1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:1

In chapter 3, the apostle Paul talks to Pastor Timothy about those involved in church leadership… Because the words “bishop,” “pastor,” and “elder” are used interchangeably throughout the New Testament, Paul’s instructions concerning bishops apply to anyone who wants to be used by the Lord. If a man desires to be involved in a greater degree of ministry, he desires a good worknot a good position, not a good salary, not a good retirement plan, but a good work. The ministry is not a profession one enters into, saying, “These are my office hours. These are my off hours. My phone number is unlisted.” Ministry is a good work indeedbut it’s work.

1 Timothy 3:2

If you hold the position of elder, bishop, or pastor, you are not to drink anything intoxicating. Ever. Why? “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to drink wine or princes to drink strong drink lest they forget the law and pervert the judgment” (see Pro_31:4-5). We forget the Word easy enough when we’re sober, gang. Therefore, we can’t afford to have leaders who are less than sober. I feel very strongly about this because I believe the times are influencing the ministry rather than the other way around. A man in Seattle was known for his punctuality. One morning, however, he slept a little too long. Realizing his mistake, he ran out to his car, raced across town, and made it to the dock just in time to see the ferry he usually rode to work pulling away from the pier. Slamming his car into park, he grabbed his briefcase, and jumped over the railing, narrowly landing on the deck of the ferry. “What a jump!” said the captain. “I’ve never seen such an effort! But if you would have waited another minute, we would have been at the dock.” Like this man, patience is hard for me. I jump off in one direction and crash down in anotheronly to discover that had I waited another minute or two, everything would have gone a lot more smoothly. Those in the ministry are easy targets for people who have an axe to grind because they think if they can pull a minister down, they will feel better about their own sin. Yet although the tendency is to want to strike back, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ who, even on the Cross, said, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

1 Timothy 3:4

“Your mother and Your brothers want to see You,” they said to Jesus in the midst of His teaching. “Who is My mother? Who are My brethren?” He answered. “Are not these who hear the Word of God, are not they My mother and My brothers?” (see Mat_12:48-50) Jesus’ disciples were His family. Conversely, your family members are your disciples. The validation of your ministry will not be the size of your church or the degrees after your name. According to Paul’s charge to Timothy, the validity of ministry lies in the family. If a man cannot rule, lead, or direct his home in spiritual matters, then he shouldn’t try to oversee the church. Such a stand is not legalismit’s wisdom.

1 Timothy 3:6

Why was the devilLuciferinitially condemned? Because of pride (Isa_14:12-15). Thus, Paul warns Timothy not to place a novice in a position of leadership because novices tend to think that if anything good happens through them it’s because they’re a skilled speaker or a clever person. Only someone who has walked with the Lord awhile understands that if anything good happens through him it’s not because of him, but rather in spite of him!

1 Timothy 3:7

I think it’s a tragedy when Christians are known as terrible credit risks, and pastors are known as the worst. This doesn’t mean good pastors won’t have critics. It does mean, however, they won’t provide reasons for their critics to find fault with them.

1 Timothy 3:8

Deacons are those involved not so much in overseeing, teaching, or pastoringbut in practical service, in tending physical needs like waiting on tables (Acts 6). A deacon with a double tongue is dangerous because anyone involved in spiritual leadership who can’t control his tongue will say things that distract people from Jesus Christ. Because judgment is not as greatly needed in the ministry of a deacon as it is in that of a pastor or elder, wine is not forbidden for a deaconalthough in our culture, I personally think the wisest choice is always to stay away from intoxicants. If you’re involved in the physical needs of the fellowshipwhether it be waiting on tables or tending to business mattersyou cannot be one who has sticky fingers.

1 Timothy 3:9

Those who volunteer to help the body in any way they canbe it teaching Sunday school, watering plants, or parking carsprove themselves as those who are potential deacons or pastors.

1 Timothy 3:11

Because the words “must their” are in italics and therefore not in the original text, because the phrase translated “even so” is hosautos in Greeka word always used to start a new list, and because the word “wives” is gune, which simply means “woman,” I believe this verse could refer to deaconesseswomen who serve the practical needs of the church.

1 Timothy 3:12

“If you use the office of a deacon well, you purchase boldness,” says Paul. He’s rightStephen, the first martyr, was a deacon. And Philip, the first evangelist, was a deacon. These guys were dynamic. They were bold. And they began simply by serving tables (Acts 6).

1 Timothy 3:14

In a debate with Dennis Praeger, a believer, atheist Oxford University professor Jonathan Glover, said, “It doesn’t really matter whether a person has a belief system that is biblical or godly. The important thing is that they believe in something.” Praeger replied, “Imagine, Professor Glover, that you’re in downtown Los Angeles. It’s two o’clock in the morning. Your car breaks down. You get out. You hear footsteps. You turn around to see ten big young men walking toward you. Would it make a difference if you knew they had just come from a Bible study?” It does matter what people believe! And praise be to the Lord that we are a part of the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.

1 Timothy 3:16

At this point, your spirits might be sagging as you think, Oh, my, as I go through this list, I realize I’m so far off from where I should be. But then we read of the mystery of godliness… Every other philosophy and religion tells people how to live and can only say, “Good luck.” But great is the mystery that God came, dwelt among us, died for us, and sent His Spirit to live within us. The Mystery of Godliness A Topical Study of 1Ti_3:1-7, 1Ti_3:16 Sometimes life can seem almost overwhelming. Perhaps Timothy felt that way when he received instructions from the apostle Paul concerning those who were qualified to be involved in ministry, for who could ever qualify? Who could say, “I am vigilant in prayer, patient, hospitable, and blameless. And so are my kids. Yes, these qualifications fit me to a T”? In reality, we say, “Oh, I see the validity of the list before me, but I could never qualify because of the sins and mistakes I carry with me.” As I arrived at the Medford Airport one morning years ago, to my good fortune, I bumped into my mom and daughter, who were waiting to board a plane to the Mission at Carmen Serdan, Mexico. So we decided to have breakfast together. As we talked, a baggage cart being pulled by a tractor caught Mary’s eye. “I bet our bags are right there on that little cart,” my mom said to her. “Wow!” gasped Mary. “That guy’s going to drive all the way to Mexico?!” That’s a lot like me! “My, oh, my,” I say, “the journey to godliness is so far, and my baggage is so great. I’ll never get there just putt-putt-putting along the road.” But the text before us reminds me that there’s a better way than just plodding away through item after itemtrying to be blameless, trying to get my house in order, trying not to brawl, trying to fulfill the requirements that would make it an arduous journey at best. Paul calls it the mystery of godliness and talks about it not as it relates to a procedure, a process, or a program. He talks about godliness as it relates to a Person. Paul could have given us fifteen guidelines to godliness, or twenty hints about holiness. Instead, he just starts talking about Jesus… And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh… God became a Man when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, concerning an answer to any question I have about the way life should be lived, I don’t have to wait for inner revelation or sign up for a seminar to get instruction. All I have to do is look at Emmanuel, God With Us, Jesus. Too many people are looking for a manual on how to raise kids, how to be a better husband, how to live successfully. Forget the manuals. We have Emmanuel. …Justified in the Spirit… Jesus was justified in the Spirit when, following His baptism in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove (Mat_3:16). When He was thus empowered for service, His public ministry began and miracles followed. The same holds true for you. Just as anything you want to know about godliness can be seen in the Person of Jesus Christ, whatever you accomplish in ministry will be done solely through the power of the Holy Spirit. …Seen of Angels… Following His baptism, Jesus was led to the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan with the same temptations that bug, plague, and hassle you. At the end of forty days, Jesus was victorious and was ministered to by angels (Mat_4:11). When a bright light shines in your eyes, you instinctively shield your face. Can you imagine the brightness of He who is light? Thus, it is highly possible that angels never saw God before the Incarnation. Only when He became a Man could they look at Him. And so can we. …Preached unto the Gentiles… Jesus marveled at the faith of only two people. Both were Gentiles… “You don’t even need to come to my house,” said the Roman centurion to Jesus. “Just speak the word and my servant will be healed long distance” (see Mat_8:8). “Lord, help me,” said the Syro-Phoenician woman on behalf of her demon-possessed daughter (see Mat_15:25). At a time when Gentiles were considered by Jews to be nothing more than fuel for the fires of hell, Jesus not only talked to Gentiles, but commended them uniquely. So, too, you might feel like the least likely candidate to deserve a word from Jesus. Take heart! He marvels at the faith of people like you! …Believed on in the World… “Truly this was the Son of God,” the centurion proclaimed as He saw Jesus on the Cross (Mat_27:54). Believed on by the centurion who stood below Him and by the thief who hung beside Him, Jesus was further believed on by the hundreds who were eyewitnesses of His resurrection. …Received Up into Glory… Jesus is in heaven where He lives to make intercession for you and me (Heb_7:25). In other words, Jesus went to heaven where He’s talking to the Father nonstop about you. “Peter, Satan desires to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you,” Jesus said. “Therefore, when you are convertednot if you are converted, but when you are convertedstrengthen the brothers” (see Luk_22:32). In other words, “You’re going to make it, Peter, because I’m praying for you.” I have great news for you as well: All those of you who know Jesus are going to make it. You’re going to be godly because Jesus is praying for youand His prayers are always heard and heeded by the Father. If we could understand baby talk, we would know what babies fuss about. We might hear one say, “You know I’m just never going to get this walking thing down. All I do is stumble around, fall down, and land on my bottom.” And maybe another says, “I don’t think I’ll ever figure out how to eat with a spoon…” Yet, as adults, if we could understand them and they us, we’d say, “It’s all going to work out, kids. You’re going to walk, you’ll see. You’ll get that spoon thing down. It will work!” And that’s what the Lord would say to you. Great is this mystery of godliness. Jesus has walked where you walk. He knows what you’re going through, and now He’s at the right hand of the Father, praying for you. Not only does Jesus pray for you, but He lives in you. “It’s expedient I go away,” He said, “for if I go away, I will send you another Comforter” (see Joh_14:16). Not only is Jesus praying for us, but by His Spirit, He lives in us. Your co-workers are telling a dirty joke. An opportunity is before you to cheat on your income tax. Your friends are gossiping and expect you to join in. But there is a voice in your ear saying, “Don’t do it. It will hurt you.” That’s the voice of God within you. The mystery of godliness is so simple. It’s not a matter of working hard on the list in 1 Timothy 3. It’s a matter of saying, “Lord, whatever You say, that’s what I’ll do.” Finally, not only is Jesus praying for us and living within us, He’s coming to get us. “Let not your heart be troubled,” He said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (see Joh_14:1-2). It was time for my mom and daughter to check in for their flight. “Which one of you is Mary Courson?” asked the attendant. They both raised their hands. “Which one of you is Mary Elizabeth Courson?” she asked again. They both raised their hands. “Which one of you is Mary Elizabeth Courson related to Jon Courson?” Two hands went up. When Jesus comes back, all those who opened their hearts to Him will go with Him. Like Mary, compared to another, you might feel your faith is too small or too youngbut we’re all going because we all bear Jesus’ Name. It’s a fabulous hope! Dear saint, please understand that we don’t have to drive our baggage all the way to Mexicoor to heaven. Because Jesus became a Man who walked in our steps, died in our place, and lives in our hearts, we can soar to the heavenlies in Him. And that is the great and glorious mystery of godliness.