Lesson for October 24, 2021
The Book of I Timothy
Chapter 3:8-16
Verses 8-13
“Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.For those who have served well as deacon obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
Likewise sets up a similarity of qualification in all categories of leadership in the local church, whether pastors or deacons. Therefore, this will be something of a repetition in part. Deacons is the Greek word “diakonos,” which means servant or waiter. It means to render service or administration in the local church. A deacon is a church administrator, he is under the authority of the pastor. The pastor is the primary policy maker. This does not mean that deacons cannot make policy, as long is not in conflict with the pastor. (Acts 6:1-6)
Dignity is the Greek word “semnos,” which means worthy of respect or honorable. It is a reference to the fact that deacons must be advanced in spiritual growth. There is a good reason for that. It is important that these men be spiritually mature. The pastor is the policy maker of the local church based on his study and understanding of the Word of God. The deacons carry out the grace policy of the pastor. Therefore, they must have enough divine viewpoint to recognize grace policy when they see it and to carry it out vigorously in compatibility with their spiritual gift. Therefore, it is imperative that they understand the teaching of the pastor so that there is no lapse between his teaching and the policy which they should understand.
Not double-tongued is the Greek words “me dilogos,” which means to say one thing and mean another. No one can ever be effective in administration when they say one thing and mean another. This word comes to mean deceitful, hypocritical in speech. The deacon must have integrity of character rather than be a phony or full of himself. Administration in the local church demands honesty, honor, and integrity of character.
Or addicted to much wine means deacons can’t be alcoholics. They can drink but they can’t be going around constantly under the influence of alcohol. This doesn’t forbid drinking, it forbids drunkenness. Limitation demonstrates that self-discipline. Or fond of sordid gain means the deacon cannot be making money dishonestly. Dishonest business practice or cheating in business eliminates a man from serving effectively in deacon leadership.
But holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience means every deacon should be a student of the Word of God and should be taking in doctrine consistently. This is a reference to maintaining a spiritual life and continuing spiritual growth. The deacon must be under the influence of doctrine to avoid reversionism.
With a clear conscience means with a pure conscience. A pure conscience means to be continually influenced by Bible doctrine. A pure conscience means a deacon must have pure norms and standards. Pure norms and standards refer to divine norms and standards residing in the soul, which qualify a man to use the spiritual gift of administration as a deacon.
These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Tested is an assayer’s (evaluator’s) term meaning to analyze precious metals. Spiritually it means to be tested and to be found approved. It means to pass the test, to qualify by passing the test. This means a deacon must have gained some maturity in life by the normal tests everyone faces in life. Beyond reproach means blameless experientially and not to be accused before the law or to be blameless or exemplary under divine establishment principles. This means that to qualify for a deacon the male believer must be free from criminal activity.
Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. This is a reference to the fact that the wife of a deacon must have some advance in her own spiritual growth. She must not be indifferent to the Word of God or negative toward it. Just as with the deacon, so also with his wife. Both must consistently study and apply Bible doctrine. Dignified means worthy of respect or honorable and comes from the accurate doctrine in her soul. Malicious gossips means to slander or to be guilty of the various sins of the tongue. Deacons’ wives must avoid the sins of the tongue. Temperate means self-control or self-discipline in all areas of life. Faithful means dependable, a person you can count on in all situations.
Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. This once again refers to polygamy. As with pastors, this means if a deacon is married, it must be to only one woman.
Good managers means to administrate properly. A deacon cannot exercise authority in the local church when he can’t handle and exercise authority over his own family. The deacon who cannot effectively manage his own household is not qualified to exercise authority in the local church.
For those who have served well as deacon obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. When a man serves honorably as a deacon, he gains a good reputation among his fellow believers and great confidence in God and His Word. Since a deacon should be able to teach doctrine, he must also be a serious student of the Word of God. His knowledge of accurate Bible doctrine is what gives him great confidence.
Verses 14-16
“I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” In his absence and not knowing when he will be able to be with Timothy, Paul gave him, and would continue to give him, a detailed doctrinal lesson on conduct within the local church and Timothy’s role as the pastor. The pastor’s role is to study and teach accurate Bible doctrine. In this way, the congregation is able to grow spiritually and reach the various stages of spiritual adulthood.
The pillar and support of the local church is Bible doctrine. Support means foundation. Pillars are built upon the foundation. The foundation is Jesus Christ, and the pillar is doctrinal truth. Once you lay the foundation of salvation you must continue the same way, in grace through faith. The royal family must continually live on doctrine. Therefore, after the foundation in laid (faith in Christ), the pillars (doctrinal truth) support the spiritual life. The real key to the local church is the fact that Bible doctrine is taught accurately. The “real secret” to a successful local church is the pillars of doctrinal truth (not the church programs). The local church is to be a classroom where the pillars (accurate doctrine) are transferred from the page of the Bible into the soul. Therefore, pillars support the spiritual life of believers. Without the pillars of accurate Bible doctrine “the spiritual building” of the local church collapses.
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Now we come to the authority of Christ as we conclude this chapter. The mystery of godliness is the entire doctrine of the Church Age. The Church Age was not known to the Old Testament, neither was its doctrine. Its doctrine is the whole concept of the royal family, union with Jesus Christ, our relationship with God, our 40 spiritual assets, the great blessings that come to us, how God is glorified by blessing us, and so much more. All of these things are a part of that mystery of godliness.
Godliness is the Greek word “eusebeia,” which means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and have Bible doctrine in your soul. It is God’s grace system, and our two power options. And it is the reason we have the local church, and it is the reason the gift of pastor-teacher is distributed to certain men. Christ went to the Cross and did all of the salvation work for us. The same thing is true in the pillar concept. We have our foundation, Jesus Christ. Now the pillars have to go up. The pillars are Bible doctrine. Everything that Christ did not only provided salvation but provided the system whereby we can reach spiritual maturity.
The mystery of godliness is all about our relationship with Jesus Christ. So, Paul gave Timothy, and he gives us a beautiful look at our Savior. First Jesus became a man, a human being in Hypostatic Union, being fully God and full man in one Person. Vindicatedmeans that Christ as a perfect human being was justified by means of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ lived an absolutely perfect life while on earth under the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit and could not be found guilty of sin. The impeccability of Christ and the sustaining ministry of the Holy Spirit to the humanity of Christ, made this impeccability possible. Seen by angels means Christ was observed by angels. Angelic observation is a part of the Angelic Conflict since Christ “broke Satan’s back” on the Cross.
Proclaimed among the nations means Christ would be proclaimed in the world during the Church Age. This is one of the benefits of living in a free society – the freedom to evangelize. Local churches are also free to be formed and preaching and teaching in the local churches is under the protection of the laws of the nation – free speech.
Believed on in the world means that many people will believe in Christ throughout the world. Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ has eternal salvation. Christ is the object of faith. He is the only Savior, and you have to believe in Him in any dispensation for salvation.
Taken up in glory is a reference to the Ascension of Christ where He sat down at the right hand of the Father. This meant that God the Father was satisfied with the work of Christ on the Cross and He now makes constant intercession in Heaven for believers. Because Christ was taken up into the place of glory, there now exists a Royal Family of God on earth. When the royal family (the body of Christ) is completed, it is resurrected (Rapture of the Church) and the Age of Israel resumes as the Tribulation. When Christ returns (the Second Coming) at the end of the Tribulation accompanied by His royal family, the Age of Israel will be over.