1tim3v1-13

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1 TIMOTHY 3:1-16: TEXT: v1-13 [SERIES 10]

In the previous chapter, Paul was very clear on the prohibition that the Lord puts upon women holding authoritative positions in the church of Jesus Christ (2:12)

It is very easy for the liberals/feminists etc., to blame Paul for this prohibition, but such blame (if blame it be) is wrong

[i] Paul is writing by inspiration and so he is just the post man
You cannot punch the postman on the nose because he delivers you mail which you would rather not receive

[ii] Because he is writing by inspiration, then the sender of the package is God Himself and it takes a brazen one indeed to try and tell God that He has got it wrong!

It is not only the woman who is prohibited from holding authority in the church, yet there is a kind of prohibition on some men also
Indeed, we might even say; “Most men” within the church set up
Of course, not every one appointed to the authoritative office is in reality for for the job – even allowing for human weakness that reveals that everyone is imperfect

Sometimes all kind of abuses have taken place both before and after an election to this position, but just as we do not refuse to handle genuine bank notes because there are counterfeits , neither should we throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water on this matter either. [4 main thoughts/passage]

1) THE WORK OF THE ELDER:

A/ Notice: we adopt the word “Elder” instead of “Bishop”
The two terms are synonymous (along with “overseer”) and all relate to the one office within the church

We are Presbyterians because we believe: this is the NT pattern
Within/church: The twin office of the elder and of the deacon
We may divide, for practical purposes, the office/elder into two:
Teaching elder (whom we know as the minister)
Ruling Elder: Who does not ordinarily teach in that sense/word

We reject the idea/hierarchy along Anglican/Episcopalian lines
We do not have Bishops overruling ministers/elders and then Archbishops overruling them etc.,
We see no warrant for that in the NT and so reject it
I remind you that the Scottish Covenanters were prepared to die rather than see Episcopalian rites brought into the COS
So it is traditionally no side issue for true Presbyterians
As much as admire Bishops like Latimer and Cranmer and Ryle etc., yet we refuse the thought of having their office/Kirk

B/ This work/elder involves the following:

[i] Ruling in the church (v5)
Making spiritual decisions that affect the direction/church
Dealing with any disciplinary cases that might arise
Reference to such a disciplinary case: 1:20

[ii] Teaching in the church
Largely the work of the minister i.e. the teaching elder who will have been trained for this important work

He will learn the teachings/Church (ever a work/progress)
He will learn how to communicate those same teachings
The requirement “apt to teach” (v2) must be all conclusive

C/ It is to be recognised that not every elder will be a pulpit man with preaching gifts, but he must be able to instruct on spiritual matters –positively communicate truth/negatively repel error

D/ It is true that the congregation is subject to a higher church court – the Presbytery at large
Acts 15 is the key chapter which shows how deep problems in one congregation were brought to the Presbytery as a whole
This destroys the whole notion of Church Independency
The Apostles/elders who met in Jerusalem in Acts 15 did not merely advise the congregation/Antioch where the problem was
Rather – they delivered decrees to be kept (Acts 16:4)
There is the germ of Presbyterianism as we know it today

Whilst it is true that the Presbytery will issue decrees to be observed in all the churches within the Presbytery, yet the local elder is part/parcel of the same Presbytery having his part/play
Some elders maybe especially gifted for the politics/presbytery
Others less so – but they all have a vote that counts

2) THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ELDER:

A/ First thing we see: The office/elder must be desired (v1)
[i] There is such a thing as a carnality that shrinks from the office
[ii] There is such a thing as a false humility that shrinks/office
[iii] There is, of course, a true humility that shrinks from the office
This is the humility that finds expression/words:
Who is sufficient for these things? (1 Corinthians 2:16)
But this humility does not rub against the faith that cries:
Our sufficiency is of God (1 Corinthians 3:6)
When the Spirit/God needs elders in the various congregations, then He creates a desire for the office in the hearts/fit men
Those that so desire are desiring a good work

B/ Being a good work, it necessitates good men to perform it
How often has a good work being spoilt by bad men in it

[i] Nadab and Abihu and the sons/Eli blotted the OT priesthood
[ii] Judas blotted the office of the Apostle
[iii] Diotrephes (assumption) blotted the office/elder (3 John)

C/ The various qualifications may be divided/two distinct groups:

[i] Postive: blameless…husband/one wife faithful)…vigilant… sober…good behaviour…hospitable (large degree)… apt to teach (v2) …patient…good ruler/own house…(v3)…of good report (v7)
Implied in being a good ruler/own house is the requirement that he will be a good ruler in the church/Jesus Christ (v4)

These are all important requirements for the office

[ii] Negative: What he should NOT be:
Given to wine… violent….greedy for money or other man’s goods… (v3) Not a novice -no matter how promising - (v6) lest he be ruined with pride just as the devil was

D/ These things are all attainable for a Christian man
They flow essentially from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)
They may be retained by the donning of the whole armour/God
There is nothing here which a sincere, earnest, praying and Bible
reading man may not attain, under God

There are other matters that might be considered
Not mentioned here by name –assumed rather than stated
Prayer is the most notable one
The danger that the elder may abuse his authority and lord it over God’s flock is tackled by Peter (1 Peter 5) but these lies outside the scope of our present study

E/ If there is no man within the congregation who can honestly say that he is so qualified or who has no desire for such a work, then it is better for that congregation to be under the rule of other elders rather than elevate unfit men into the office where untold damage can be done

F/ In our FPC, we have the role/elder for life
But it is qualified as it needs to be

A man unfit for office (say through backsliding) should either resign or disciplined and stood down
The glory/God and the good/congregation must be over all

3) THE FAMILY OF THE ELDER:

A/ The elder cannot be one thing at home and another thing in the church especially if there is a wide gulf between the two
There are two relationships in view here - each must be right if he is to hold office within the church of Jesus Christ:

B/ The elder’s wife:

[i] He must be the husband of one wife
Issue at hand here is not celibacy but probably polygamy
There would be obvious advantages in the elder being married
(Does impact your outlook in life) but it is not essential
Rev. R Murray McCheyne remained unmarried
But the elder is not to be in a number of marriages

I don’t know if this has ever been an issue anywhere, but a professing Christian should not be “living in sin” in a relationship – never mind be considered elder material
If the world sooner or later creeps into the church – then this matter will sooner or later arise

[ii] His wife must be of a high spiritual character also (v11)
This can sometimes be a weak link in an otherwise strong chain
Doubtless: good men being held back by this qualification
Very little that can be done about it, bearing in mind the permanent nature of marriage

C/ The elder’s children:
Again, this can prove to be a weak link and a point where good men are being held back

If the elder cannot rule his own house well – how can he rule well the house/God?
Argument is from the lesser to the greater and very valid
Consider (as mentioned earlier) the mess that Eli made of things when his sons brought the office/priest into disrepute
Men began to despise the offerings/Lord which were intended to be of great spiritual benefit
Eli had let them away with so much
Did Samuel fall into the same trap, later on?
Of course, a man could be fighting a losing battle but if he has been faithful under God and done what he could, then he can hardly be blamed
But a man like Abraham would make a great elder:
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)

D/ How important it is that we pray for the elders/church
Very easy to criticise them
Even if justified criticism – Paul deals in chapter 5 about this matter – yet there must be pray ever ascend for them

When we thought of praying for those in the government of the land (2:1) – mention was made of “all men” and this must encourage us to include the elders

E/ Suppose we left the elders to their own strength/devices
The church would either scatter/destruct or stagnate
Untold spiritual damage can be done when that comes to pass

Think of how this could be multiplied many time over because of the power/Presbytery and their decrees
We need to pray for those who have authority over us

4) THE COMPANIONS IN LABOUR OF THE ELDERS:

A/ Another office is mentioned here i.e. the deacons
Their role is more practical than spiritual but vital too
They came into existence because of the events/Acts 6

It would’ve been very easy for the Apostles (and by extension: elders) to have gotten bogged down in practical matters
These matters were important/themselves – certainly not trivial
But they had the danger of pushing the most important matter off the number one spot i.e. prayer/ministry of the word

B/ So they created another office (deacons) to take care of those very important matters that could not just be ignored

C/ It is natural to relegate this office to being a lesser office
But the qualifications are very similar and do not allow of any flippancy in seeking to get the office filled
The qualification of the deacons wife is mentioned in the same breath as that of the elder’s wife

Consider too the initial instructions to find some deacons:
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (Acts 6:3)
The Christian martyr and spiritual giant: Stephen was one of these original deacons, as was Philip whose daughters prophesied

D/ No matter where we are serving God – whether in an office or out of it – what holds here should (greater/lesser degree) be incumbent upon us all
Let us not seek reasons why we do not need to be as spiritual as we could be, under God
Whether we are male or female or whatever, let us strive for the mastery and look towards the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

THE END

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