Introduction

• I Timothy 3:1-7

Review

• We are seeking a balanced approach to this topic.

“Manages his own household well”

• I Timothy 3:4-5
• Dignity or reverence here could be referring to either the father or the children.
• Titus 1:6
  • Does faithful here mean that the children are faithful to the earthly father or that they are Christians?
  • The word behind it (pistos) can be translated either “believers” of “faithful.” Context is key to determining the precise meaning.
  • Faithful to their earthly father:
    • Strengths:
      • Context seems to favor the more specific contrast.
      • Harmony: If I Timothy 3:4-5 is a parallel.
    • Weaknesses
      • The number of translations going with “believe” is greater.
      • Is I Timothy 3:4-5 an exact parallel, or supplemental information?
• What about children who are grown and gone?
  • What about Proverbs 22:6?
    • Proverbs are general truths that have exceptions.
• Must a man have a plurality of children?
  • Does the plural include the singular?
  • I Timothy 5:4
  • Matthew 22:24
  • Genesis 21:7 – The plural includes the singular here.

“holding fast the faithful word”

• Titus 1:9
• An elder must be able to refute error.

“not pugnacious” (violent, striker, bully)

• I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7
• Elders shouldn’t be itching for a fight.

“gentle” (patient)

• I Timothy 3:3
• Contrast I Peter 2:18

“peaceable” (not contentious, not quarrelsome)

• I Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2

“free from the love of money” (not covetous)

• I Timothy 3:3

“not fond of sordid gain” (not greedy for gain, not greedy of filthy lucre)

• Titus 1:7

“not a new convert” (novice, recent convert)

• I Timothy 3:6

“good reputation with those outside” (well thought of by outsiders)

• I Timothy 3:7

Part 1: The roots of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 1:1-3:6), continued

The unfolding and consequences of apostasy (Judges 2:6-3:6), continued

Joshua’s death and the coming apostasy (Judges 2:6-10)

• There are ancient monuments and reliefs that reference Israel in the land of Canaan in roughly 1400 B.C.

The recurring pattern of Israel’s apostasy, God’s grace, and God’s anger (Judges 2:11-23)

• Deuteronomy 12:29-32 – Baal was a storm God.
• God told them clearly that worshiping idols was abhorrent to Him.
• Judges 2:19 – Israel’s downward spiral. When they relapsed, they did even worse than before.

The testing of Israel (Judges 3:1-6)

• Judges 3:5-6 – Israel fails to remove the Canaanites.

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31)

Othniel (Judges 3:7-11)

• Othniel was either the younger brother or nephew of Caleb and was married to Caleb’s daughter.

Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)

• Ehud was left-handed, or “restricted in the right hand” as the Hebrew says literally.
• Eglon’s name means, “little calf.”

Shamgar (Judges 3:31)

• Shamgar is mentioned again in Judges 5:6, but not much is known about him.
• An ox goad is not normally a particularly lethal instrument.

Takeaways

• The pattern in Judges – described in Judges 2 and oft-repeated throughout the book – demonstrates God’s steadfast love. He listens to the cries of his oppressed people and arranges for their deliverance.
• God responds in like manner today to those who cry out for his help out of sincere repentance. He has sent the perfect judge-deliverer, Jesus, to save us from the bondage of sin (Romans 5:6-8).

Introduction

• Acts 20:17, 28
• I Thessalonians 5:12-13
• I Timothy 3:1

Why study this?

• To help our current elders be motivated in their work.
• To help other men prepare for this work.
• To help the rest of us appreciate their work.
• To differentiate between tradition and God’s word.

Overseeing souls

• Acts 20:28-32
• I Thessalonians 5:12
• I Timothy 3:4-5
• Hebrews 13:17 – Elders are keeping watch over souls!
• Acts 11:27-30 – This is the only passage in the New Testament talking about elders handling money.
• James 5:14-16 – Is this physical or spiritual illness?

Wielding the sword of the Spirit

• Titus 1:9-14 – Elders use the Bible in both positive and negative ways.
• Acts 20:32
• I Timothy 5:17-18 – It is authorized to pay elders for their work.
• Elders must be able to use scripture appropriately.

Developing their character

• I Peter 5:1-4
• Ezekiel 34:1-6, 10
• Acts 20:30
• I Thessalonians 5:12
• Titus 1:9, 13
• Men need to be developing their character so they can take on this role.

I Timothy 2

• I Timothy 2:9-10 – Women’s adornment
  • She might be fashionable, but the focus shouldn’t be fashion.
• I Timothy 2:11-14 – “A woman must quietly receive instruction”
  • “quiet”: Compare II Thessalonians 3:12; Acts 11:18; 21:14; I Timothy 2:2; I Peter 3:4
  • Acts 18:26 – Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos.
  • Colossians 3:16 – This teaching includes women.
• I Timothy 2:15 – “preserved through the bearing of children”
  • This would be referring to salvation coming through Mary bearing Jesus. It could also be a figure of speech, referring to all the things that women do (metonymy).

Balanced approach

• I Timothy 3:2 – “an overseer, then, must be …”
• I John 1:8 – “If we say that we have no sin …”
• It’s possible to be too lenient or too strict.
• I Peter 5:1 – Peter was writing this as an elder. Yet Jesus at one point called him Satan and also rebuked him. Peter also denied Christ.
• People grow over time.
  • ~ 30s A.D. – impetuous, immature
  • ~ 48 A.D. – Acts 15 – Has grown, taken stands
  • ~ 50 A.D. – Galatians 2 – Hypocrisy
  • ~ 60 A.D. – I Peter – Elder

“above reproach” (blameless)

• I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6
• Colossians 1:21-23

“the husband of one wife”

• I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6

“temperate” (vigilant, sober-minded)

• I Timothy 3:2

“prudent” / “sensible” (sober-minded, self-controlled)

• I Timothy 3:2

“respectable” (orderly, of good behavior)

• I Timothy 3:2

“hospitable” (given to hospitality)

• I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8
• The root word behind “hospitality” means “love of strangers.”
• Hebrews 13:2

“able to teach” (apt to teach, skillful in teaching)

• I Timothy 3:2