1 Timothy 3 Pt. 1 Establishing God's Order For Governing Christian Homes and His Church

The third chapter of Paul's first letter to young pastor Timothy, is divided into three parts. 

First he will address the qualifications of bishops. 

Second, he will give the qualifications for deacons. 

Last, he provides one of the strongest verses in the Bible supporting the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Introducing the office of a bishop and church government. 

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

The Spirit of God guided the apostle Paul to give us clear direction about church government. 

Timothy was an evangelist who was left at Ephesus, to take care of those whom the Holy Ghost had made bishops. 

The Greek word translated "bishop" means an overseer, one who superintends the church of God, making sure that all things are done in an orderly manner.  

Timothy is working with the same elders who received final instructions from Paul (See Acts 20:17-38).

Those bishops or elders loved Paul dearly, and desired his continued presence with them. They were fearful of the great responsibility entrusted to their care, for the church at Ephesus was a new plant, and there were formidable foes.

This is why Paul left Timothy with them to set them in order. God defines the character of a bishop who is to preside in a particular congregation of Christians. 

If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.

The office of a bishop is an office of divine appointment, and not of human invention.  The office of a bishop or elder is one of the great gifts Christ has bestowed on the church, (See Ephesians 4:8-11).

As we shall see, the office of a bishop or elder requires work. One must be very diligent and engaged in gospel labor, rather than using the office to personally profit.

This office is a good work, a work of the greatest importance, and designed for the greatest good. Its focus must be the life and happiness of immortal souls. 

It is a good work, because the elder or bishop must submit to God and be a living model of Christlike character. Only a sincere profession of faith can lead others to Jesus Christ.  

This ministry is appointed to open men's eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.

Thus, it is a good work for those who desire the office of a bishop or elder.

God has an orderly structure for His Church.

1 Corinthians 14:33-40  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34)  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35)  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36)  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37)  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38)  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39)  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40)  Let all things be done decently and in order. 

When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth, he addressed the spiritual chaos and confusion that was going on in the church.

He reminded them that the spiritual gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit were God centered, not man centered. They disrupted the orderliness that God ordained for His church. 

The gift of tongues was specifically abused at Corinth. This gift was simple receiving the ability to speak the gospel in foreign languages that the speaker did not know at all.

They turned it into a man centered babbling that accomplished nothing for the kingdom of God. It did create massive confusion in the church.

Pagan religions had their own perverse version of speaking in tongues, that was connected with ecstatic experiences and sexual immorality of their rituals. 

Many Corinthians were saved out of paganism, but some evidently brought this perversion into the church. 

Many pretended to speak with unintelligible angelic language, and were filled with pride. What they practiced did not meet the standard for this gift as established by the apostles in Acts 2.

Thus, Paul wrote to correct them, by reminding them that many gifts such as tongues, healing, working of miracles, or raising the dead, were temporary sign gifts. 

These gifts certified that the apostles spoke for God, just as miracles in the Old Testament certified that the prophet was speaking for Jehovah. 

God is not the source of confusion in the church. Satan is the great disrupter. 

God is orderly and structured in all His ways. He works with perfect orderliness to accomplish all of His goals and purposes.

God has an orderly structure for the Christian home. 

Colossians 3:18-21  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19)  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20)  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21)  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 

We should not be surprised that God has an orderly structure for His church. After all, God gives us the proper order for a Christian family to follow.  He defines the role of husbands, wives and children. 

Wives must learn to submit themselves to their husband's direction because this pleases God and is best.

Husbands must learn to love their wives as Christ loved His church, and must learn not to be bitter toward them, because this pleases God and is best. 

Children must learn to obey their parents so that they can learn to obey God, for this pleases God and is best.

God has an orderly structure for our civic duties.

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2)  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3)  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4)  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5)  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6)  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7)  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

He spells out the Christian's civic duties and obligations as a citizen. This includes praying for those who govern us and remembering that they have been placed in authority by God. 

Some American Christians have the idea that the government is not going to tell them what to do. 

This brings such people into conflict with God who clearly commands us to obey the authorities, unless they tell us to do something that violates God's moral law.

Remember the example of the Hebrew midwives. They were ordered by Pharaoh to kill any boys that were born. However, they feared God and refused to commit murder (See Exodus 1:15-22).

Remember the example of the apostles. They were harassed, assaulted, beaten and detained for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

They said "We ought to obey God rather than man" (See Acts 4:19-20; 5:29).

God is at work in every place at all times. 

Romans 9:15-18  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16)  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17)  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18)  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

The orderliness God prescribes is for our good and for society's benefit.  God establishes these things as He deems best to accomplish His will in the world. 

We often to not see the big picture of God's eternal purposes always moving forward, and that He can and will use corrupt rulers to advance His kingdom. 

Paul's letter to the church at Rome reaches all the way back to the Hebrews enslavement by the Egyptians. God used Pharaoh as a vessel to display His glory as He brought the Hebrews out of Egypt. 

God's plans are always perfect because they are founded upon His eternal foreknowledge. 

God already knows every detail about all that will transpire between this day and the final day of judgement, when His eternal kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven. 

God knew that Pharaoh would refuse to allow His people to leave Egypt, and in that sense, He hardened Pharaoh's heart to do what He had foreseen that Pharoah would do.

Truly, I find I am very quickly overwhelmed when I consider the vast, infinite nature of God. 

I am richly blessed because such truths remind me that God will keep His promises, because He is able to keep them.

May we learn much about God's orderly structure for His church, and may we be a blessing to all those with whom we interact. 

Bob