Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From 1 TIMOTHY #2 - 2:1-3:16)
C. 2:1-3:16 REGULATION OF WORSHIP AND ORDINATION OF LEADERS
1. 2:1-7 THE PURPOSE OF GENERAL PRAYER
a. 2:1-2 PRAYER TO BE MADE FOR ALL
Pa-ra-kaLO[3870]oun PROton PANton poiEISthai deEseis [1162],
I exhort therefore first of all to make supplications,
pro-seuCHAS [4335], enTEUxeis [1783], eu-cha-riSTIas [2169], huPER PANton anTHROpon;
prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men;
huPER ba-siLEon [935]kai PANton ton en hu-pe-roCHE[5247]ONton;
2for kings and all that are in high places;
HIna Ere-mon kai heSUchi-on [2272]BIon diAgo-men [1236] en PAseeu-seBEIa [2150]kai semNOte-ti [4587].
that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
b. 2:3-4 SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PRAYER
TOUto kaLON kai aPOdek-ton [587] eNOpi-on tou soTEros [4990]heMON TheOU;
This is good and acceptable before God our :Savior;
hos PANtas anTHROpous THElei soTHEnai [4982] kai eis ePIGno-sin [1922]a-leTHEIas elTHEIN.
4who wills all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of truth.
c. 2:5-7 PAUL: HERALD OF THE ONE MEDIATOR!
Heis gar TheOS, heis kai meSItes [3316]TheOU kai anTHROpon, ANthro-pos, ChrisTOS IeSOUS,
For one is God, one is also mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,
ho dous he-auTON anTIlu-tron [487] huPER PANton; to marTUri-on [3142]kaiROIS [2540]iDIois;
6who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to bein its own seasons;
eis ho eTEthen [5087]eGO KErux [2783]kai aPOsto-los [652] (aLEthei-an LEgo, ou PSEUdo-mai [5574]),
7whereunto I was appointed preacher and apostle (I speak truth, I lie not),
diDAska-los [1320] ethNON [1484]en PIstei kai a-leTHEIa.
a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.
2. 2:8-3:1a MAN: THE LEADER OF WORSHIP IN THE CHURCH
a. 2:8 QUALIFICATION FOR PRAYER
BOUlo-mai [1014] oun proSEUches-thai [4336] tous ANdras en panTI TOpo[5117],
I desire therefore the men to pray in every place,
aPAIron-tas [1869] hoSIous [3741] CHEIras, choRIS orGES [3709]kai di-a-lo-gisMON [1261].
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputings.
b. 2:9-10 THE DRESS OF WOMEN
hoSAUtos, guNAIkas [1135]en ka-taSTOle[2689]kosMIo [2887],
Likewise, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
meTA aiDOUS [127] kai so-phroSUnes [4997], kosMEIN [2885]he-auTAS;
with modesty and sobriety;
meen PLEGma-sin [4117], kai chruSIo [5557]e mar-gaRItais ehi-ma-tisMO [2441]po-lu-teLEI [4185];
not with braids, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;
10but (which becomes women professing godliness) through good works.
c. 2:11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.
GuNEen he-suCHIa [2271]man-thaNEto [3129]en PAse hu-po-taGE[5292].
d. 2:12 But I permit not a woman to teach,nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.
diDASkeinde gu-naiKI ouk e-piTREpo[2010], ouDE au-thenTEIN [831]anDROS, all' EInai en he-suCHIa.
e. 2:13-15 THE REASON FOR WOMAN'S SUBJECTION
A-DAM gar PROtos ePLASthe [4111], EIte E-UA; kai A-DAM ouk e-paTEthe[538], he de guNE
For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman
e-xa-pa-teTHEIsa [538]en pa-raBAsei [3847]GEgo-nen: soTHEse-tai [4982]de diA tes tek-no-goNIas [5042],
being much deceived has fallen into transgression: 15but she shall be saved through the childbearing,
eAN MEIno-sin [3306]en PIstei kai aGApekai ha-gi-asMO [38]meTA so-phroSUnes [4997].
if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.
f. 3:1a Faithful the saying. PiSTOS [4103]ho LOgos.
3. 3:1b-13 QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS, DEACONS & WIVES OF OFFICERS
a. 3:1b-6 QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS IN THE CHURCH & HOME
EI tis e-pi-skoPES [1984]oREge-tai [3713], kaLOU ERgou e-pi-thuMEI [1937]:
If one seeks an overseership, he disires a good work:
dei oun ton ePIsko-pon [1985] a-nePIlemp-ton [423]EInai,
2the overseer therefore must be without reproach,
miAS gu-naiKOS ANdra, nePHAli-on [3524], SOphro-na [4998],
husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded,
KOSmi-on [2887], phiLOxe-non [5382], di-dak-tiKON [1317]; mePAroi-non [3943], me PLEKten [4131];
orderly, hospitality-lover, apt to teach; 3no brawler, no striker,
alLA e-pi-eiKE[1933], Ama-chon [269], a-phiLARgu-ron; tou iDIou OIkou kaLOS pro-iSTAme-non [4291],
but gentle, not contentious, no money-lover; 4ruling well his own :house,
TEKna [5043] Echon-ta en hu-po-taGE[5292]meTA PAses semNOte-tos [4587];
having childen in subjection with all gravity;
(ei DE tis tou iDIou OIkou proSTEnai [4291]ouk OIden,
5(but if one knows not how to rule his own :house,
pos ek-kleSIas [1577]TheOU e-pi-meLEse-tai [1959]?)
how shall he care for God's church?)
meneOphu-ton [3504], HIna me tu-phoTHEIS [5187]eis KRIma [2917]emPEse [1706]tou di-aBOlou [1228].
6not a novice, lest puffed up he fall into condemnation of the devil.
b. 3:7 QUALIFICATION FOR OVERSEERS: OUTSIDE TESTIMONY
dei de kai mar-tuRIan [3141] kaLEN Echein aPO ton Exo-then:
Moreover he must have good testimony from themwithout:
HIna meeis o-nei-disMON [3680]emPEse [1706]kai paGIda [3803]tou di-aBOlou [1228].
lest he fall into reproach and the devil's snare.
c. 3:8-9 QUALIFICATION OF DEACONS
Di-aKOnous [1249] hoSAUtos semNOUS [4586], me diLOgous [1351],
Deacons likewise must begrave, not double-tongued,
meOIno [3631]polLO proSEchon-tas [4337], me ais-chro-kerDEIS [146];
not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Echon-tas to muSTEri-on [3466]tes PIste-os en ka-thaRA [2513]su-neiDEsei [4893].
9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
d. 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.
kai HOUtoi de do-ki-maZEStho-san [1381]PROton; EIta di-a-koNEIto-san [1247], aNEGkle-toi [410]ONtes.
e. 3:11 Women likewise must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
guNAIkas hoSAUtos semNAS [4586],medi-aBOlous[1228], ne-phaLIous [3524], piSTAS en PAsin.
f. 3:12 HOME QUALIFICATION OF DEACONS
diAko-noi [1249] Esto-san miAS gu-naiKOS ANdres,
Let deacons be husbands of one wife,
TEKnon [5043] kaLOS pro-iSTAme-nos [4291] kai ton iDIon OIkon.
ruling the children and their own :houses well.
g. 3:13 REWARD OF DEACONS
hoi gar kaLOS di-a-koNEsan-tes [1247] bathMON [898] he-auTOIS kaLON pe-ri-poiOUNtai [4046],
For who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing,
kai polLEN par-reSIan [3954] en PIstei te en ChrisTO IeSOU.
and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
4. 3:14-16 THE NATURE OF GOD'S HOUSE
a. 3:14-15 BEHAVIOR IN HOUSE OF GOD
These thingswrite I to you, hoping to come unto your shortly;
eAN de braDUno [1019] HIna eiDES [1492] pos dei en OIko TheOU a-naSTREphes-thai [90],
15but if I delay that you know how one should behave in God's house,
HEtis esTIN ek-kleSIa [1577] TheOU ZONtos [2198], STUlos [4769] kai eDRAIo-ma [1477] tes a-leTHEIas,
the which is theliving God's church, pillar and ground of the truth.
b. 3:16 MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
kai ho-mo-lo-gouMEnos [3672] MEga esTIN to tes eu-seBEIas [2150] muSTEri-on [3466];
And confessedly great is the mystery of :godliness;
Hos e-pha-neROthe [5319] en sarKI [4561], e-di-kaiOthe [1344] en PNEUma-ti [4151],
Who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit,
OPHthe[3700]agGElois [32], e-keRUCHthe[2784]en ETHne-sin [1484],
Seen of angels, Preached among nations,
e-piSTEUthe [4100] en KOSmo [2889], a-neLEMPHthe [353] en DOxe [1391] .
Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
NOTE: Of the first 130 chapters of this Greek Interlinear Bible Numerics NT, the texts of which were finished by Ivan Panin in 1941 - the notes on these 2 chapters are probably the most controversial so far.
Perhaps the first item we should consider is 1 Timothy 3:1a, “Faithful the saying.” Bible Numerics clearly places this sentence with the preceding section, 2:8-3:1a, not with 3:1b-13. By recognition of the change of context here, we are noting that the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, is asking us to be very clear in our understanding of this portion of Scripture. It is not just an insight on God's thinking on the role of women, but also the qualification for men in the role of Eldership or Overseership.
How many “pastors” have seriously considered in the light of this passage, whether they should be serving in the role of pastor? Their children and household are “anything” but in line with the qualifications set forth here. One pastor's rebellious daughter married an unbeliever, who murdered her and cut her body into little pieces. And this pastor's wife was anything but one with him in the ministry.
To help many of you, men and women, to hear clearly what God in His Word is really saying here - let me share with you my confession.
I became a student minister or pastor in 1946 in Saskatchewan, Canada. This decision was partly in the light of the low standards of the church at large in those days. Guidelines seldom even referred to God and His Bible. We were much like Israel in the last verse of the book of Judges - “In those days, there was no king in Israel - every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
After my marriage in 1948 and the arrival of children, I entered more fully into the role of pastor. However, I confess that my role as father and husband really did not qualify me to pastor a church. I do believe God has called me to the ministry, but not as a pastor. There are 5 ministries in Ephesians 4:11-12, including the prophet and the teacher. I see myself more as a “prophetic teacher,” or a “teaching prophet.” I believe many men serving in the role of pastor today - are like myself. They fit more as an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist or Teacher - than a pastor, serving as overseer and shepherd.
Think of it this way. When our Lord Jesus soon returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom, ruling from Jerusalem, what do you suppose He will change in the present role of His Church? His Body? Will it be much more like He laid out 2000 years ago through the apostle Paul? I personally believe so! The church has been like Israel, and departed as much from apostolic guidelines, as Israel did from the law.
I place the above first, to make it easier for women to anticipate their adjustments in returning to God's standards for them too. I have heard those of the “Women's Lib spirit” say - “I could knock Paul's head off with a rolling -pin for saying it isn't 50-50!” But what if it wasn't Paul directly speaking in his 14 letters of the NT - but Jesus by His Spirit speaking through Paul? Paul clearly averred that what he spoke was nothim speaking, but the Lord through him. (1 Corinthians 14:37). Peter claimed the same thing (2 Peter 1:21 (12-21)).
Mary Slessor of Calabar, Africa, missionary from Scotland, served apostolically in founding churches composed of her own converts to Jesus. She would then call her bishop and elders from the mouth of the Congo to come up and ordain those men she deemed qualified to be elders. When her bishop said - “Ma, you do all this tremendous work, and then we come in and take the glory. It isn't right!” “Hush, boys”, she would reply. “We know what the Word says. You do your role, and I'll do mine! And the Lord will give the right rewards out in the end! “
Sophie Muller of New Tribes Mission in South America took the same position. She functioned apostolically, but would not take the title. She like Ma Slessor founded churches from raw paganism in 3 South American countries: Ecuador, Venezuela and Columbia. Her overseers would come in and ordain elders she deemed qualified. She like Ma Slessor would serve under these elders for a while until she was satisfied that they were functioning adequately - then pushed on to found another church.
And what of deacons in a local church? In the church of Jerusalem there were but 7 deacons serving a City Church of at least 10,000 members, and perhaps 300 churches in the home of 50-100 each. Plurality of Eldership was in the city church, not the local church. Deacons were for the city church, not the local church. Local churches were in the home, not in special buildings. In a sense, the 7 city deacons of Jerusalem were probablychosen from 7 of the individual local elders from churches in the home. Two of them soon were promoted by God to the office of the Evangelist: Philip and Stephen. Stephen became probably the first Jerusalem martyr.
Does this all sound strange? It is. But is thisprobably what took place in the City Churches of Paul's day? I believe Timothy and Titus walked in these truths. As you have probably surmised, I am leaving it to you to look over my Interlinear summaries to these two chapters. I leave it to you to make notes on these two chapters as you feel our Lord Jesus was thinking as He gave them to Paul for Timothy. I acknowledge that this is not a sermonette by a preacherette for Christianettes. Thisis solid food, not milk. This is post-graduate study. But - ask the Spirit to help you, and He will indeed make sense out of these 2 chapters on your behalf. J.A.W.