I Timothy 3, The Character of Church Leaders

Paul has been giving advice to Timothy on ministering in Ephesus.  In this passage he lays out expectations of church leaders.

1 Timothy 3: 1-7, Deacons.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.  Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

The term "overseer" has been translated "bishop" or possibly "elder". An overseer should be one whose spiritual life is mature and stable; their home life should also be reasonably stable. (Whose home life is completely stable?  Not anyone I know.)

This is another passage where people argue about cultural tags.  Although most Christians today would not argue that this passage says overseers should be married, some say this passage teaches overseers should be male.  I think this passage reflects practice: in that culture overseers did tend to be married men.  If so, here is how they should act....

1 Timothy 3: 8-13, Deacons and deaconesses

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

The word translated deacon here is literally "servant", a concept that probably showed up first in Acts 6: 1-7.  The passage about wives of deacons is unclear; according to the NIV footnotes, it could be speaking about women who are deacons.  "Their wives" could also be translated "deaconesses."

1 Timothy 3: 14-16, 

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: 
He appeared in a body, 
was vindicated by the Spirit, 
was seen by angels, 
was preached among the nations, 
was believed on in the world, 
was taken up in glory.

In some manuscripts "He appeared in a body" is instead "God appeared in a body" (NIV footnotes.) The last part of this passage has the feel of an early creed or hymn.

More pastoral advice follows in the next chapter.  

1 Timothy 2, Peaceful and Quiet Lives

Paul continues to instruct Timothy on church leadership.

1 Timothy 2: 1-4, Prayer for those in authority

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

Paul's request for prayer for government leaders is based on a desire for ordinary peaceful lives.  Paul has no desire to shake up society, unless it is through the (slow) progress brought by changed hearts and "knowledge of the truth".

1 Timothy 2: 5-7, One mediator, one ministry

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.  And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

Paul concludes the instruction about prayer with a strong statement about the true role of Jesus, as Savior-Mediator.  And, as he often does, Paul follows this with a statement about his own calling to preach about the Messiah to the non-Jews.

1 Timothy 2: 8-15, Pastoral advice

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

After the first sentence, this passage becomes increasingly difficult for the modern reader.  Paul begins with desire for prayer and peace, followed then by an emphasis (for the Gentile untrained by Judaism) on modesty and inner beauty.  But after that, he seems to be very patriarchal, emphasizing female submission.

This passage is laden with the culture of the first century and one wonders how much of it deals with working within the first century culture.  I won't elaborate on the various positions taken by the church today ("complementarianism" and "egalitarianism", among others) but I do want to point out that the first verses in the chapter clarifies Paul's desire for peaceful lives of quiet change and quiet spiritual development.  He has no plans to overthrow society.  Eventually, over several centuries, Christianity did become the dominant religion in Europe (at least officially) and did indeed overturn society.  But that is not Paul's goal here.

The NIV footnotes allow the last sentence to be translated "But she will be restored through childbearing..." presumably relating back to the divisions created by the Fall.  Neither phrasing is compatible with other statements about women and men being equal before God (i.e. Galatians 3:28)

More pastoral advice is given in the next chapter.

I Timothy 1, God's Work on the "Chief Sinner"

Paul's letter to Timothy is the first of three pastoral letters preserved in the New Testament.  The term "pastoral" (first used in the eighteenth century for I & II Timothy and Titus) identifies these letters as written to young men active in Christian ministry.  The letters are personal but also lay out some of Paul's principles of ministry.

1 Timothy 1: 1-2, To Timothy, grace, mercy and peace!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is a standard ancient greeting, with Paul's added emphasis on the role of Jesus in the universe and in his relationship with Timothy.

1 Timothy 1: 3-5, Pure doctrine in Ephesus
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Timothy stayed in Asia Minor (now Turkey) while Paul crossed the Aegean Sea to northern Greece. Paul is concerned here, as in many of his letters, with the popular philosophies that the people attached to the Christian message.

1 Timothy 1: 6-11, Sound doctrine vs. meaningless talk

Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

There will always be some who use religious conversation to promote themselves and puff themselves up, acting as "experts."  This was apparently true in the first century; surely it is common now.

1 Timothy 1: 12-14, The blasphemer forgiven

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Paul expresses gratitude for his own conversion and renewed life.

1 Timothy 1: 15-17, The blasphemer forgiven

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul ends this passage with exuberant praise, first to God for saving himself, a "blaphemer", and second for God's eternal acts, including forgiveness offered to all.

This passage sounds like a goodbye, but Paul will continue writing for five more chapters.

1 Timothy 1: 18-20, 

Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Paul gives specific advice to Timothy, reminding him of his divine calling.  Paul also gives warning about two very specific individuals who have a "shipwrecked faith".

In the next chapter, Paul begins to give precise pastoral advice.