Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Paul, The Student!
The Questions
1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?
2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?
3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?
1 Timothy 3:1-10
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. 4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
Original Intent
1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, his “son in the faith”. A nearly identical list is also recorded to Paul’s letter to Titus. (Titus 1:5-9) Though Paul was never married, Timothy was like a “spiritual” son because Paul had deeply invested in Timothy for many years; the two were very close relationally through their bond of Christ. Paul’s work for the Church was immeasurably important, but he knew the work wasn’t about him and neither began nor ended with him, which is why investing in younger leaders to carry on his legacy was so important to him. Paul begins this section with extreme seriousness when he says, “This saying is trustworthy.” The only instances Paul uses this specific phrase are to either to describe the heart of the gospel, as in 1 Timothy 1:15, or to express the character of leaders within the church. If there is nothing more important, or true, than the gospel and Christ’s sufficiency, then the outlined qualities of leaders here described are to be handled soberly with integrity, humility, and prayer.
2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?
All the heavy laws Saul, and Pharisees like him, laid on the Jews had everything to do with looking right, and nothing to do with being right in their hearts. This list, along with Paul’s other various lists in Scripture, all have a common thread: the outpouring of the heart. The actions simply mirror the reality taking place inside where Jesus Christ is Lord. Paul didn’t pen this list because he wanted to control what kind of people would be allowed to lead his missionary church plants. Everything about these qualifications, including how he introduces it with serious respect, speaks of Paul’s desire to honor none but Christ. Yes, there are character traits outlined here, and they may look like a list of “must dos”, but truly they are given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that church leadership may lead well to the glory of God!
3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?
No one drifts into these qualities. No one progressively attains the character traits outlined here without time, dedication, devotion to Scripture, and spiritual discipline by humbly submitting to the hand of the Lord as He shapes hearts. What we see here are marks of a spiritually mature person who has long walked with the Lord. Verse 6 specifically calls this out, “He must not be a recent convert…” Verse 7 also reinforces the idea of lengthened time as the “student” grows rich and deep in their faith walk, “he must be well thought of by outsiders…”. All of these characteristics have an observable aspect to them as the intention is that if one is called to pastor, their lives should be seen and known with authentic transparency. Even Jesus had this observable aspect about His character before entering the ministry, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)
Everyday Application
1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?
How important do you view your role within the Church, both locally and globally? Have you ever considered it before? Perhaps you wonder if you even have one, or if you view your contribution is too insignificant. Paul is easily known as the best evangelist of all time, next to Christ, but he was well balanced in his view of himself. He was neither puffed up with prideful arrogance nor entangled with a low perspective, allowing his sins and flaws to become his identity and keep him from walking into all God had for him. Whatever your gift, use it for the kingdom, Sister! And if your gift is teaching or shepherding, approach it with serious awareness of the high calling it is to handle the Word of Lord and lead others to know it. As you grow in developing your gift and service to the Body of Christ, look for a “younger” one in the faith you can mentor and encourage along the way. No matter how long you’ve been following Jesus, and even if you haven’t decided yet, find someone “older” in the faith to mentor and encourage you! No believer should ever stop being a student!
2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?
As we look over this list, it’s important to remember it is not a list of requirements to being a Christian. Checking off these “requirements” does not win favor with God. The intention is to give serious weight to considering the specific role as “overseer”, meaning “shepherd”, or what we would identify as the pastor role in our churches. The calling of Pastor is a high one, never to be taken lightly. Sisters, the seriousness with which Paul treats this particular leadership role insists that we come alongside our pastors and church leaders to regularly encourage and pray for them as they follow the Lord. Pray for grace. Pray for their adherence to the full gospel. Pray for them to be reminded their value and identity rests in the finished work of Christ on their behalf. Have you written a note or email to your pastor or church leadership team lately? Do it today and come alongside them in Kingdom work!
3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?
The Lord has long waited, since the beginning of time, and continues to this day, to wait for His perfect timing to return to earth and finally call His children home. He created humans to be born as helpless infants who needed nurturing and time to grow into maturity. He designed processes for our spiritual growth as we are wooed to Himself, investigating the claims of faith, cross the line and are given salvation, and each day after are given the opportunity to grow deeper with Him. All of this requires waiting, growing, and intentional decision to follow hard after Christ. Those who “aspire to the office of overseer” (verse 1) are not the only ones who are called to be a student of the Lord and wait for Him, all Christ-followers are invited to do the same. If even the Lord Himself waits (Psalm 27:14), something tells me He enjoys the Journey. We should too!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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