios) - the word means proper, modest, well-ordered
- In my workplace, the clothing requirements have changed quite a bit
- But in places where individuals have to interact with members of clients, the standards are still high -- how we dress communicates to others a variety of messages
- APPLICATION: What am I communicating in my dress?
- Hospitable (philoxenos) - I like "practical kindness paid especially to strangers, often in the sharing of food and drink, lodging, and provision"
- Able to teach (didaktikos) - skillful at instructing
- Sound and biblically accurate theology and doctrine
- Using examples or illustrations
- Communicating in words that others understand
- Making it applicable
- Really the best examples, although I do think it is a bit of a skill, has been the individuals sitting down in church and doing the children's message -- that takes skill!
- Not a drunkard (paroinon)
- You would think this would be obvious
- The phraseology suggests the person is addicted to wine to the point of violence. My Dad was an alcoholic and after he had too many drinks he was a very violent person. He was very gentle when he was sober but not after a six pack or more of beer
- Not violent (pekten) - a mean person who is even physically demonstrative
- Clearly not a person who gets his way by bullying others
- I've been an elder three times and probably the thing I have enjoyed the most is the gentle nature of discussions, even disagreements (which are quite rare)
- Gentle (epiekes) - considerate, patient, mild, gentle
- Not quarrelsome (amachon) - the idea of contentious or looking for a fight
- One of the directors at work is like this -- it seems as if he always looking for a fight
- Not a lover of money (aphilargyron) -- this person's is not greedy or loves money
- This does not exclude rich people. I have found many rich men as elders, but they have been men who were very generous
- APPLICATION:
- So these 12 of 15 qualities apply to men who seek to be elders or overseers (a noble task), therefore they don't apply to most, right?
- No, the reasons these apply, is that these men are our leaders, our examples of how to live like Christ in the church
- Even if you do not desire to be an elder or are not qualified by role, these are all things we should esteem to
- Any one of these would make a good application for the week and I challenge you to pick one and how you could apply it to your life
1 Timothy 3:1–3 (ESV) —
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of
overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an
overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover
of money.
1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1 Peter 5:1 (ESV) — 1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory
that is going to be revealed:
Acts 14:23 (ESV) — 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in
every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom
they had believed.
Acts 20:17 (ESV) — 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the
elders of the church to come to him.
Ephesians 4:11 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
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