Reading: 1 Timothy 3-4, Psalm 20

Following hard on the heels of his instructions to pray for all people in all times and places that they might come to a knowledge of the truth, Paul addresses the topic of leadership in the local church. As we have seen, Paul is extremely concerned that Timothy, as the one responsible for arguing against distortions of the gospel, understand that the gospel is indeed a gospel of grace apart from works, and that it is for all people, not just those of a specific ancestry. Now he goes beyond Timothy and talks about the roles and tasks of leadership, both in teaching and in activity. The first category he calls overseers, commonly today called elders, and the second deacons, a term that has carried over to the present pretty well unchanged.

Throughout this, we have to remember that Paul’s first and foremost concern is the proclamation of the gospel message: repentance unto life in the name of Jesus. What he lays out for what an elder or deacon should look like is not some isolated list of requirements that is self sustaining. These requirements are wholly reliant on their goal: to see the gospel fully and correctly proclaimed to all people. It should go without saying that a person could meet every item of either of these lists fully and consistently, and if they are not proclaiming the gospel of grace through faith in Christ to the glory of God, they are to be excluded. The gospel precedes all other aspects of the Christian life, which is why Paul spends a bunch of time talking about it before listing off any qualities needed for leadership.

Paul’s qualifications for elders and deacons are remarkably similar. The main difference appears to be one of roles. The elder is able to teach. There is no such requirement on deacons, whose primary role in the New Testament is the administration of what today might be called social programs. In both cases they are to understand and hold the mystery of the gospel with a clear conscience. These are not to be confused people, or questioning people, but convinced people who have sworn allegiance to God’s Kingdom. Otherwise the lists are things one might expect: honestly, personal integrity, peaceable, able to manage their own home and children. Notably there is the requirement that they are husbands of one wife, something that while common in Greek culture, was a new idea to many in the ancient world. Why stop with one wife? There is more going into this than what we read here, but I think Paul following the example of Jesus in calling back to the creation design in his understanding of both marriage and the Christian life. In the beginning a man had one wife, and it was in the generation of Lamech the descendant of Cain that polygamy was born. As Christians are people of a new creation, we should imitate the design, not the distortion. It is same reasoning for Paul’s other moral requirements. Not the law, but the design. In the new covenant, proper human behavior is defined by divine design, not legal codes.

Next, Paul moves on to personal encouragement of Timothy’s ministry. He wants to come visit him, but given that he does not know what might happen, he is writing this letter to tell Timothy to command and teach these things. To set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. To keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. He says this after acknowledging that it will not all be successful. Some will depart the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. Paul is letting Timothy know he cannot expect to win everyone over. Some will become obsessed with rules and forbid marriage and require abstinence from food that God created to be received with thanksgiving. Nothing designed by God is to be rejected, but some will not be able to see this. Anyone who has been responsible for other human beings in any form will be able to understand this. It hurts when those you lead depart to their own detriment. Paul encourages Timothy to not be discouraged, but to put these things before the brothers, and he will be a good servant of Christ. He will never be wholly successful, but should persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers. Paul’s concern is success as measured by obedience in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, and no other measure of success.