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Key Questions for Chapter 3 What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church/congregation?

Lesson 4. Key Questions for Chapter 3 What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church/congregation? What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church/congregation? Is there God-established, required conduct for a church/congregation?.

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Key Questions for Chapter 3 What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church/congregation?

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  1. Lesson 4 Key Questions for Chapter 3 • What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church/congregation? • What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church/congregation? • Is there God-established, required conduct for a church/congregation?

  2. Outline of Chapter 3 • Church Conduct and Church Officials (Ch. 2-3) • Godliness and Reverence of Members (2:1-15) • Qualifications of Bishops (3:1-7) • Qualifications of Deacons (3:8-13) • Admonition to Timothy: Establish Orderly Conduct (3:14-16)

  3. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church? (1 Tim 3:1 NKJV) This is a faithful saying: If a man [“anyone” or “whoever”] desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; • He must be “a man.” • He must be a husband (a[ndra, masculine). • To qualify to serve as an elder (or deacon) a woman would have to be the one who “rules” the household (I Tim. 3:4), which clearly violates other scriptures (Eph. 5:22-23).

  4. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; • He must be “blameless.” • pertaining to what cannot be criticized - ‘above criticism, beyond reproach.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains • Or withoutreproach: one who cannot be laidholdof: who gives no ground for accusation • MarvinVincent, Vincent’s Word Studies

  5. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be the “husband of one wife.” (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife …

  6. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be the “husband of one wife.”--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV Greek-English Interlinear) mia`" gunaiko;" a[ndra of one wife the husband “These words are best explained by those below in 5:9, eJno;" ajndro;" gunhv, the wife of one husband. (1) It is clear that those words (eJno;" ajndro;" gunhv) do not signify the wife of not more than one husband at a time, for they are spoken of a chvra, or widow, who has no husband at all; but they mean a woman who has not been married more than once.” • Wordsworth, New Testament in the Original Greek (Vol. II, under I Tim. 3:2) (1 Tim 5:9 NKJV Greek-English Interlinear) eJno;" ajndro;" gunhv of one man the wife

  7. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be the “husband of one wife.”--Cont’d • See Lesson 6 for references indicating that in I Tim. 5:9 the phrase means married only once. • “the same qualification is required of ‘widows taken into the number’ (in 5:9) that she should have been ‘the wife of one man,’ where polygamy is out of the question.…” F. C. Cook, The Bible Commentary (Vol. 9, under I Tim. 3:2) • This is reflected in some translations. (1 Tim 3:2 Moffatt) … he must be married only once…. (1 Tim 3:2 & 3:12 NEB) Footnote: Or married to one wife, or married only once. [A bishop must have been married only once in his lifetime.]

  8. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2-3 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate[vigilant, KJV], sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “temperate,” “sober-minded,” “not given to wine.” • The literal meanings of the Greek words show an orderly progressing of behavior:  physically sober (an abstainer),  sober in mind (sober-minded, self-controlled, prudent), and then  not near wine (protecting his reputation and that of the church)

  9. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be “temperate”... • “Temperate” is from the Greek word nhfavlio", which is often defined as allowing no use of alcohol:  sober, temperate, abstinent in respect to wine, etc. H. K. Moulton, The Analytical Greek Lexicon--Revised  In prof. auth., esp. Aeschylus and Plutarch, of things free from all infusion or addition of wine, as vessels, offerings, etc. J. H. Thayer, The New Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon  (a use in 4 B.C.) may refer either to altars at which only wineless offerings were made, or perhaps to cakes made in the form of an altar, free from all influence of wine. J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament

  10. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be “temperate”…--Cont’d • The Greek root word nhvfw is frequently defined as requiring abstention (absolutely no use):  to abstain from wine; thus, to be sober G. V. Wigram and J. P. Green, The New Englishman’s Greek Concordance and Lexicon  to be sober, drink no wine H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, Greek-English Lexicon.  to abstain from wine (keep sober) J. Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.  to abstain; to be sober J. Gall, Layman’s English-Greek Lexicon  to be free from the influence of intoxicants J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament [Here, in the strongest possible terms, is the requirement for a bishop to be an abstainer (i.e., absolutely no use).]

  11. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be ... “sober-minded”... • “Sober-minded” is from the Greek word swvfrwn, which literally means:  self-controlled, sound minded, sensible G. V. Wigram and J. P. Green, The New Englishman’s Greek Concordance and Lexicon  of sound mind, sober, temperate, discrete J. Gall, Layman’s English-Greek Lexicon  in the manner of a person in his right mind; soberly, staidly, temperately H. K. Moulton, The Analytical Greek Lexicon--Revised • It is translated:  sober--KJV; sober-minded--NKJV, ASV (1901)  self-controlled--NIV; sensible--RSV [Note the progression: sober (abstainer), then sober-minded.]

  12. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d • He must be ... “not given to wine”... • “Not given to wine” is from a single Greek word pavroino", which comes from two Greek words:  parav meaning “beside”  oi\no" meaning “wine” J. Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance • It cannot condone some drinking, because a prior requirement prohibits all drinking. • The literal meaning is most appropriate: notnearwine. [Note the progression: physically sober (an abstainer), sober in mind (sober-minded, self-controlled, prudent), and then not near wine (protecting his reputation and that of the church.] [Note: “not given to much wine” (3:8) is a completely different phrase.]

  13. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach • He must be “of good behavior.” • pertaining to being modest in the sense of moderate and well ordered - ‘modest, well-ordered, moderate, becoming.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  14. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; • He must be “hospitable.” • hospitable, generous to guests • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • fond of guests • J. Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (1 Tim 3:2 Greek-English Interlinear) … lovingstrangers …

  15. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, ofgood behavior, hospitable, able to teach; • He must be “able to teach.” • apt and skilful in teaching • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • skilful in teaching • Walter Bauer, F. Wilbur Gingrich, and Frederick W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

  16. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “not violent.” • from a verb meaning “to strike, smite.” • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (1 Tim 3:3 Greek-English Interlinear) … not a bully ...

  17. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “not greedy for money.” • Not “covetous” (see later in verse) of money obtained in a disreputable, dishonorable, shameful, base way. • This is not in many versions (including ASV and NASB) because it is not in a popular Greek manuscript (the Nestle-Aland, United Bible Society text).

  18. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, notgreedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “gentle.” • equitable, fair, mild, gentle • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • pertaining to being gracious and forbearing - ‘gentle, gracious, forbearing.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  19. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “not quarrelsome.” • not contentious, abstaining from fighting • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • pertaining to a lack of conflict and contention - ‘not contentious, peaceful.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  20. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, notgreedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; • He must be “not covetous.” • not loving money, not avaricious • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon • pertaining to not being desirous or greedy for money - ‘not loving wealth, one who does not love money.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  21. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who rules his own house[household, NASB] well, having his children in submission with all reverence • He must be one who “rules his own house.” • rule: be at the head (of), rule, direct • Walter Bauer, F. Wilbur Gingrich, and Frederick W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

  22. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who ruleshis own house [household, NASB] well, having his children in submission with all reverence • He must be one “having his children in submission ...” • children: includes one or more, as in-- (1 Tim 5:4 NKJV) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents …. (Mat 22:24 NKJV) saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. • Does rearing adopted children satisfy this demonstration?

  23. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who ruleshis own house [household, NASB] well, having his children in submission with all reverence • He must be one “having his children in submission ...” • in submission: to submit to the orders or directives of someone - ‘to obey, to submit to, obedience, submission.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  24. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) ... having his children in submission with all reverence[under control with all dignity, NASB] • He must be one “having his children in submission with all reverence.” • with all reverence: of men reverence, dignity, seriousness, respectfulness, holiness, probity • Walter Bauer, F. Wilbur Gingrich, and, Frederick W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature behavior which is befitting, implying a measure of dignity leading to respect - ‘propriety, befitting behavior’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  25. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who rules his own house [household, NASB] well, having his children in submission with all reverence [under control with all dignity, NASB] (1 Tim 3:5 NKJV) (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); • What is the purpose of meeting the requirement to rule his household and have his children in submission?

  26. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who rules his own house [household, NASB] well, having his children in submission with all reverence [under control with all dignity, NASB] • Note: Titus 1:6 addresses same qualities. (Titus 1:6 NKJV) ... having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. • faithful:  pertaining to being sure, with the implication of being fully trustworthy - ‘sure.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains  some translate as “believing.” • Note: Being “trustworthy” is contrast to “dissipation” (ignoring consequences) and “insubordination” (and with “submission” and “reverence” of I Tim. 3:4). • Note: See 3:11 where wives must be “faithful” in all things.

  27. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:6 NKJV) not a novice[not a new convert, NASB], lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. • He must be one who is “not a novice [not a new convert, NASB].” • (a figurative extension of meaning of neovfuto"‘newly planted,’ not occurring in the NT) … ‘recent convert.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains • like English word “neophyte” • What is the danger of a new convert becoming a bishop?

  28. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:7 NKJV) Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. • He must be one who has a good reputation among those who are in the community. (1 Tim 3:7 NASB) 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. • What is the danger of someone without a good reputation becoming a bishop?

  29. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: • The man himself: • male • an abstainer (no use of beverage alcohol) • sober-minded • not a new Christian • The man’s family: • married (but married only once) • children (“faithful,” submissive, respectful) • “rules” his household

  30. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church?--Cont’d SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:--Cont’d • All those who know him: • blameless • of good behavior • hospitable • able to teach • not near wine • not violent • not greedy or covetous • gentle • not quarrelsome • good testimony from outsiders

  31. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church? (1 Tim 3:8 NKJV) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, • He must be “reverent.” • ‘honorable, worthy of respect, of good character.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains (1 Tim 3:8 NASB) Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, … (Phil 4:8 NASB) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, …

  32. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:8 NKJV) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, • He must be “not double-tongued.” • ‘double-tongued, two-faced, hypocritical.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains • "Not double tongued" is more than just not lying, it includes not presenting two different representations of the same situations.

  33. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:8 NKJV) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, • He must be “not given to much wine.” • to hold the mind towards • J. Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance • not “holding the mind” on much wine • A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament • to pay close attention to something, with the possible implication of agreement - ‘to pay close attention to, to consider carefully.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  34. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d • He must be “not given to much wine.”--Con’t • The actual drinking of wine is not explicitly mentioned in 3:8. • The admonition is against too much attention to the thoughts of wine. • Continual contemplations lead to the first drink and all that follow it. • This is a very different expression than “not given to wine” in I Tim. 3:3. The Greek in 3:3 and 3:8 does not suggest a comparison of consumption--neither mentions consumption!

  35. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:8 NKJV) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, • He must be “not greedy for money.” • pertaining to not being desirous or greedy for money - ‘not loving wealth, one who does not love money.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  36. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:9 NKJV) holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. • He must be one “holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” • A deacon knows the faith, or teachings, or doctrine of his Lord. • He is faithful to it, so that respecting those teachings his conscience is pure. • He would not deny nor betray his Lord by word or action, nor his Lord's fundamental teachings about salvation, worship, and the church.

  37. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:10 NKJV) But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. • When must a deacon meet all these qualification? • How well must he meet them? (“blameless” is the same Greek word as in Titus 1:6, 7)

  38. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:11 NKJV) Likewise their wives must be reverent, notslanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. • What qualities must the wife of prospective deacon have? • “reverent” (same as deacons in verse 8) ‘honorable, worthy of respect, of good character.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains • not “slanderers” prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely • Logos Research Systems, Inc., Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon

  39. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:11 NKJV) Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. • What qualities must the wife of prospective deacon have?--Cont’d • “temperate” (same as bishops in verse 2) sober, temperate, abstinent in respect to wine, etc. H. K. Moulton, The Analytical Greek Lexicon-- Revised • “faithful in all things” (like bishop’s children in Titus 1:6) pertaining to being sure, with the implica-tion of being fully trustworthy - ‘sure.’ • Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains

  40. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:12 NKJV) Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses [households, NASB] well. • He must be “the husband of one wife” (same as bishops in verse 2). • See Lesson 6 for references indicating that this phrase (e.g, in I Tim. 5:9) means married only once. • This is reflected in some translations. (1 Tim 3:12 Moffatt) Deacons are to be married only once … (1 Tim 3:12 NEB) Footnote: Or married to one wife, or married only once. • He must be a husband (“man”) (a[ndra, masculine) (same as bishop in verse 1).

  41. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:12 NKJV) Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses [households, NASB] well. • They must rule their “children” and “houses” well. • This “ruling” requirement is much the same as that in verse 4 for bishops. • This requires that the children be old enough for others to see that the man has them under control, but does not require that the children be old enough to assess their “faithfulness” to his teachings/principles (as in the case of the bishop).

  42. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d (1 Tim 3:13 NKJV) For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. • What is the reward for serving well as a deacon?

  43. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: • The man himself: • male • holds to the faith with a clear conscience • not fascinated with wine • not fascinated with wrongfully getting wealth

  44. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:--Cont’d • The man’s family: • married (but married only once) • rules his children • rules his household • his wife is of good character and worthy of respect • his wife is not a slanderer • his wife is an abstainer • his wife is trustworthy

  45. What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church?--Cont’d SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:--Cont’d • All those who know him: • dignified • not only trustworthy, but forthright • he has demonstrated all the qualifications

  46. Is there God-established, required conduct for a church/congregation? (1 Tim 3:14 NKJV) These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; (1 Tim 3:15 NKJV) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. • What areas of “conduct” in the “church” has Paul addressed in this epistle? • Is all this guidance required for all churches? (Recall Lesson 2)

  47. Is there God-established, required conduct for a church/congregation? (1 Tim 3:16 NKJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. • How did God (deity) fulfill all the items mention here? • How is the incarnation of Christ related to the “mystery of Godliness”?

  48. What to Remember. From Chapter 3 • What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a bishop of a church/congregation? See summary. • What qualifications must a person meet to serve as a deacon of a church/congregation? See summary. • There are God-established, required provisions for the organization of a church/congregation?

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