The List Goes On

Sorry I had to spread this over several weeks, but I was out with camp ministry and then catching up. Here's 1 Timothy 3:3, NASB:

…not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

Here're some more qualifications for an overseer:

1. Not addicted to wine. It's a straightforward statement for us. The way Paul words the phrase here; it cannot mean the wine is prohibited. But states that it's the effect of frequent or overindulging alcohol are prohibited. Adam Clark evens goes further: the "word not only signifies one who is inordinately attached to wine, a winebibber or tippler, but also one who is imperious, abusive, insolent, whether through wine or otherwise." I see the principle taught in Scripture, but not here.
   
2. Pugnacious. It's also translated as contentious (NKJV), a striker (KJV), or violent (ESV). The meaning is that the leader is not to be one who strikes out (physically or verbally) at those who disagree with him. This was one of my sins early in ministry. I still pray about remaining in control. Prayer works.
   

Instead, he's to be…

1. Gentle. This is a better translation than KJV's "patient." Paul is contrasting this thought with pugnacious-ness. One must, therefore, certainly be patient, but the opposite is better described as gentle. Gentle means tame or polite compared to a striker.
   
2. Peaceable. Now he's to be one who promotes peace in a situation.
   
3. Free from the love of money. Understand there is only one Greek word in the English phrase more literally meaning "without covetousness" and usually used in relation to money and material items.
   

More next time because the list goes on.

The List Begins

1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, …

The word "overseer" refers to one who is in charge (has inspection rights) of an organization or person. The use of "bishop" in some translations appears to be a reliance on the Latin translated to English. So what are the qualifications of overseers.

1. Above reproach. This seems to eliminate everyone at the outset. "For all have sinned…" and are, therefore, reproachable. Is Paul/God demanding perfection for those in leadership? No. We know that's quite impossible.
   Considering the context of church leadership the "above reproach" requirement seems best applied to matters of biblical doctrine and immorality of all sorts. We're all sinners.
   So, does the leader keep a short account?
   Is he willing to confess whenever necessary?
   Can he be accused publically for a major downfall?
   Does he accuse others of a sin of which he himself is guilty?
   Does he teach accurately from the Scriptures?
   Is he above reproach?
   
2. The husband of one wife. balance is the key here, I believe. Too strictly enforce this and the church must say that no single man may serve in leadership. Too loosely apply this and the church could end up (and literally end) using an unmarried philanderer.
   The best application seems to be to ascertain whether or not the man leads a lifestyle that demonstrates he is in love with and committed o his wife. If he's been married before, he should be willing to acknowledge the sinfulness of his divorce and willingness to obey God's commands concerning marriage and faithfulness.
   
3. Temperate. the King James says "vigilant." Watchful. A sober person is better able to watch over and care for himself, his business, and his actions. An intemperate person cannot have the presence of mind to properly guard and care for a congregation.
   
4. Prudent. immediately following temperance is self-control. Once a difficulty or problem is identified through watchfulness does he apply sound judgment to the situation?
   
5. Respectable. the root of this Greek word means orderly. Whereas prudent refers to of the mind, here ones actions are in view. One who is the rude, clownish, or ill-mannered should not rule over God's people.
   
6. Hospitable. the Greek word derives from two others: brotherly love and alien or foreign. So, one who loves to care for strangers.
   
7. Able to teach. teaching is a gift of the Spirit. Paul says the leader should be so gifted, having the strong desire to share that which he learns. He is one who is ready to communicate effectively God's Word to others. Because of the possibility of one-on-one counseling, the ability must be demonstrated during informal situations as well as the classroom.
   
8. …
   

Pressing on, Ed

Never Effortless

Ugh! Lawn day.

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 1 Timothy 3:1

Literally the first phrase is better as "True is the word" but I have not found a translation which poorly translates the phrase. It is important, however, in that it establishes the veracity of Paul's next topic—it's okay to seek leadership, which is a good work. The qualification list that follows in verses 2-12 weed out the right people (the unqualified) and are a must-be-adhered-to-list.

Often missed in the interpretation of verse 1 is the meaning of "work." Strong's says it's "toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work." Leadership, especially the servant leadership God expects, requires effort.

The many men who've mistakenly missed this point have failed—and usually in the area of servant-hood. A true servant leader is in the position because his desire is to do God's work and serve both Him and others. Serving oneself in leadership misses the point of it and ends in failure.

Aspire to the office for the right reason, then be ready to work.

Pressing on, Ed

A Biblical Unknown

This next verse is a problem if you want a definite interpretation. To try to sort it out for myself I did some thorough studying and reading – thus the delay of several days in writing. Here's the verse.

1 Timothy 2:15
KJV: Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

NASB: But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

ESV: Yet she will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Here's some notes I made about translating the verse.

Greek New Testament	Strong's	Transliteration (of root word)	English Word	Notes	My Translation
σωθήσεται	4982	sōzō	heal, preserve, save, deliver, protect	3 pers sing pass fut Indic	she will be saved
δὲ	1161	de	but, and, etc.	conj	but
διὰ	1223	dia	in, through (the channel of)	prep	through
τῆς			the	def art, gen sing KJV, ESV ignore	the (her)
τεκνογονίας	5042	teknogonia	childbirth	n fem (only N.T. use)	bearing of children
ἐὰν	1437	ean	in case, if	Conditional particle	if
μείνωσιν	3306	menō	stay, remain, rest, dwell, lodge	3 pers pl aor 1 subj	they remain
ἐν	1722	en	in	prep denotes a fixed position	in
πίστει	4102	pistis	faith, belief, conviction (moral)	n fem dat sing	faith
καὶ			and	conj	and
ἀγάπῃ	26	agapē	love	n fem dat sing	love
καὶ			and	conj	and
ἁγιασμῷ	38	hagiasmos	purification, sanctity, holiness	n masc dat sing	holiness
μετὰ	3326	meta	with (when noun is in gen)	prep	with
σωφροσύνης	4997	sōphrosunē	soundness of mind, self-restraint/control, temperate, discreet	noun fem gen sing	self-restraint

Usual and most common interpretation

1. The singular verb must refer back to "the woman" (Eve) in v. 14. So as the mother of mankind, her salvation is based on her bearing of children, i.e., from her offspring will come the Savior.
   
2. Her offspring (they) receive the same salvation by remaining in faith, love, and sanctification with self-restraint.
   

Other interpretations I've read include...

1. Saved refers only to physical health, not spiritual salvation. Therefore, childbearing brings true wholeness or maintains a woman's health. However, try telling that to single women.
   
2. Some tie the verse to Gen 3:15 where the seed of a woman would crush the serpents head, a variation of the Messianic theme above.
   
3. The last is based on the Hebrew and Greek cultures viewing motherhood as a very health-giving experience and that the woman's basic value was in giving birth to children and raising them.
   

I really appreciate commentator Gary Demarest's view when discussing 1 Timothy 2:12-15,

It need not be surprising that Paul reflected the view of the Fall which prevailed in his time. To make this a case for the inherent inferiority of women is neither necessary nor good. This is not the only passage by Paul which presents us with difficulty. His allegorical treatment of Sarah and Hagar, with Hagar corresponding to Mount Sinai and the earthly Jerusalem in contrast to the heavenly Jerusalem (Sarah) (Gal. 4:21-31), is not as clear as we might wish. Likewise, his argument in Romans 11 and the statement that "all Israel will be saved" (11:26) is a source of continuing difficulty, and interpreters have been unable to agree upon a universally acceptable solution.

Rather than make a case for a rigid view of the inferiority and subservience of women, why not place this passage in the category of those remarkably few statements of Paul which best be admitted to be beyond our grasp? There's no question in my mind that it reflects a debatable view. To argue that the sequence of the creation narrative teaches the superiority of the man certainly goes beyond anything said in Genesis.

To me this is one of the passages about which God will reveal more when I have complete understanding.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Not the Same

A busy week lies ahead. I beg your prayers as I balance things. Thanks.

13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:13-14, NASB)

Here Paul tells us his justification for his teachings concerning the appearance and conduct of women in the church. There are two:

1. Man was created to handle such things, women not, and
   
2. Satan did not tempt Adam, but Eve, allowing him to knowingly transgress without having been deceived and thus in God's sovereignty to hold power over her.
   

In my limited experience, when a woman does not acknowledge the husband's greater responsibility and role, it's because she does not acknowledge God's rule over her life.

Men and women are different. God made things that way and we need to recognize and accept it. (For any naturalist readers, it's true among animals as well; the lioness hunts for the male, the rooster crows, etc.; innumerable differences.)

Mankind is happiest when living under God's supervision and design.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>