This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:12
DailyBibleStudy.Org
12 Let [esto] the deacons [diakonos] be [esto] the husbands [aner] of one [mia] wife, [gune] ruling [proistemi] their children [teknon] and [kai] their own [idios] houses [oikos] well. [kalos] KJV-Interlinear
12 Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. NASB
Repeating from verse two, the deacon, whether male or female, if they are married, must have only one spouse.
Marriage is never a mandatory state for anyone, however when married, then only one spouse is all that is allowed. This may not apply to most of you, but there are certainly many religions or cults, that embrace the plurality of wives (typically) because that most probably is the only way that they can get followers.
Islam promises virgins. Mormonism promotes polygamy. And this is just to name a couple of contemporary beliefs.
And even though Paul has switched back to the requirements of the male, this is a general statement which applies to both genders. This we get from the context of this chapter.
This requirement emphasizes moral conduct, not necessarily marital status.
It even applies to single men and women with respect to their relationships, thus preventing as morally inappropriate, the flirting or relationship hopping, or other similar activities that are deemed inappropriate between two people. Dating for sensuous variety only, is inappropriate, for example.
Likwise, if the Christian has children and a household, then they are expected to run their family environment with some semblance of responsibility and order.
No responsible parent can run off to their own entertainment, and forget the children. If you have responsibilities, then you are to place them first, and certainly before your own preferences. The needs of the children and family and household always come before your needs or wants.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
1 Timothy 3:11
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:11
DailyBibleStudy.Org
11 Even so [hosautos] must their wives [gune] be grave, [semnos] not [me] slanderers, [diabolos] sober, [nephaleos] faithful [pistos] in [en] all things. [pas] KJV-Interlinear
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. NASB
The words ‘must their’ is in italics so the reader knows that the words are not a part of the text. There is no possessive pronoun or definite article connecting women with deacons, as their wives.
‘Even so women’, is how this verse begins.
But the word for women, ‘gune’ in this context is a reference to mature women, not immature women or girls as it were. Typically when a girl becomes a wife she is transformed into a woman. That, by the nature of being married. But that does not make her mature. Maturity comes with knowledge and experience, and that is obtainable regardless if one is married or not.
Back in Pauls day, there was not a Greek word for deaconess, so deacon was used in the masculine in all cases, whether it referred to men or women.
Paul has been describing the characteristics expected of the elder (or instructor of Bible doctrine), and the deacon (one who is engaged in general Christian service). Remember that the deacon is only a word for servant, in the broad sense of the word. All Christians have a servant obligation.
And here, Paul quickly changes from men to women, only to make sure that the reader knows that these characteristics, which he has used to describe men, likewise, apply to women deaconesses (Christian service).
So the word ‘likewise’ or ‘even so’ means just that. Just as these characteristics apply to men, so too they apply to women.
Paul does not list them all, because that is not necessary, because he uses the context to include all of the attributes as they apply to both genders, for Christian service.
Women, just as men, must be grave, not slanderers, sober, and the catch all – faithful in all things.
The believer must be ‘grave.’ The word for grave ‘semnos,’ means honorable, honest, serious. It again, is non-generic so it applies to all believers.
It indicates that the person has his/her priorities in order, that he/she looks to God first and not to the world, with respect to responsibility and accountability for ones thoughts and actions in life.
They are to not engage in sins of the tongue, but be poised and temperate in their behavior, under self control, non-judgmental and so forth. And as with all believers, faithful (obedient to Christ) within their spiritual life.
That means that a daily study, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity and so forth, are mandatory (not optional) practices for every believer, and especially for anyone who is expecting God to make use of them in this life, within His plan.
God uses prepared believers and He uses them in a proactive way.
God does not use unprepared believers, except in their role as historical filler. And filler is not a very complimentary description. But unfortunately most believers do not pursue their spiritual life in accordance with Gods mandates, and therefore most believers are simply filler for history. Though of course most would never agree with that description about themselves.
Christian service is not what you do, but in what spiritual sphere that you do it.
Whenever you are in fellowship (you have confessed your sins to God the Father), then you are in active Christian service. What you happen to be doing is irrelevant. The spiritual life functions from within the fellowship sphere, and not from within the carnal sphere.
So you could be cooking, changing diapers, driving a car, or designing the next Mars flight. If you are in fellowship, then you are engaged within your Christian service. Christian service is not limited to church choirs, prayer groups, or such things as most folks tend to define as their Christian service.
God is not interested in your works. God is interested in the content of your soul. And the content of your soul is determined through study and learning and understanding Bible doctrine.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:11
DailyBibleStudy.Org
11 Even so [hosautos] must their wives [gune] be grave, [semnos] not [me] slanderers, [diabolos] sober, [nephaleos] faithful [pistos] in [en] all things. [pas] KJV-Interlinear
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. NASB
The words ‘must their’ is in italics so the reader knows that the words are not a part of the text. There is no possessive pronoun or definite article connecting women with deacons, as their wives.
‘Even so women’, is how this verse begins.
But the word for women, ‘gune’ in this context is a reference to mature women, not immature women or girls as it were. Typically when a girl becomes a wife she is transformed into a woman. That, by the nature of being married. But that does not make her mature. Maturity comes with knowledge and experience, and that is obtainable regardless if one is married or not.
Back in Pauls day, there was not a Greek word for deaconess, so deacon was used in the masculine in all cases, whether it referred to men or women.
Paul has been describing the characteristics expected of the elder (or instructor of Bible doctrine), and the deacon (one who is engaged in general Christian service). Remember that the deacon is only a word for servant, in the broad sense of the word. All Christians have a servant obligation.
And here, Paul quickly changes from men to women, only to make sure that the reader knows that these characteristics, which he has used to describe men, likewise, apply to women deaconesses (Christian service).
So the word ‘likewise’ or ‘even so’ means just that. Just as these characteristics apply to men, so too they apply to women.
Paul does not list them all, because that is not necessary, because he uses the context to include all of the attributes as they apply to both genders, for Christian service.
Women, just as men, must be grave, not slanderers, sober, and the catch all – faithful in all things.
The believer must be ‘grave.’ The word for grave ‘semnos,’ means honorable, honest, serious. It again, is non-generic so it applies to all believers.
It indicates that the person has his/her priorities in order, that he/she looks to God first and not to the world, with respect to responsibility and accountability for ones thoughts and actions in life.
They are to not engage in sins of the tongue, but be poised and temperate in their behavior, under self control, non-judgmental and so forth. And as with all believers, faithful (obedient to Christ) within their spiritual life.
That means that a daily study, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity and so forth, are mandatory (not optional) practices for every believer, and especially for anyone who is expecting God to make use of them in this life, within His plan.
God uses prepared believers and He uses them in a proactive way.
God does not use unprepared believers, except in their role as historical filler. And filler is not a very complimentary description. But unfortunately most believers do not pursue their spiritual life in accordance with Gods mandates, and therefore most believers are simply filler for history. Though of course most would never agree with that description about themselves.
Christian service is not what you do, but in what spiritual sphere that you do it.
Whenever you are in fellowship (you have confessed your sins to God the Father), then you are in active Christian service. What you happen to be doing is irrelevant. The spiritual life functions from within the fellowship sphere, and not from within the carnal sphere.
So you could be cooking, changing diapers, driving a car, or designing the next Mars flight. If you are in fellowship, then you are engaged within your Christian service. Christian service is not limited to church choirs, prayer groups, or such things as most folks tend to define as their Christian service.
God is not interested in your works. God is interested in the content of your soul. And the content of your soul is determined through study and learning and understanding Bible doctrine.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Monday, January 11, 2010
1 Timothy 3:10
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:10
DailyBibleStudy.Org
10 And [de] let [dokimazo] these [houtos] also [kai] first [proton] be proved; [dokimazo] then [eita] let them use the office of a deacon, [diakoneo] being [on] found blameless. [anegkletos] KJV-Interlinear
10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. NASB
Deacon is a reference to anyone who is engaged in Christian service. Everyone who has believed in Christ is a candidate for Christian service in some aspect of their life. No one is excused from service. It is an obligation.
But being a candidate, your service is a potential, not automatic.
God uses prepared believers.
Unprepared believers become nothing more than historical filler, just as all unbelievers are.
And unprepared believers are those who decline to obey Gods mandates for spiritual preparation. Most of whom think that they can prepare themselves on their own. They are wrong.
Self preparation means failure and the perpetuation of failure because more often their self preparation is based on wrong ideas, which are perpetuated leading them to hold on to their wrong ideas, thus preventing them from making the necessary changes in their life, in order to get back on solid ground.
Therefore, testing is in order. But this testing is not a test applied by you or me, it is an ongoing test, throughout ones life, applied by God. The spiritually mature believer is tested moment by moment, day by day, for all of their life.
This is not a test whereby you can pray, ‘Lord test me.’ That is a sign of an immature believer.
The word for first, ‘proton,’ means before, and in this case, before a person can be used, they must first be prepared. Preparation always precedes testing. There is no point in testing if one has not first prepared. Without preparation, failure would be automatic.
If I told you that you were going to have an advanced test, right now, in genetics or physics, or some subject that you obviously were not prepared for, what would the test results be? Failure.
If, however, you studied your subject for many, many months, and you knew what was going to be on the test, then your preparation of learning and knowing, would insure you a passing grade.
Your relationship is with God, not man. And God uses prepared believers, regardless of what people might think of you. The Egyptians wanted to kill the Israelites, but a wall of fire prevented them and a wall of water defeated them.
God works His will in accordance with His plan. He does not depend on human means. He works without regard to human means. There is nothing in this world, that can prevent God from executing His will in accordance with His plan for you.
The believer must be spiritually mature in order to be used to the fullest in Gods plan.
The word for blameless, ‘anegkletos,’ means irreproachable, free of blemish, blameless, unaccused.
Since all people are sinners, then there is only one place of sanctuary, free from sin, and that is within the fellowship sphere, acquired by confession of ones sins.
The fourth and fifth Levitical offerings dealt with the principle of confession, 1 John explains the mechanics of confession.
And after salvation, confession is a necessary function for the believer, in order to get into fellowship, where his spiritual growth and his spiritual life function.
All spiritual activity ceases to function when one is out of fellowship.
And this testing applies to and proves beyond any doubt, the qualifications of maturity, within the spiritually mature believers life.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:10
DailyBibleStudy.Org
10 And [de] let [dokimazo] these [houtos] also [kai] first [proton] be proved; [dokimazo] then [eita] let them use the office of a deacon, [diakoneo] being [on] found blameless. [anegkletos] KJV-Interlinear
10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. NASB
Deacon is a reference to anyone who is engaged in Christian service. Everyone who has believed in Christ is a candidate for Christian service in some aspect of their life. No one is excused from service. It is an obligation.
But being a candidate, your service is a potential, not automatic.
God uses prepared believers.
Unprepared believers become nothing more than historical filler, just as all unbelievers are.
And unprepared believers are those who decline to obey Gods mandates for spiritual preparation. Most of whom think that they can prepare themselves on their own. They are wrong.
Self preparation means failure and the perpetuation of failure because more often their self preparation is based on wrong ideas, which are perpetuated leading them to hold on to their wrong ideas, thus preventing them from making the necessary changes in their life, in order to get back on solid ground.
Therefore, testing is in order. But this testing is not a test applied by you or me, it is an ongoing test, throughout ones life, applied by God. The spiritually mature believer is tested moment by moment, day by day, for all of their life.
This is not a test whereby you can pray, ‘Lord test me.’ That is a sign of an immature believer.
The word for first, ‘proton,’ means before, and in this case, before a person can be used, they must first be prepared. Preparation always precedes testing. There is no point in testing if one has not first prepared. Without preparation, failure would be automatic.
If I told you that you were going to have an advanced test, right now, in genetics or physics, or some subject that you obviously were not prepared for, what would the test results be? Failure.
If, however, you studied your subject for many, many months, and you knew what was going to be on the test, then your preparation of learning and knowing, would insure you a passing grade.
Your relationship is with God, not man. And God uses prepared believers, regardless of what people might think of you. The Egyptians wanted to kill the Israelites, but a wall of fire prevented them and a wall of water defeated them.
God works His will in accordance with His plan. He does not depend on human means. He works without regard to human means. There is nothing in this world, that can prevent God from executing His will in accordance with His plan for you.
The believer must be spiritually mature in order to be used to the fullest in Gods plan.
The word for blameless, ‘anegkletos,’ means irreproachable, free of blemish, blameless, unaccused.
Since all people are sinners, then there is only one place of sanctuary, free from sin, and that is within the fellowship sphere, acquired by confession of ones sins.
The fourth and fifth Levitical offerings dealt with the principle of confession, 1 John explains the mechanics of confession.
And after salvation, confession is a necessary function for the believer, in order to get into fellowship, where his spiritual growth and his spiritual life function.
All spiritual activity ceases to function when one is out of fellowship.
And this testing applies to and proves beyond any doubt, the qualifications of maturity, within the spiritually mature believers life.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
1 Timothy 3:9
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:9
DailyBibleStudy.Org
9 Holding [echo] the mystery [musterion] of the faith [pistis] in [en] a pure [katharos] conscience. [suneidesis] KJV-Interlinear
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. NASB
Paul refers to the mystery. But to what mystery is he referring?
Most folks want to relate this to the mystery doctrine of the Church Age, which was long held secret throughout the Old Testament times and not revealed until Jesus made reference to it during His First Advent.
However, this is not a reference to that mystery.
The context which we are studying of a deacon or servant, has to do with their qualifications to serve. Deacons, or service staff, have existed for many centuries, whether they were called servants, employees, or slaves is irrelevant. They would have been called by many other descriptions, but their function of service has always been the same with respect to the many occupations that require service staff.
But our context defines mystery within the verse itself by using faith and a pure conscience terminology.
But we have to start with the word, holding, ‘echo,’ which means to hold, to possess, to have continuity, to have the ability of use. So the mystery must be something that the believer must possess for his very own use when applying it to his life. Using something means using it in and for, your life.
Mystery, ‘musterion,’ is that which, having been long hidden, is at length disclosed. The passive here means to initiate through learning or instruction. Bible doctrine is long hidden from you until you learn it. To unbelievers it is foolishness, they do not understand it, and therefore do not possess it. It is foolishness. To believers, Bible doctrine must be learned through instruction. You cannot learn doctrine on your own. Only the fool will disregard Gods mandate to learn through instruction.
Faith, ‘pistis,’ refers to belief, assurance, persuasion, moral conviction, reliance. And comes to mean reliance on that belief, which you have learned (referring back to the word, ‘holding.’
‘With a clear conscience.’ The conscience is a human faculty given by God, which is designed to warn each person when they have violated moral law, or whether they are in compliance with His law, Rom 2:14-15.
In unbelievers it is a function of ones intuition, or common sense. They know right from wrong.
With believers their conscience is related to their learned knowledge through doctrine. Believers have a clearer sight of life, through doctrine and therefore have a better opportunity to maintain their conscience. Your conscience helps you to maintain an alertness to the sin in your life, to the inaccuracies that exist in your life, to the inconsistencies with Gods mandates that exist within your life, such that you can make the necessary corrections in your life, and get yourself back on track.
The purity of conscience, the cleanness, the clarity, comes from residence in fellowship, through confession, which is where your spiritual life functions.
Therefore, the deacon, the believer (every believer), must possess knowledge of Bible doctrine, by learning it through instruction, such that they may keep themselves in fellowship, and on the path that God wants them to live.
What you have not learned, is a mystery (an unknown) to you until you learn and understand it.
Faith is the self assurance that comes with understanding. You cannot trust that which you do not know or understand.
The spiritual life is based not on blindness, but on understanding. And understanding comes only through learning, and learning through instruction, and it all must occur on a daily basis, for Bible doctrine is the food that nourishes the soul, and most folks eat everyday of their physical satisfaction, therefore why not a daily diet of spiritual food.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:9
DailyBibleStudy.Org
9 Holding [echo] the mystery [musterion] of the faith [pistis] in [en] a pure [katharos] conscience. [suneidesis] KJV-Interlinear
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. NASB
Paul refers to the mystery. But to what mystery is he referring?
Most folks want to relate this to the mystery doctrine of the Church Age, which was long held secret throughout the Old Testament times and not revealed until Jesus made reference to it during His First Advent.
However, this is not a reference to that mystery.
The context which we are studying of a deacon or servant, has to do with their qualifications to serve. Deacons, or service staff, have existed for many centuries, whether they were called servants, employees, or slaves is irrelevant. They would have been called by many other descriptions, but their function of service has always been the same with respect to the many occupations that require service staff.
But our context defines mystery within the verse itself by using faith and a pure conscience terminology.
But we have to start with the word, holding, ‘echo,’ which means to hold, to possess, to have continuity, to have the ability of use. So the mystery must be something that the believer must possess for his very own use when applying it to his life. Using something means using it in and for, your life.
Mystery, ‘musterion,’ is that which, having been long hidden, is at length disclosed. The passive here means to initiate through learning or instruction. Bible doctrine is long hidden from you until you learn it. To unbelievers it is foolishness, they do not understand it, and therefore do not possess it. It is foolishness. To believers, Bible doctrine must be learned through instruction. You cannot learn doctrine on your own. Only the fool will disregard Gods mandate to learn through instruction.
Faith, ‘pistis,’ refers to belief, assurance, persuasion, moral conviction, reliance. And comes to mean reliance on that belief, which you have learned (referring back to the word, ‘holding.’
‘With a clear conscience.’ The conscience is a human faculty given by God, which is designed to warn each person when they have violated moral law, or whether they are in compliance with His law, Rom 2:14-15.
In unbelievers it is a function of ones intuition, or common sense. They know right from wrong.
With believers their conscience is related to their learned knowledge through doctrine. Believers have a clearer sight of life, through doctrine and therefore have a better opportunity to maintain their conscience. Your conscience helps you to maintain an alertness to the sin in your life, to the inaccuracies that exist in your life, to the inconsistencies with Gods mandates that exist within your life, such that you can make the necessary corrections in your life, and get yourself back on track.
The purity of conscience, the cleanness, the clarity, comes from residence in fellowship, through confession, which is where your spiritual life functions.
Therefore, the deacon, the believer (every believer), must possess knowledge of Bible doctrine, by learning it through instruction, such that they may keep themselves in fellowship, and on the path that God wants them to live.
What you have not learned, is a mystery (an unknown) to you until you learn and understand it.
Faith is the self assurance that comes with understanding. You cannot trust that which you do not know or understand.
The spiritual life is based not on blindness, but on understanding. And understanding comes only through learning, and learning through instruction, and it all must occur on a daily basis, for Bible doctrine is the food that nourishes the soul, and most folks eat everyday of their physical satisfaction, therefore why not a daily diet of spiritual food.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
1 Timothy 3:8
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:8
DailyBibleStudy.Org
8 Likewise [hosautos] must the deacons [diakonos] be grave, [semnos] not [me] doubletongued, [dilogos] not [me] given [prosecho] to much [polus] wine, [oinos] not [me] greedy of filthy lucre; [aischrokerdes] KJV-Interlinear
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, NASB
Paul now makes a transition from the elder of the church, who is the teacher or pastor as it were, to the deacons of the church, which includes virtually everyone.
When God looks for those who are to serve, He looks for those whose hearts are right. This has nothing to do with talent, ability, or social status, but with the content of their soul. And this certainly excludes those who try to do things themselves, apart from the mandates specified within the Bible.
Unfortunately this includes most Christians, because most Christians do not take up their daily study and get themselves prepared for life. They prefer to float in their emotional rationalization of what they are doing is sufficient, and nothing more is required of them.
We already saw the other day, that this amounts to smoke or air, with which they inflate themselves. Meaning, that they have nothing of substance within themselves.
Deacons, ‘diakonos,’ means one who is an attendant, a waiter, one who serves, a servant. It is taken from the role of a waiter or waitress or staff person who serves others as to their needs.
Every believer in Christ has a role to fulfill, but God uses prepared believers, not unprepared believers. God has established a mechanism for spiritual growth, and that requires you to fall in with an instructor and listen and learn everyday of your life.
You cannot do things on your own, and you cannot succeed, if you do not comply with Gods requirements, by setting up your own rules. That is a subtle form of arrogance.
Neh 9:8
8 "And Thou didst find his heart faithful before Thee, NASB
1 Sam 16:7
7 … for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." NASB
Your soul must be prepared with doctrine. That, and nothing else, is the substance for spiritual growth and success and fulfillment in your life.
Eph 4:12
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; NASB
Having concluded the requirements of teachers, Paul now begins, over the next several verses, to list five requirements for service in the Christian life – character, spiritual maturity, testing, morality, and stability. These are five of the fundamental attributes required of the qualified believer.
The believer must be ‘grave.’ The word for grave ‘semnos,’ means honorable, honest, serious. It is non-generic so it applies to all believers.
It indicates that the person has his priorities in order, that he looks to God first and not to the world, with respect to responsibility and accountability for ones thoughts and actions in life.
The deacon, the servant, must not be fickle, not flippant, must not be one who makes light of serious matters. But at the same time he is human and cannot be a stuffed shirt or humorless, either.
He must not be double-tongued, addicted to substances, and not greedy for worldly things.
Double-tongued means to be inconsistent in how one approaches life, with double standards. He must not be a hypocrite, biased, or prejudiced in any way. Therefore, the believer must be consistent in his life, fair in dealing with others, and objective in all things.
Addicted to wine, means having to rely on substances like alcohol or drugs, etc. Those things mess up the mind and lead to sin and worse, even an unstable life. The believer must be stable, and is held to a higher sense of responsibility, than others.
The believer must not use his faith to take advantage of others. He must be honest in all things, not deceitful. He must not attempt to take advantage of others, especially those to whom he is serving. And since the believer is in a role of service, then that includes his having a fair and open and honest relationship with everyone.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:8
DailyBibleStudy.Org
8 Likewise [hosautos] must the deacons [diakonos] be grave, [semnos] not [me] doubletongued, [dilogos] not [me] given [prosecho] to much [polus] wine, [oinos] not [me] greedy of filthy lucre; [aischrokerdes] KJV-Interlinear
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, NASB
Paul now makes a transition from the elder of the church, who is the teacher or pastor as it were, to the deacons of the church, which includes virtually everyone.
When God looks for those who are to serve, He looks for those whose hearts are right. This has nothing to do with talent, ability, or social status, but with the content of their soul. And this certainly excludes those who try to do things themselves, apart from the mandates specified within the Bible.
Unfortunately this includes most Christians, because most Christians do not take up their daily study and get themselves prepared for life. They prefer to float in their emotional rationalization of what they are doing is sufficient, and nothing more is required of them.
We already saw the other day, that this amounts to smoke or air, with which they inflate themselves. Meaning, that they have nothing of substance within themselves.
Deacons, ‘diakonos,’ means one who is an attendant, a waiter, one who serves, a servant. It is taken from the role of a waiter or waitress or staff person who serves others as to their needs.
Every believer in Christ has a role to fulfill, but God uses prepared believers, not unprepared believers. God has established a mechanism for spiritual growth, and that requires you to fall in with an instructor and listen and learn everyday of your life.
You cannot do things on your own, and you cannot succeed, if you do not comply with Gods requirements, by setting up your own rules. That is a subtle form of arrogance.
Neh 9:8
8 "And Thou didst find his heart faithful before Thee, NASB
1 Sam 16:7
7 … for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." NASB
Your soul must be prepared with doctrine. That, and nothing else, is the substance for spiritual growth and success and fulfillment in your life.
Eph 4:12
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; NASB
Having concluded the requirements of teachers, Paul now begins, over the next several verses, to list five requirements for service in the Christian life – character, spiritual maturity, testing, morality, and stability. These are five of the fundamental attributes required of the qualified believer.
The believer must be ‘grave.’ The word for grave ‘semnos,’ means honorable, honest, serious. It is non-generic so it applies to all believers.
It indicates that the person has his priorities in order, that he looks to God first and not to the world, with respect to responsibility and accountability for ones thoughts and actions in life.
The deacon, the servant, must not be fickle, not flippant, must not be one who makes light of serious matters. But at the same time he is human and cannot be a stuffed shirt or humorless, either.
He must not be double-tongued, addicted to substances, and not greedy for worldly things.
Double-tongued means to be inconsistent in how one approaches life, with double standards. He must not be a hypocrite, biased, or prejudiced in any way. Therefore, the believer must be consistent in his life, fair in dealing with others, and objective in all things.
Addicted to wine, means having to rely on substances like alcohol or drugs, etc. Those things mess up the mind and lead to sin and worse, even an unstable life. The believer must be stable, and is held to a higher sense of responsibility, than others.
The believer must not use his faith to take advantage of others. He must be honest in all things, not deceitful. He must not attempt to take advantage of others, especially those to whom he is serving. And since the believer is in a role of service, then that includes his having a fair and open and honest relationship with everyone.
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Friday, January 8, 2010
1 Timothy 3:7
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:7
DailyBibleStudy.Org
7 Moreover [de] [kai] he [autos] must [dei] have [echo] a good [kalos] report [marturia] of [apo] them which are without; [exothen] lest [hina me] he fall [empipto] into [eis] reproach [oneidismos] and [kai] the snare [pagis] of the devil. [diabolos] KJV-Interlinear
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. NASB
The spiritual leader must be consistent in the pattern of his life.
The word for reputation, ‘maturia,’ is derived from the word for martyr. But here he is not dying physically, separating himself from life, because of what he believes, he is instead separating himself from the many temptations that surround him in the world.
Reputation means consistency within the pattern of ones life.
The spiritual teacher cannot be a fraud. He cannot compromise spiritual principles for fame, for fortune, for sensuous activities, for carousing in social venues, and such activities.
He cannot take advantage of youngsters, or widow women, or do things that serve his own ego.
And of course this not only applies within the sphere of those he knows, but also in other places where he might be tempted to go, just to hide his activities. Other places such as outside his circle of acquaintances, or in another town, etc.
His activities must be open and public. He cannot go into the local house of ill repute, spend the night or a hour, and then come out and say that he was there for Jesus. Standing outside with a sign ‘Repent,’ is one thing, but going inside for a more personal ‘confession’ is quite another. If you understand the message here.
And of course this applies to all believers with regard to their personal behavior in life. No one has the right to live two lives, one of sin and one of virtue. The two do not mix.
We just finished Rev. 2:14. That principle of compromising ones principles applies for everyone.
The consistent spiritual life, or pattern of life, must manifest itself in the personal life of the spiritual teacher, just as it does in his public life. No Jeckle and Hyde personality games.
Christians will face lots of temptations, so going out and finding and adding others into the mix will not help.
First, they face the temptation of discouragement. People will come and go in their ministry. That is a fact of life. Things will go right and things will go wrong in ones personal and public life. It is the devils world. You have to learn to deal with all types of discouragements and disappointments. Maturity helps in this regard.
Second, Christians will be tempted toward indifference. Often times we cannot see the end result. Many things do not go as planned, so why bother?
Third, Christians face the temptation of busy laziness. They do what they want to do, not what they need to do.
Fourth, Christians are tempted to compromise. They avoid saying what ought to be said for the sake of pleasing others (political correctness). They avoid doing things that they ought to be doing, because it is easier to be irresponsible, as it were, rather than responsible.
In order to avoid these and many more faults and failures in life, the Christian, especially leaders more than anyone, need to keep the armor of God on at all times, Eph 6:11. That is to stay alert (confession) stay focused (fellowship) and stay in obedience (Bible study).
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1 Timothy 3:7
DailyBibleStudy.Org
7 Moreover [de] [kai] he [autos] must [dei] have [echo] a good [kalos] report [marturia] of [apo] them which are without; [exothen] lest [hina me] he fall [empipto] into [eis] reproach [oneidismos] and [kai] the snare [pagis] of the devil. [diabolos] KJV-Interlinear
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. NASB
The spiritual leader must be consistent in the pattern of his life.
The word for reputation, ‘maturia,’ is derived from the word for martyr. But here he is not dying physically, separating himself from life, because of what he believes, he is instead separating himself from the many temptations that surround him in the world.
Reputation means consistency within the pattern of ones life.
The spiritual teacher cannot be a fraud. He cannot compromise spiritual principles for fame, for fortune, for sensuous activities, for carousing in social venues, and such activities.
He cannot take advantage of youngsters, or widow women, or do things that serve his own ego.
And of course this not only applies within the sphere of those he knows, but also in other places where he might be tempted to go, just to hide his activities. Other places such as outside his circle of acquaintances, or in another town, etc.
His activities must be open and public. He cannot go into the local house of ill repute, spend the night or a hour, and then come out and say that he was there for Jesus. Standing outside with a sign ‘Repent,’ is one thing, but going inside for a more personal ‘confession’ is quite another. If you understand the message here.
And of course this applies to all believers with regard to their personal behavior in life. No one has the right to live two lives, one of sin and one of virtue. The two do not mix.
We just finished Rev. 2:14. That principle of compromising ones principles applies for everyone.
The consistent spiritual life, or pattern of life, must manifest itself in the personal life of the spiritual teacher, just as it does in his public life. No Jeckle and Hyde personality games.
Christians will face lots of temptations, so going out and finding and adding others into the mix will not help.
First, they face the temptation of discouragement. People will come and go in their ministry. That is a fact of life. Things will go right and things will go wrong in ones personal and public life. It is the devils world. You have to learn to deal with all types of discouragements and disappointments. Maturity helps in this regard.
Second, Christians will be tempted toward indifference. Often times we cannot see the end result. Many things do not go as planned, so why bother?
Third, Christians face the temptation of busy laziness. They do what they want to do, not what they need to do.
Fourth, Christians are tempted to compromise. They avoid saying what ought to be said for the sake of pleasing others (political correctness). They avoid doing things that they ought to be doing, because it is easier to be irresponsible, as it were, rather than responsible.
In order to avoid these and many more faults and failures in life, the Christian, especially leaders more than anyone, need to keep the armor of God on at all times, Eph 6:11. That is to stay alert (confession) stay focused (fellowship) and stay in obedience (Bible study).
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
1 Timothy 3:6
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:6
DailyBibleStudy.Org
6 Not [me] a novice, [neophutos] lest [hina me] being lifted up with pride [tuphoo] he fall [empipto] into [eis] the condemnation [krima] of the devil. [diabolos] KJV-Interlinear
6 and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. NASB
A further restriction in determining a teacher or church leader, is his maturity. Age is not in view here, but maturity is.
A new convert to Christianity may be a young person or an old person. Age is irrelevant, even though age is usually a part of ones typical growth in life. Older and wiser is the common saying.
But in the spiritual life, wiser comes not with age per se, but with knowledge, and specifically knowledge of Bible doctrine.
A spiritually immature Christian, lacks the inner resources to battle the tests that he is going to face in life.
Immaturity is exposed to arrogance, because of the lack of wisdom, and the lack of capacity for life that accompanies wisdom.
Being lifted up, ‘tuphoo,’ means to be filled or inflated with smoke or air. And that is what arrogance is, a puffing up, a vanity, an attitude that has no substance.
It was the reason for Satan's fall, and Satan is far greater than any human being. Not you, not me, not anybody has the abilities of Satan, and if he failed, then certainly a new believer who lacks inner resources, will certainly fail.
However, failure is not stated here as a certainty. Some people, have the unique ability to ignore the perception of, or the lures of, fame or power, or authority. But in most cases, failure is almost a certainty, simply because the lack of doctrine means the lack of ability to cope with the pressures of promotion to such a high position.
No person should seek, a higher office unless and until they are adequately prepared.
No person should be considered for a higher office unless or until they are qualified for that office.
In the spiritual realm, the utmost priority for a church leader, a teacher, must be that he is prepared. Immaturity is not preparation.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
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Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
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1 Timothy 3:6
DailyBibleStudy.Org
6 Not [me] a novice, [neophutos] lest [hina me] being lifted up with pride [tuphoo] he fall [empipto] into [eis] the condemnation [krima] of the devil. [diabolos] KJV-Interlinear
6 and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. NASB
A further restriction in determining a teacher or church leader, is his maturity. Age is not in view here, but maturity is.
A new convert to Christianity may be a young person or an old person. Age is irrelevant, even though age is usually a part of ones typical growth in life. Older and wiser is the common saying.
But in the spiritual life, wiser comes not with age per se, but with knowledge, and specifically knowledge of Bible doctrine.
A spiritually immature Christian, lacks the inner resources to battle the tests that he is going to face in life.
Immaturity is exposed to arrogance, because of the lack of wisdom, and the lack of capacity for life that accompanies wisdom.
Being lifted up, ‘tuphoo,’ means to be filled or inflated with smoke or air. And that is what arrogance is, a puffing up, a vanity, an attitude that has no substance.
It was the reason for Satan's fall, and Satan is far greater than any human being. Not you, not me, not anybody has the abilities of Satan, and if he failed, then certainly a new believer who lacks inner resources, will certainly fail.
However, failure is not stated here as a certainty. Some people, have the unique ability to ignore the perception of, or the lures of, fame or power, or authority. But in most cases, failure is almost a certainty, simply because the lack of doctrine means the lack of ability to cope with the pressures of promotion to such a high position.
No person should seek, a higher office unless and until they are adequately prepared.
No person should be considered for a higher office unless or until they are qualified for that office.
In the spiritual realm, the utmost priority for a church leader, a teacher, must be that he is prepared. Immaturity is not preparation.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
1 Timothy 3:5
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:5
DailyBibleStudy.Org
5 (For [de] if a man [ei tis] know [eido] not [ou] how [eido] to rule [proistemi] his own [idios] house, [oikos] how [pos] shall he take care of [epimeleomai] the church [ekklesia] of God [theos]?) KJV-Interlinear
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); NASB
If a man has no authority, no control, no semblance of structure within his own family, a small group that is presumably made up of younger people, that he sees and interacts with everyday, then how could he possibly have any control of interaction with folks in a larger group, the most of whom he may never see or know in this life?
For the family, Paul uses the word, ‘proistemi,’ which means to stand before, to preside over and comes to mean to have a personal up close relationship.
For the Church, Paul uses the word, ‘epimeleomai,’ which means to care for, to look out for, and comes to mean to know what is needed and to lead or guide through counsel.
The objective of the family, from the parents view, is to raise their children in such a manner that they will be able to make their way through life on their own, when they go out on their own. You do this by giving the children structure, security, stability, opportunity and resources, not to mention the love and care that they need.
The objective of the teacher for the Church, a larger group, is to make available the resources they need in order to complete their individual lives to the utmost. That means a daily dose of spiritual food (Bible doctrine), so that the members of the congregation, group, assembly, etc, can have a steady spiritual diet and a healthy growth pattern in their spiritual life.
If a man is not well organized within his family, then he will likely be disorganized in his preparation and presentation to Christian students.
A failed family may mean failed lives for the children. A failed ministry means misleading people in their spiritual lives, or causing confusion, or simply messing their lives up.
In either case, getting straightened out usually takes many falls in life and a great deal of time.
Too often, you will run across would be ministers, prophets, or whatever they call themselves, who run from one sensational message to the next. And this is only to gain followers, because they need followers in order to satisfy their ego. That does not help anyone.
If is far better to tell students that they are messing up and need a daily study of spinach, than to feed them sugar only. Of course many students do not like to hear that, so they will fall away.
But sooner or later, in the back of their mind, they will come back to the diet of meat and potatoes and vegetables, and set aside the sugar, because they know the former is a better diet than the latter.
A family is run with the fundamental principles of life, which includes love, discipline, encouragement, guidance, allowing a safe space to maneuver in, an education, and so forth.
A congregation of Christian believers likewise needs the nuts and bolts of doctrine, so that they can grow up and eventually become independent from within their own spiritual life.
A family will grow up and move on, but they will always be your children for all of your life.
A congregation of believers should grow up, but they will always be students for all of their life, as the learning of knowledge of doctrine has no ending.
Those who want it all and now, are like the five year old who asks, ‘When will I be grown up?’
Maturity takes time and is comprehended as it happens, or from hindsight. Sometimes you have to be fifty before you realize just how dumb you were when you were twenty.
There are three levels of maturity – physical, mental, and spiritual. They are all very different.
The physical maturing process simply takes time. You have to grow up physically. You have to become five years old, then ten years old, then twenty years old, then thirty years old, etc.
The mental maturing process takes education and experience. That too, takes time, and it is generally a part of the family environment and from your life’s experiences.
The spiritual maturing process comes from your daily Bible study. That too, will not occur over night. All learning and experience and growth take time, and each compliments the other to enhance your overall maturing process.
The Bible instructor is primarily concerned with providing you the resources and tools necessary such that you can have a full spiritual education, which prepares you for life and for all of eternity.
That is what is meant by ‘taking care of the Church.’
Gimmicks, cults, and religions all, are only interested in taking care of the leaders at the expense of the membership.
A Christian Bible instructor’s first priority should be making sure that you are taken care of.
Isn’t that what being a parent is all about? The children and family always come before ones self?
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:5
DailyBibleStudy.Org
5 (For [de] if a man [ei tis] know [eido] not [ou] how [eido] to rule [proistemi] his own [idios] house, [oikos] how [pos] shall he take care of [epimeleomai] the church [ekklesia] of God [theos]?) KJV-Interlinear
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); NASB
If a man has no authority, no control, no semblance of structure within his own family, a small group that is presumably made up of younger people, that he sees and interacts with everyday, then how could he possibly have any control of interaction with folks in a larger group, the most of whom he may never see or know in this life?
For the family, Paul uses the word, ‘proistemi,’ which means to stand before, to preside over and comes to mean to have a personal up close relationship.
For the Church, Paul uses the word, ‘epimeleomai,’ which means to care for, to look out for, and comes to mean to know what is needed and to lead or guide through counsel.
The objective of the family, from the parents view, is to raise their children in such a manner that they will be able to make their way through life on their own, when they go out on their own. You do this by giving the children structure, security, stability, opportunity and resources, not to mention the love and care that they need.
The objective of the teacher for the Church, a larger group, is to make available the resources they need in order to complete their individual lives to the utmost. That means a daily dose of spiritual food (Bible doctrine), so that the members of the congregation, group, assembly, etc, can have a steady spiritual diet and a healthy growth pattern in their spiritual life.
If a man is not well organized within his family, then he will likely be disorganized in his preparation and presentation to Christian students.
A failed family may mean failed lives for the children. A failed ministry means misleading people in their spiritual lives, or causing confusion, or simply messing their lives up.
In either case, getting straightened out usually takes many falls in life and a great deal of time.
Too often, you will run across would be ministers, prophets, or whatever they call themselves, who run from one sensational message to the next. And this is only to gain followers, because they need followers in order to satisfy their ego. That does not help anyone.
If is far better to tell students that they are messing up and need a daily study of spinach, than to feed them sugar only. Of course many students do not like to hear that, so they will fall away.
But sooner or later, in the back of their mind, they will come back to the diet of meat and potatoes and vegetables, and set aside the sugar, because they know the former is a better diet than the latter.
A family is run with the fundamental principles of life, which includes love, discipline, encouragement, guidance, allowing a safe space to maneuver in, an education, and so forth.
A congregation of Christian believers likewise needs the nuts and bolts of doctrine, so that they can grow up and eventually become independent from within their own spiritual life.
A family will grow up and move on, but they will always be your children for all of your life.
A congregation of believers should grow up, but they will always be students for all of their life, as the learning of knowledge of doctrine has no ending.
Those who want it all and now, are like the five year old who asks, ‘When will I be grown up?’
Maturity takes time and is comprehended as it happens, or from hindsight. Sometimes you have to be fifty before you realize just how dumb you were when you were twenty.
There are three levels of maturity – physical, mental, and spiritual. They are all very different.
The physical maturing process simply takes time. You have to grow up physically. You have to become five years old, then ten years old, then twenty years old, then thirty years old, etc.
The mental maturing process takes education and experience. That too, takes time, and it is generally a part of the family environment and from your life’s experiences.
The spiritual maturing process comes from your daily Bible study. That too, will not occur over night. All learning and experience and growth take time, and each compliments the other to enhance your overall maturing process.
The Bible instructor is primarily concerned with providing you the resources and tools necessary such that you can have a full spiritual education, which prepares you for life and for all of eternity.
That is what is meant by ‘taking care of the Church.’
Gimmicks, cults, and religions all, are only interested in taking care of the leaders at the expense of the membership.
A Christian Bible instructor’s first priority should be making sure that you are taken care of.
Isn’t that what being a parent is all about? The children and family always come before ones self?
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
1 Timothy 3:4
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:4
DailyBibleStudy.Org
4 One that ruleth [proistemi] well [kalos] his own [idios] house, [oikos] having [echo] his children [teknon] in [en] subjection [hupotage] with [meta] all [pas] gravity; [semnotes] KJV-Interlinear
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity NASB
No person can guarantee absolute control over the lives and destinies of his family, for they all have free will, and the right to make up their own minds about their lives, even if their choices are not good ones.
Even Jesus had siblings who rejected Him initially, as their savior. That would be a difficult position for any brother or sister to be in, knowing that your brother was God. But they eventually came around and were saved.
Paul, as we have already studied, was never married, and certainly led an unsavory life prior to his being saved. So ones past or married or single life, are not really the issue either.
Here, Paul lists some more attributes that the successful pastor, teacher, overseer, must possess.
And note that the reference to children, does not prohibit the pastor, teacher, etc. from being married.
He must have a well run home, not as home that in chaos.
And by this, the leader must have some semblance of order, respect, integrity and so forth within his household. One that pursues scriptural principles and does not tolerate anti-God sentiment.
And even though we are writing about instructors of scripture, these principles apply to all leaders, whether parents, academic teachers, government officials, coaches, etc. Anyone who has authority over others in any capacity, needs to have a sound foundation of doctrinal principles which govern his own life as well as that of his family, and he needs to practice what he/she preaches.
His lifestyle must be consistent with Biblical principles.
God warned us to not be tempted by, nor even try to imitate, evil, lest we be influenced by evil, Lev. 18:3, Deu. 18:9, Prov. 22:24-25, Prov. 29:12.
One of the greatest assets that an instructor has, is his example. And his greatest objective in instruction, is his influence.
If his content is just, then those that learn from him will have a good example and therefore will learn and adopt good habits for themselves.
With those assets, then students will have been successfully taught and will possess the tools for their own success.
It is not enough to simply go over material and then ignore what sticks and what does not. Remember that students do not know as much as the instructor, therefore it is upon the instructor to find ways of teaching such that the students will not only learn, not only comprehend, but will possess the knowledge such that they can apply it in life.
If the instructor has students that end up with A’s, B’s, and C’s, etc., than he needs to get them all to A’s. That comes only with innovation in teaching skills, and lots of repetition, and patience.
It is the same in ones home.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:4
DailyBibleStudy.Org
4 One that ruleth [proistemi] well [kalos] his own [idios] house, [oikos] having [echo] his children [teknon] in [en] subjection [hupotage] with [meta] all [pas] gravity; [semnotes] KJV-Interlinear
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity NASB
No person can guarantee absolute control over the lives and destinies of his family, for they all have free will, and the right to make up their own minds about their lives, even if their choices are not good ones.
Even Jesus had siblings who rejected Him initially, as their savior. That would be a difficult position for any brother or sister to be in, knowing that your brother was God. But they eventually came around and were saved.
Paul, as we have already studied, was never married, and certainly led an unsavory life prior to his being saved. So ones past or married or single life, are not really the issue either.
Here, Paul lists some more attributes that the successful pastor, teacher, overseer, must possess.
And note that the reference to children, does not prohibit the pastor, teacher, etc. from being married.
He must have a well run home, not as home that in chaos.
And by this, the leader must have some semblance of order, respect, integrity and so forth within his household. One that pursues scriptural principles and does not tolerate anti-God sentiment.
And even though we are writing about instructors of scripture, these principles apply to all leaders, whether parents, academic teachers, government officials, coaches, etc. Anyone who has authority over others in any capacity, needs to have a sound foundation of doctrinal principles which govern his own life as well as that of his family, and he needs to practice what he/she preaches.
His lifestyle must be consistent with Biblical principles.
God warned us to not be tempted by, nor even try to imitate, evil, lest we be influenced by evil, Lev. 18:3, Deu. 18:9, Prov. 22:24-25, Prov. 29:12.
One of the greatest assets that an instructor has, is his example. And his greatest objective in instruction, is his influence.
If his content is just, then those that learn from him will have a good example and therefore will learn and adopt good habits for themselves.
With those assets, then students will have been successfully taught and will possess the tools for their own success.
It is not enough to simply go over material and then ignore what sticks and what does not. Remember that students do not know as much as the instructor, therefore it is upon the instructor to find ways of teaching such that the students will not only learn, not only comprehend, but will possess the knowledge such that they can apply it in life.
If the instructor has students that end up with A’s, B’s, and C’s, etc., than he needs to get them all to A’s. That comes only with innovation in teaching skills, and lots of repetition, and patience.
It is the same in ones home.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
Monday, January 4, 2010
1 Timothy 3:3
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:3
DailyBibleStudy.Org
3 Not [me] given to wine, [paroinos] no [me] striker, [plektes] not [me] greedy of filthy lucre; [aischrokerdes] but [alla] patient, [epieikes] not a brawler, [amachos] not covetous; [aphilarguros] KJV-Interlinear
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. NASB
Paul continues the description of the acceptable attributes of a Bible teacher.
He must not be a drunk. He must not consume alcoholic beverages to the point of being intoxicated.
Drinking is not forbidden. It was a common practice then as it is now, in most parts of the world, but there is a line that no one should cross and that line is drunkenness. When one is intoxicated to the point that he loses self control, then he becomes a sinner almost by default, and certainly a bad example.
He must not be pugnacious or a striker. In other words, he should not lead a life of violence. He must be in control of his temper and not strike out as a matter of habit. When confronted with aggression, he needs to be able to find a solution without retaliating or even instigating violence. This is in reference to social settings.
He must not be greedy or stingy, or heartless toward others. He needs to recognize (as we all do), that God provides for all, that we all have, and therefore sharing with others never provides a hardship on us, as God will always replace that which you give up. That does not mean that you become irresponsible, nor throw your family into jeopardy by pursuing excessive charity. There are reasonable limits on everything in life, including charity.
And in contrast to the negatives, are three positive attributes that should be a part of the overseer’s (bishop, teacher, elder) life.
He should be patient and tolerant, peaceable, and contented with his own situation in life.
Every teacher must not be impatient. Every teacher must be tolerant. Every teacher must be non-violent and non-confrontational. Every teacher should teach with objectivity and not with some hidden agenda in mind. Every teacher must be contented with their life.
Anyone whom you are teaching, will know less that you, otherwise if they knew as much or more than you, then you would have no purpose. Therefore, patience and tolerance in teaching is a must.
Likewise, when teaching, your motives must be to teach. That means no fame and no fortune. When you get into the gimmicks of life in order to advance yourself, then your objective, and your objectivity, is lost. You should teach such that your teaching will help others to be able to advance and better themselves.
In the spiritual life, God will provide for the instructor. If society is positive toward Bible doctrine, then among those folks, will be sufficient numbers who will support the teaching of the scriptures. And if society is generally not interested (taking never giving), then eventually God will remove the teachers, and remove the doctrine, and folks will wonder what happened when their life falls apart.
By the way, Isa. 57, is a good study demonstrating how God systematically removes the righteous from society, when society is generally negative toward God. And then things get bad, and people are clueless as to why.
So, even though these attributes apply to Bible instructors, they also apply to every believer as well.
God uses prepared believers. You’ll note that educational credentials are not listed among the characteristics required to teach. Although society leans heavily on academic preparation, which is a good thing, so do not misunderstand, but often times academics leads to very liberal views, and can be more detrimental to what one teaches, than helpful.
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1 Timothy 3:3
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3 Not [me] given to wine, [paroinos] no [me] striker, [plektes] not [me] greedy of filthy lucre; [aischrokerdes] but [alla] patient, [epieikes] not a brawler, [amachos] not covetous; [aphilarguros] KJV-Interlinear
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. NASB
Paul continues the description of the acceptable attributes of a Bible teacher.
He must not be a drunk. He must not consume alcoholic beverages to the point of being intoxicated.
Drinking is not forbidden. It was a common practice then as it is now, in most parts of the world, but there is a line that no one should cross and that line is drunkenness. When one is intoxicated to the point that he loses self control, then he becomes a sinner almost by default, and certainly a bad example.
He must not be pugnacious or a striker. In other words, he should not lead a life of violence. He must be in control of his temper and not strike out as a matter of habit. When confronted with aggression, he needs to be able to find a solution without retaliating or even instigating violence. This is in reference to social settings.
He must not be greedy or stingy, or heartless toward others. He needs to recognize (as we all do), that God provides for all, that we all have, and therefore sharing with others never provides a hardship on us, as God will always replace that which you give up. That does not mean that you become irresponsible, nor throw your family into jeopardy by pursuing excessive charity. There are reasonable limits on everything in life, including charity.
And in contrast to the negatives, are three positive attributes that should be a part of the overseer’s (bishop, teacher, elder) life.
He should be patient and tolerant, peaceable, and contented with his own situation in life.
Every teacher must not be impatient. Every teacher must be tolerant. Every teacher must be non-violent and non-confrontational. Every teacher should teach with objectivity and not with some hidden agenda in mind. Every teacher must be contented with their life.
Anyone whom you are teaching, will know less that you, otherwise if they knew as much or more than you, then you would have no purpose. Therefore, patience and tolerance in teaching is a must.
Likewise, when teaching, your motives must be to teach. That means no fame and no fortune. When you get into the gimmicks of life in order to advance yourself, then your objective, and your objectivity, is lost. You should teach such that your teaching will help others to be able to advance and better themselves.
In the spiritual life, God will provide for the instructor. If society is positive toward Bible doctrine, then among those folks, will be sufficient numbers who will support the teaching of the scriptures. And if society is generally not interested (taking never giving), then eventually God will remove the teachers, and remove the doctrine, and folks will wonder what happened when their life falls apart.
By the way, Isa. 57, is a good study demonstrating how God systematically removes the righteous from society, when society is generally negative toward God. And then things get bad, and people are clueless as to why.
So, even though these attributes apply to Bible instructors, they also apply to every believer as well.
God uses prepared believers. You’ll note that educational credentials are not listed among the characteristics required to teach. Although society leans heavily on academic preparation, which is a good thing, so do not misunderstand, but often times academics leads to very liberal views, and can be more detrimental to what one teaches, than helpful.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
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