out-front overseers

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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out-front overseers

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (JDV)

1 Timothy 3:1 This saying is reliable: “If anyone aims at being an overseer, he desires a noble achievement.”

1 Timothy 3:2 That is why an overseer must be blameless,1 the husband of one wife, moderate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, competent to teach,

1 Timothy 3:3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but tolerant, not belligerant, not loving silver.

1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with every dignity.

1 Timothy 3:5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?)2

1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.

1 Timothy 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

out-front overseers

Timothy had been left in Ephesus for the purpose of developing and appointing leaders for the congregation. These leaders apparently were not called pastors. That term is more popular in church leadership today than it was then. Those who managed local congregations were overseers, and they were assisted by deacons.

Their essential qualifications were:

  1. They must have solid marriages,
  2. They must be able to control their (adult) children,
  3. They must have personal self-control,
  4. They must maintain a good reputation,
  5. They must have proved themselves by experience.

The leaders are out-front. They reflect the character of the organization. Special care must be taken to provide for leaders who reflect the standards set by the LORD. His reputation is at stake.

LORD,  may we be careful to reflect your godliness in all that we do. May we be wise enough to choose leaders who will honor you with their behavior.

1 ἀνεπίλημπτος = blameless. 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:7; 6:14.

2ἐκκλησία = congregation. 1 Timothy 3:5, 15; 5:16.

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submitting to quiet discipleship

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
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submitting to quiet discipleship

1 Timothy 2:11-15 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:11 A wife should be discipled1 quietly with full submission.

1 Timothy 2:12 I do not allow a wife to teach or to have authority over a husband; instead, she is to remain quiet.

1 Timothy 2:13 You see, Adam was formed first, then Eve.

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the wife was deceived and overstepped.2

1 Timothy 2:15 But she will be rescued through childbearing, if they stay in faith, care, and devotion, with good judgment.

submitting to quiet discipleship

In the strongly patriarchal world Paul lived in, he had to make concessions to male domination, and this passage is certainly an example of such a concession. He discourages Christian wives from dominating their husbands. Instead, he encourages them to submit to being discipled quietly.

As an example of this, he points out how Eve had to be rescued from her mistake, and through God’s grace received forgiveness.

His objective is not “putting women in their place” but keeping the culture open to the gospel. Although he taught that in Christ, gender differences do not matter (Galatians 3:28), he knew that unbelievers would be looking for opportunities to reject the gospel. So, he encouraged Christian wives to voluntarily submit to quiet discipleship rather than showing off their freedom in Christ.

There are some cultures on the planet today where Christian wives should practice the same thing. But, hopefully, we will all soon outgrow the need to concede to patriarchalism. God has no sexual preference. We are all one in Christ.

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1 μανθάνω = be discipled. 1 Timothy 2:11; 5:4, 13.

2παράβασις = overstep.

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praying in public

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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praying in public

1 Timothy 2:8-10 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:8 That is why I want the husbands1 in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.

1 Timothy 2:9 wives2 should pray in the very same way, dressing themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good judgment, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel,

1 Timothy 2:10 but with good achievements,3 as is proper for wives who profess to worship God.

praying in public

Paul’s instruction here was not so much about gender roles, but about setting a good example in public as Christians. He had just told Timothy that he should be regularly praying for political leaders, and now he is saying that the public worship of Christian couples should set a good example for everyone — including those leaders.

When magistrates and governors see Christian husbands praying without anger or argument, they are more likely to give them justice. When they see Christian wives praying with modest and sensible clothing, they will respect them.

Paul was not arguing against gender equality here. He was instructing both husbands and wives to display their faith in Christ in the public without shaming the name of Christ by drawing attention to themselves. Both husbands and wives are equally responsible to live up to their profession in public.

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1 ἀνήρ = husband (when compared to wife). 1 Timothy 2:8, 12; 3:2, 12; 5:9.

2 γυνή = wife (when compared to husband). 1 Timothy 2:9-12, 14; 3:2, 11-12; 5:9.

3ἔργον = achievement. 1 Timothy 2:10; 3:1; 5:10, 25; 6:18.

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a ransom for all

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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a ransom for all

1 Timothy 2:5-7 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:5 You see, there is one God and one mediator between God and humans, the human Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper season.1

1 Timothy 2:7 I was appointed a herald for this, a missionary (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

a ransom for all

Paul had just encouraged Timothy to keep on fighting for the faith, but now he says that Christ is the one mediator and he gave himself as a ransom for all. This cannot mean that everybody will be saved. If that were the case, there would be no reason to keep fighting for the faith. If all will be saved, no fight is necessary.

So, why does Paul mention that Christ is the one ransom for all? He means both Jew and Gentile. The Christian faith insists that Jesus is the only mediator. His death on the cross was a sacrifice sufficient to save everyone. But a sacrifice is only efficient if it is presented in faith by a believer.

LORD, thank you for Jesus, our one mediator who gave himself as a ransom for all..

1καιρός = season. 1 Timothy 2:6; 4:1; 6:15.

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how to start fighting

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
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how to start fighting

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1 Timothy 2:1-4 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for every human,1

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,

1 Timothy 2:4 who wants every human to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

how to start fighting

Paul had just instructed Timothy to fight the good fight. Now, he gives the first step in doing that. For the world, learning to fight means getting yourself stronger, tougher, and smarter. But the first preparation step is different in spiritual warfare.

For Timothy (and us) starting to fight happens by praying. It is a specific type of praying. It is praying for the people in authority over us. Paul instructs Timothy to pray for his magistrates, governors, and emperor.

I pray for my president, governor and local leaders daily, and also my lawmakers and court judges. I pray for them regardless of the political party they might represent. The goal of this prayer is not for them to see my way of thinking. It is to give them wisdom to make the kind of decisions that will result in a peaceful political and cultural atmosphere — one conducive of discipleship and evangelism.

LORD, turn our leaders to making and defending policies which open the door for the gospel and biblical truth. Turn our hearts to praying for them.

1ἄνθρωπος = human. 1 Timothy 2:1, 4-5; 4:10; 5:24; 6:5, 9, 11, 16.

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Hymenaeus and Alexander

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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1 Timothy 1:18-20 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight,

1 Timothy 1:19 having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith.

1 Timothy 1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to malign1 God.

Whoever Hymenaeus and Alexander were, it is pretty clear that they had once professed faith in Christ, but changed their mind. Now they were maligning God. They had reversed course. Paul encouraged Timothy to keep fighting the good fight.

Theologically, I struggle with the notion that a human being who has a genuine faith in God can choose to give it up. I believe true faith comes from God. I don’t think God leaves such a matter of eternal importance up to fickle human free will.

Yet, these two have obviously chosen to defect. I am encouraged, though, that Paul had not written these two defectors off completely. Instead, he has delivered them to Satan. In other words, he has left them to the results of their choice. If they are going to reject Christ, they by default are going to be in Satan’s camp. Paul probably thought that these two would soon learn their lesson, and would reverse course once again.

Where are you in this picture? Are you still fighting the fight like Timothy, or have you reversed course like these two God-maligners? Or, maybe you are still considering whether Christ is worth your allegiance. You cannot sideline this choice. You are either fighting the fight, or you have already lost it.

LORD, give us all the courage to choose Christ, and keep fighting that fight until the end

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1 βλασφημέω = malign. 1 Timothy 1:20; 6:1.

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believing for permanent life

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
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believing for permanent life

1 Timothy 1:15-17 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is reliable and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the first of them.
1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the first of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for permanent life.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ages and ages. Amen.

believing for permanent life

This is one of the finest summaries of the Christian faith. Note how Paul expresses the essence of his faith in these words:

His faith was in the work of Jesus Christ, not his own. He knew that neither he nor anyone else could have been saved unless Christ Jesus came into the world to save them. He considered himself the first in line for hell, because he had been the first of sinners.

His faith was in the mercy of God. Dr. John Roller describes mercy as “God’s kindness in not giving us the things that we deserve.” We deserve destruction in hell, but his mercy saves us from that fate — if we believe.

He trusted the immortal God to raise him to a permanent life. He did not expect to keep living after he died. He did not have that permanent life yet. But he trusted Christ, who promised to raise the dead “at the last day” (John 6:39,40,44; 11:24).

Are you believing for permanent life? Don’t let this temporary life be all there is for you. Believe in Christ and be raised to life again — permanently.

LORD, draw people to yourself by these words, so that they may live again, and permanently.

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not measuring up

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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not measuring up

1 Timothy 1:12-14 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:12 I give gratitude to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me for the assistance –
1 Timothy 1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
1 Timothy 1:14 and the favor of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and care that are in Christ Jesus.

not measuring up

Paul had been telling Timothy that some would use the law as a standard for condemning others, but would reject the excellent message (the gospel) which is the only thing that can change a heart.

He uses himself as an example of this. His life was changed because Christ had mercy on him. He did not “measure up” to God’s standards. He came to God like everyone else does: through repentance and faith.

LORD, thank you for having mercy on all of us — who do not measure up.

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legitimate law

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
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legitimate law

1 Timothy 1:8-11 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.
1 Timothy 1:9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1 Timothy 1:10 for fornicators, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is different than the sound teaching
1 Timothy 1:11 that conforms to the excellent message about the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

legitimate law

Timothy would encounter “Bible teachers” whose only concern was to show others how holy they were. But Paul told him that they were using God’s law in an illegitimate way. Its legitimate purpose is to condemn lawbreakers.

If you are really concerned about making yourself holy, you will seek the excellent message: the gospel. Only thorough God’s grace can we overcome our tendency to break his law.

LORD, build us up with your gospel!

 

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the right results

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

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the right results

1 Timothy 1:5-7 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the intended result of our instruction is care that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:6 Some have missed these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.
1 Timothy 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

the right results

How do you know if all your Bible study is producing the right results? Those results should be:

  • a caring heart toward others
  • a good conscience internally
  • a sincere faith in God

If our Bible study is not producing that, then we may have turned aside to fruitless discussion.

LORD. Show us how to use your word to produce the right results.
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