THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of Scripture studies is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration through Bible study.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard.
He has set up an archive page.
To view ALL the prior Scripture studies by book and chapter, just clik

HERE.

Bruce McGee
692 Walnut Ln.,
Downsville, LA 71234

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE STUDY
1TIMOTHY

Vs 1
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop,
he desireth a good work.

((Did you know that most politicians actually never lie?
That's because they don't know REAL truth - Jesus & the Bible.
Therefore, they THINK what they are saying is truth. hehe))

There is TRUTH in God's Word!
It is PROVEN by other Scriptures which are also true.
In the following commentary, you will find instances of
other Scripture which attest to the truths in God's Word.

How can a man "desire" to be a bishop, elder,
or pastor?
I once asked my pastor that question.
He said, "If a person WANTS to be a pastor, he is either
crazy, or plumb stupid, OR he is being CALLED by God.
Because, no SANE man would try to do that job WITHOUT
God's leadership and guidance!"

The pastor is a "good work" because it is
a SERVANT'S JOB!
"BISHOP," or Pastor is derived from the Greek episkopee.

Paul began his letter to the church at Philippi with:
"..to the saints at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."
(Philippians 1:1)
In that verse, the bishops are aligned with the deacons as
SERVANTS.

Yes, they are overseers also, because they oversee the work
of FEEDING the Word of God to the MEMBERS!

In his first address in Miletus, Paul used basically the same
word (Gk. episkopos) describing the duty of bishops/elders.

If a man has truly "crucified" himself with Christ (Gal. 2:20)
he has been CHANGED (2Cor. 5:17).
And, that man has within him the DESIRES of God. (Ppns. 2:13)
And ANY work that is OF God, is a GOOD WORK!

Vss 2-7
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,
vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but
patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into
the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are
without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Here, the Scriptures detail certain QUALITIES for a "bishop"
or pastor.
BLAMELESS (Gk. anepileptos) - not having been arrested, or
unrebukeable in character as to law-abiding.

HOSPITALITY (Gk. philoxenos) - fond of guests, given to
USING hospitality toward others.

NOT Given to WINE (Gk. me, paroinos) NOT a constant
"tipper" - or overly abusing the use of alcohol.

NOT ... BUT PATIENT (Gk. me, epieikes) gentle, patient.
((The words "greedy of filthy lucre" are not in the original
text. However the meaning is implied that the person is
not SEEKING higher pay or social standing, but waiting
patiently for God to apply as HE sees fit!))

((Illustration: Once a pulpit committee came to the church
where I was pastor.
After listening to my sermon, they wanted to have lunch with
me and my wife.
We discussed many things about being a pastor, and I
introduced the fact that the pastor is a SERVANT,
overseeing his life so that he can FEED the members,
ENCOURAGE them, and also EVANGELIZE in his teaching.
After the discussion and we were finished with lunch, the
chairman of the pulpit committee leaned toward me.
He asked, "What would it take to get you to move to our church?"
I replied, "If MONEY were a consideration, I wouldn't be where
I am now! And it would take a definitive CALL from God!
So far, prayerfully considering our discussion, I have heard
NOTHING from HIM!"
The committee immediately arose, paid for the lunch, and LEFT!))

Let me repeat the next statement in its entirety so it will
be easier to see the context.

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God?)

RULING? HOW?
His family BELIEVE him, and follow his directions!
If his FAMILY doesn't believe and follow, how can the
church believe and follow?

NOT A NOVICE (Gk me, neophutos) meaning not a new or young
convert. A new or young convert doesn't ordinarily have a
contextual understanding of God's Word.

GOOD REPORT of those WITHOUT (kalos, marturia) or
having a fair evidence of his outside life.
For instance, is there a good RECORD of his living for Christ.

May I, at this time, point to Philippians 2:13?
"For it is God which worketh IN you, both to will and to do of
HIS good pleasure."

These things cannot be interpreted as a person's personal
thoughts. They must be interpreted under the authority of
God's Holy Spirit.
2Pet 1: 20-21 says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

So, if a person disagrees with these qualities being referenced
by MALE PRONOUNS, that person is disagreeing with the
Holy Spirit of God, Who literally "breathed into" the man who
wrote the Scripture.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not
given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office
of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober,
faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their
children and their own houses well.
13 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.

NOT DOUBLETONGUED (Gk. me, dilogos) or telling a
different story (from God's Word).

NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE (Gk. me, polus) meaning holding
to over abundance of wine.

HOLDING THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH
(Gk. echo, musterion, pistis) one who clings to the
truthfulness of God and the assurance of eternal life through
Christ Jesus.
And clinging to those in (Gk. suneidesis) or moral
consciousness.

PROVED (Gk. dokimazo) to be tried and/or tested.
Usually this PROVING is done for a period of time to
see if the person is indeed ready to be approved by the
church body as a servant.
In our church this is called a "watch-period."
The propective deacon comes to deacons meetings, and
is assigned to another older deacon to observe actions in
visitation and ministry.
After "watching" period is concluded, the deacon body may
approve of the person being recommended to the church body
for ordaining.

NOT SLANDERERS (Gk. me, diabolos) meaning a gossip or
traducer (one who leads into disgrace through defamation.

NOT GIVEN TO WINE (Gk. me, paroinos) like the bishop
not a "tipper" or constant user.

NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE BUT PATIENT
(Gk. me, ....) Again the words "greedy of filthy lucre" are
not in the original text, simply inferred.
Patient is from the Gk. epieikes meaning patient,
gentle, awaiting God's direction.

Again, may I repeat the full wording of the next verse in order
to show the contextual meaning.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to
themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith
in Christ Jesus.

Deacons, like pastors will have gain a good reputation in
Christ, provided they LIVE as Christ commands!
THEREFORE, they can have "boldness" in the faith
of Christ, because it is GIVEN to him.

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 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.
16 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.

Paul tells Timothy he hopes to come soon and visit.
He has given instructions from God here about choosing
people for leadership, so that the identity of the church
will be preserved properly.

Also, these instruction will help Timothy to "behave himself"
properly in the church of the Living God!
And, a truer statement, that Jesus is the PILLAR and GROUND
of TRUTH!

MYSTERY of GODLINESS
Col. 1:26 says, "Even he mystery which hath been hid from
the anges and from generations, but now is made manifest
to His saints."

THIS is the Christian SCHEME!
1) God was MANIFEST - SHOWN in the Person of Jesus.
2) JESUS was JUSTIFIED by the Holy Spirit as the Holy
Spirit worked in Jesus' baptism and in all His works and
miracles performed.
3) He was SEEN of angels! (See Matt. 4:1-11; particularly
verse 11).
4) Jesus was/is "preached unto the Gentiles."
(See Acts 1:8)
5) Jesus was "believed on in the world" and people
were/are saved.
7) Jesus was "received up into glory". He
ASCENDED!

I'll stop here.
There's a FINE LINE between a short commentary and
a HOSTAGE situation!