1 Timothy Chapter 3

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INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

1 Timothy Chapter 3: QUALIFICATIONS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS

When it comes to full time ministry, this work must be recognized by all as a calling from God, not from man, else there will be problems, divisions, entered heresies, strife, all sorts of problems which then have to be dealt with, many of which avoided completely by allowing God to call that man, not just man "filling a need", "filling a vacancy". They need to be raised up, taught in the Word of God, taught how to live by that Word, never sent to "seminary" under the control of strangers to get a piece of paper, sheepskin, which does nothing to make one a strong Christian leader or is no guarantee of them being a strong Christian man, but "qualified" (by man, not God). If a leadership cannot raise up from among their own, on their own, with just being an example, using the Word of God, prayer, guided by the Holy Ghost, then they need to examine themselves. There is no mention of "Bible School", "Seminary", "Pastoral license" etc. in Scripture, and the only apostle who had all of that in his Jewish heritage was Saul/Paul, who called that former life and all of its "formal education" in the synagogue manure!

(Philippians 3:8 [KJV])
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Additionally, in this epistle, the qualifications for being an overseer, bishop, deacon, elder, whatever are given to men ("husband of one wife"), godly men raised up; certainly not women, whereas, in the U.S. today, the rank heretical "mainstream" "women pastors", authors, famous women who violate this, claim that these passages were for the early church, in the first century only, not today, all of the while proclaiming that all of the sign gifts, which Paul himself specifically said would stop one day, which were for the "Jews seeking a sign" (which they always did, and did from Jesus Himself) are still valid today, which are not, and not necessary. This is inconsistent, "convenient" thinking, and rank heresy. The context of both qualifications for pastor and sign gifts demands the opposite of what they wish to be so!

(1 Corinthians 13:8 [KJV])
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

(1 Timothy 3:1 [KJV])
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

This is an office, not a title, not an address, like "Bishop So and So" or "Pastor So and So"
This office is for doing a good work, which also means not making, achieving fortune and fame

(1 Timothy 3:2 [KJV])
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Husband of one wife...which gender would that be then, hunh?
Seriously, always at the job (vigilant, as in ready, willing, able) and on the job, unspotted, beyond reproach, nice, friendly, with the gift of teaching and making disciples

HUS'BAND, n. s as z.

A man contracted or joined to a woman by marriage. A man to whom a woman is betrothed, as well as one actually united by marriage, is called a husband. Lev 19. Deu 22.
In seaman's language, the owner of a ship who manages its concerns in person.
The male of animals of a lower order.
An economist; a good manager; a man who knows and practices the methods of frugality and profit. In this sense, the word is modified by an epithet; as a good husband; a bad husband. [But in America, this application of the word is little or not at all used.]
A farmer; a cultivator; a tiller of the ground. [In this sense, it is not used in America. We always use husbandman.]

(Genesis 1:26-28 [KJV])
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

(1 Timothy 3:3 [KJV])
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Simple: just don't drink, saves a lot of lives, saves a lot of marriages, save families, save your reputations, save lots of money and time, ; prevents a lot of problems, suspicions, divorces
Do not do it for fame, fortune
Do not suddenly fly off of the handle, loudly, and understand you are making disciples, so wait for them to grow, encourage them to read the Word
Don't compare your ministry, your trappings, etc. to those of others, locally, nationally, worldwide. God does not care; why should we?

(1 Timothy 3:4 [KJV])
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

This means a strong marriage where both care about disciplining them, keeping them in line, raising them in love, gently when needed, tough love when needed
Unruly teens, the bane of any ministry. Unruly teens, running and ruining any household
They can be rebellious, stubborn, stiff-necked, and get in the way
A solution is to get them involved in ministry at a young age, give them tasks, chores, jobs, responsibilities as ear;y tp make them accountable, keep them busy, and home school them, not sending them to government "schools" (indoctrination centers)

(1 Timothy 3:5 [KJV])
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

If they know how to rule that house and the children rebel, that is one thing, visible to all, the children being disruptive, out of control, riotous
If they do not know, then that will also be readily apparent, visible, even when the children attempt to be rebellious

(1 Timothy 3:6 [KJV])
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

A novice is someone who is put into ministry because of an imagined need, a vacancy to be filled, a body necessary, just not an able body
If an undiscipled man goes into ministry full time, untrained in the Word, not shown how to walk, this will manifest itself rather quickly in he form of issues of all sorts

(1 Timothy 3:7 [KJV])
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The enemy can use mankind (them which are without) as enemies to point fingers at a person who is inexperienced, a novice in ministry, thrust into it too early
The world will always falsely accuse a Christian of bad things; this simply means let's keep the accusations false, not accurate

(1 Timothy 3:8 [KJV])
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

At all levels, they must be blameless, beyond reproach
Double tongued, as in making believe in one sense, another saying something else in public, or to others
Double tongued, as in saying on thing to you while you are standing there; another when you are not there

THE DOUBLE TONGUE

Saying one thing in public or in private to you, another in private to others (1 Peter 4:15 [KJV])
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

(Leviticus 19:16 [KJV])
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

(Proverbs 11:13 [KJV])
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

(Proverbs 18:8 [KJV])
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

(Proverbs 20:19 [KJV])
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

(Proverbs 26:20 [KJV])
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

(Proverbs 26:22 [KJV])
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

(1 Timothy 3:9 [KJV])
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

What we believe is mysterious to this world for sure, in a God Who became man, died and rose from the dead, paid for all of the sin(s) of the world, is coming again soon
That said, we need to have those called of God to have a pure conscience about everything they do, because it affects it, affects others
This is spoken of in verse 16, below (1 Timothy 3:16)

(1 Timothy 3:10 [KJV])
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

As God equips those HE ALONE calls, He asks us to make sure we can see that in them, because the world certainly can see or not see their spiritual side by their walk, their talk

(1 Timothy 3:11 [KJV])
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

"Their wives".............now what gender would Paul be talking about?
Quiet, silent, keeping family business to herself, not talking about anyone, not falsely accusing
Soberly, as in being serious, not feigning. Faithful in marriage, keeping the house, respecting her husband, teaching the younger women, etc.

(1 Timothy 3:12 [KJV])
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

These are the same qualifications as above, because this is how one is proven to be fit for The Master's Service, lower level, on up, same exact attitude, maturity, behaviour, conversation, all godly.
Just to stress, "husbands of one wife"....exactly which gender would that be?

(1 Timothy 3:13 [KJV])
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Start off as an elder, working your way to being a deacon, then through faithfulness to God's Word work your way to being a shepherd of sheep
This is the opposite of today in America nad the west, with the "Go to Bible College, get a degree, then get a pastor's license" nonsense
God's way ensures a man is prepared, equipped. The other means they answered questions according to what some other man (or woman, today) wantys them to answer to get a piece of paper, sheepskin, which qualifies them to do nothing but walk lockstep with a "denomination"

(1 Timothy 3:14 [KJV])
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

This set of instruction was in case Paul did not make it there soon, to keep order, set up Scriptural churches, raise leaders up to do the work of God

(1 Timothy 3:16 [KJV])
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

This is a verse on the Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, God being manifest in the flesh
This verse is also a mystery to unbelievers, not understanding how God can become a man, die for the sin they deny exists in themselves, others, the world
This also is a mystery to the angels who witnessed it, not experiencing our life of sin in a wicked, evil world

(1 Peter 1:12 [KJV])
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

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1 Timothy chapter 4