1 Timóteo 3
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Timóteo 3
Utley- Leadership can be seen at home. Any kind of difficulty between husband and wife or children or grandparents or in-laws was a basis for disqualification in this early church setting. "No handle for criticism" is the main concern. How one rules his home will show one's tendencies in leading the church (cf. 1 Tim. 3:5, which is a parenthetical question expecting a "no" answer). Oh, my, this would disqualify many modern ministers if taken literally and to the letter. The many positive as well as negative characteristics mentioned in 1 Tim. 3:2-3 are revealed in the home environment. "Check the home first" is good advice for personnel committees! Take care of (1959) epimeleomai (from epi = upon, direction of care towards + melo = to be an object of care) (See also epimeleia) means care for, take care of, look after. To exercise concern for. Luke uses it to describe the "Good Samaritan" (Lk 10:34-35+) EPIMELEOMAI - Only 3x - Lk 10:34-35; 1 Tim. 3:5. Twice in the Septuagint - Gen. 44:21; Prov. 27:25 G Campbell
1 Timóteo 3
Utley has an interesting thought on trustworthy statement - They function syntactically like Jesus' use of an introductory "amen" or "amen, amen" (translated "truly, truly" or "verily, verily"), drawing special attention to the statement. If any man aspires (NIV = "sets his heart" - orego/oregomai in present tense) to the office of overseer (episkope), it is a fine (kalos) work (a noble task - ESV, NIV) he desires (epithumeo) to do - Not to be chauvinistic, but notice this trustworthy statement applies to men, not women. Women have an absolutely vital role in the church, but Paul would not have them as elders of the church. So the first requirement of an elder is to be a man by gender, and in our transgender crazed culture (2022), that is not a requirement to be taken lightly! Paul substantiates this requirement for an overseer in 1Ti 3:2 with the distinctive requirement "the husband of one wife," a "one woman man," so to speak! If introduces a first class condition which assumes the following to be true, the conclusion being it is a fine or noble work. Paul uses this rare verb (only 3 NT uses) orego/oregomai in 1Ti 6:10 in a negative sense ("longing" for money). A man should seek for God (to be His elder), not for Gold for the rewards are commensurate, either honor for the former or grief for the latter! Dear man of God, for what are you seeking? The related noun Episkopos literally describes one who looks over closely or intently, as a shepherd might keep very close watch on his sheep. Episkopos emphasizes the fact that the leadership is charged with overseeing the local church and as such is responsible for the spiritual well-being of those in the church. The word picture of epithumeo is to set one's heart upon something and in the present tense pictures a man actively seeking this office. Clearly, if the motives are right, there is nothing sinful about seeking to be an overseer or elder. Here is the practical point dear reader -- if you possess the qualifications Paul lays out, you should consider seeking this office. "Taken together, the two terms (aspires...desires) describe the man who outwardly pursues the ministry because of a driving compulsion on the inside." (MacArthur) "Ambition for office corrupts, desire for service purifies." -- John MacArthur THOUGHT - Notice that aspires and desires, not only rhyme, but both are in the present tense in middle voice, desires in active voice - both indicate one's will or choice is involved). So what? The fact is that no man continually (present tense) seeks after God, so if you are a man who continually (present tense) aspires and desires to be in leadership, the compulsion that energizes both verbs is supernatural, that is, a Spirit given aspiration and desire. Of course, one can aspire and desire from fleshly motives, such as for money or power, but that is not genuine aspiration and desire. Think of it this way -- a spiritual man has an inner Spirit energized urge to seek to be an overseer. A natural man might have a fleshly energized urge. Therefore, it behooves the man who senses this calling to pray Ps 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." God will answer and clarify His call to leadership. Samuel Logan Brengle (Salvation Army) said that spiritual leadership "is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confessions of sin, and much heart searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, deathless, uncompromising and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather, like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. That is a great price, but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be not merely a nominal but a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell.(Audio book - Soul Winner's Secret by Samuel Logan Brengle) J
1 Timóteo 3
Utley points out that "in case I am delayed" "is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, which means potential action." In other words, he might be delayed. Timothy needs to be "psychologically" prepared for such an eventuality. I write (grapho) so that (hina = term of purpose/result) you will know (eido - beyond a shadow of a doubt = describes know-how, the possession of knowledge or skill necessary to accomplish a desired goal) how one ought (dei - not a suggestion but an obligation in present tense - continually) to conduct (anastrepho - behave) himself - Paul is concerned about practical conduct — how believers live together as God’s people in God's household. In the household (oikos) of God (theos) - Of God emphasizes that the church belongs to God (He purchased it with His blood - Acts 20:28+) and thus is a divine, not human institution! This is the family of God. Clearly this is the church as he explains in the next clause. But it is also a beautiful metaphor of the body (another beautiful metaphor) of Christ, as it pictures God as Father, Jesus as Son, believers as children and brethren (Mt 12:50+, Ro 8:29+, Heb 2:11+) of Jesus (see Family of God) and live under the watchcare of our Heavenly Father. Which is the church (ekklesia/ecclesia - assembly) of the living (zao - present tense) God (theos - note) , the pillar (stulos) and support of the truth (aletheia) - So not only is the Church God's family, Paul says it also the guardian of the truth! The Church of the living God is called the pillar and ground of the truth. The Church is viewed as the house of God, which God has constructed to support and to conserve this truth. The architectural metaphor is pronounced, although here stulos refers more to the support and foundation provided by the columns than the columns per se. Support is hedraioma (from hedraios = steadfast) only used here (hapax legomenon - no uses in Lxx) and describes a foundation, mainstay, that which provides a firm base, in this case for the truth (aletheia) about the Christian faith. This foundational truth (aletheia) is given in 1Ti 3:16 and the church is the visible upholder of God’s revealed truth in midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Php 2:15+) This statement by Paul conveys not just the identity of the church but it's responsibility to hold it fast and lift high the foundational truth (1Ti 3:16) to a world filled with sin, error and lies. It is notable that Ephesus was a city filled with idols (dead gods, no gods) so the reminder that the church was not a dead institution but an assembly of souls guided by the living God presented a powerful contrast (and reminder to the saints in Ephesus that they were on the "winning team.") Ray
1 Timóteo 3
Utley on aletheia - The term truth (alētheia) is very common in Paul's writings (and John's). It usually refers to gospel content (cf. Rom. 1:18,25; 2:2,8; 3:7; 15:8; 1 Cor. 13:6; 2 Cor. 4:2; 6:7; 7:14; 13:8; Gal. 2:5,14; 5:7; Eph. 1:13; 4:21; 5:9; Phil. 1:18; Col. 1:5,6; 2 Thess. 2:10,12,13; 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:3; 6:5; 2 Tim. 2:15,18,25; 3:7,8; 4:4; Titus 1:1,14). See "TRUTH" IN PAUL'S WRITINGS The church has the stewardship of Scripture, the duty to guard it as the most precious possession on earth John MacArthur on the pillar and support of the truth - The imagery of these terms for the church would not have been lost on the Ephesians. The impressive temple of the goddess Diana (Artemis), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located in the city. William Barclay gives the following description of it: “One of its features was its pillars. It contained one hundred and twenty-seven pillars, every one of them the gift of a king. All were made of marble, and some were studded with jewels and overlaid with gold” (See 1 Timothy 3 Commentary). Each pillar acted as a tribute to the king who donated it. The honorary significance of the pillars, however, was secondary to their function of holding up the immense structure of the roof. Hedraiōma (support) appears only here in the New Testament and refers to the foundation on which a structure rests. Thus in Paul’s metaphor the church is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth. As the foundation and pillars of the Temple of Diana were a testimony to the error of pagan false religion, so the church is to be a testimony to God’s truth. That is its mission in the world—its reason for existing here. For failing to do that, Israel has been temporarily set aside. The truth is the divine revelation, including the truth of the gospel, the content of the Christian faith. It is the solemn responsibility of every church to solidly, immovably, unshakably uphold the truth of God’s Word. The church does not invent the truth, and alters it only at the cost of judgment (See 1 Timothy Commentary) See John MacArthur's sermon The Heart of the Church's Mission for eight practical things individual members of the church can do individually to assure that we fulfill our role as the pillar and support of the truth. (Summary of these 8 things: hear it, memorize it, meditate on it, study it, obey it, defend it, live it, proclaim it).
1 Timóteo 3
Utley - This speaks of the Incarnation (birth) of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem: His life, teachings, death, and resurrection fully reveal the Father (cf. John 1:14-18). There is also the strong inference of His pre-existence (cf. John 1:1-5; 8:57-58; 16:28; 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:4; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; 10:5-8). This is the central truth of the Gospels about Jesus Christ, that He was truly God and truly human (cf. John 1:14; Phil. 2:6-8; Col. 1:14-16; 1 John 4:1-3). Was vindicated (dikaioo) in the Spirit (pneuma) - Most translations capitalize Spirit thus identifying pneuma as the Holy Spirit. Obviously Jesus did not need to be justified as sinners do which is the usual meaning for sinners who are justified (Ro 3:24+), so what does this mean? At His baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus (Mt 3:16+), which identified Him as the One Who baptizes in the Spirit (Jn 1:33+). In that sense Jesus was "declared righteous" and the Father also testified to His divinity and thus His perfect righteousness (Mt 3:17+). I suggest Paul may have another sense similar to dikaioo as used in Ro 3:4+ where Paul speaking of God says "that You (God) may be justified (dikaioo) in Your words." The sense is that God is shown to be righteous by His words." In the same sense, Jesus was "vindicated" or shown to be righteous by His resurrection by the agency of the Holy Spirit (Ro 1:4+). In addition, a fact that is often overlooked is that when Jesus emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives, He became the perfect model for believers today. What to I mean by that? Just this -- after the Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism we see that in his subsequent wilderness temptation, Jesus was filled with (controlled by) and led by the Spirit! (Lk 4:1, 14, 18+), the very thing believers are to imitate in order to experience a Christlike supernatural life! In short, Jesus conducted His ongoing ministry for 3 years, empowered by the Spirit, and in that sense was vindicated (shown to be righteous) in the Spirit! See Peter's summary of Jesus' ministry in Acts 10:37-38+. (See more discussion of this vitally important principle which can change your spiritual life! Walk Like Jesus Walked!) Duane LItfin seems to agree with one aspect of Jesus' vindication writing "Was vindicated by the Spirit refers to God's demonstration through the Resurrection (cf. Acts 2:24-36+), by the Holy Spirit (cf. Ro 8:11+), that the crucified Jesus is Lord and Messiah." (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary - Page 167) John MacArthur takes a different approach - Though the translators decided to capitalize Spirit, making it refer to the third member of the Trinity, it could also refer to Jesus. That would mean that Jesus Christ was vindicated—declared to be righteous—with respect to His spiritual nature. This reality is why the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Mt 3:17). (See 1 Timothy Commentary - Page 140) Seen by angels (aggelos/angelos) - At Jesus' birth He was seen by angels (Lu 2:9-14+), when the angels saw Christ as a Baby, fully Man. Jesus was also seen by angels after His temptation (Mt 4:11+), later in His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:43+), at His resurrection (Mt 28:2-7+) and at His ascension (Acts 1:10-11+). In short, the heavenly realm watched in awe as God’s redemption plan unfolded. Proclaimed (kerusso) among the nations (ethnos) - After Christ’s resurrection, the gospel went global. The Gospel began to be boldly proclaimed on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13-41+). Initially the message was preached to the Jews but it soon spread to the nations (ethnos) or Gentiles (See Acts 10:37–43+) Jesus' last command was to fulfil the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19–20+; Acts 1:8+). Believed (pisteuo) on in the world (kosmos) - Of course not all the world (kosmos) believed on Him (cf Mt 7:13, 14+), but those who have believed in Christ will not perish because they have received eternal life (Jn 3:36, cf Jn 4:42, Jn 12:46). In Revelation 7 we see the global fruit of the gospel, John writing "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10+) Taken up (analambano) in glory (doxa) - A clear description of Jesus ascension and being seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Heb 1:3+). John