5 Dollar Nachos

1 Timothy 3
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the [f]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not [g]slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Commentary:
First be proved: A man demonstrates his fitness for office in the church by his conduct. Deacons and bishops are more recognized than appointed.

Deacons have near the same requirements as bishops.

1 Timothy 3
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Commentary:
Novice is literally “newly planted.” When someone first comes to Jesus, it isn’t good to put them into a place of leadership until they have been allowed to grow long enough to put down some deep roots.

A good testimony: These characteristics must be evident to all, even unbelievers to see. The potential leader must be a good Christian outside the walls of the church.

You need to disciple under good leadership, BEFORE you can lead.
You also need to be genuine. How you are in the church, should be how you are in the world!

1 Timothy 3
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

Blameless, does not equal perfect.
Can’t be a drunk or a guy that LOVES his alcohol.
Can’t be argumentative.
Can’t love EVERYONE else’s stuff.
Your children need to be well behaved and submissive to authority…Let’s pause on this one…

This one is interesting. Because if you think about “pastor’s kids” usually you think about the worst kids.

I wonder if there is something to this? Maybe a coordinated attack from the enemy? Maybe neglect as a pastor usually focuses outward sometimes more than inward.

1 Timothy 3
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a [a]bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

Commentary:
Based on what bishop means, a bishop is someone with oversight in the church, a leader. Such a person may also sometimes be called an elder (presbuteros) or a pastor (poimen, which means “shepherd”), as in Acts 20:17 and 20:28.

The qualifications:

Blameless: This word literally means, “Nothing to take hold upon.” There must be nothing in his life that others can take hold of and attack the church.

Husband of one wife: The idea here is of “A one-woman man.” It is not that a leader must be married (if so, then both Jesus and Paul could not be spiritual leaders in our churches). Nor is the idea that leader could never remarry if his wife had passed away or was Biblically divorced. The idea is that is love and affection and heart is given to one woman, and that being his lawful and wedded wife.

Who wouldn’t have just one wife and be Christian? Food for thought.

1 Timothy 2
15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Commentary:
Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing: Many people regard this as one of the most difficult passages in the whole Bible. On the surface, it could be taken to mean that if a woman continues in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control, that God will bless her with survival in childbirth – which was no small promise in the ancient world.

Yet this interpretation leaves many difficult questions. Is this an absolute promise? What about godly women who have died in childbirth? What about sinful women who have survived childbirth? Doesn’t this seem like just a reward for good works, and not according to God’s grace and mercy?

One final explanation from my commentary:
The summary is this: Don’t blame women for the fall of the human race; the Bible doesn’t. Instead, thank women for bringing the Messiah to us.

These are the kind of bible verses that we need to pray for revelation, because on the surface this is a hard thing to comprehend.

1 Timothy 2
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Commentary
Generally speaking, it may be observed that women seem to be more spiritually sensitive than men – but this can be true for good or evil.

As well, Eve was deceived, and Adam was not deceived. Eve was tricked; but Adam sinned knowing exactly what he was doing when he rebelled. This means that though Adam’s sin was worse, Eve’s ability to be more readily deceived made her more dangerous in a place of authority. “Eve’s reasoning faculty was at once overcome by the allegation of jealousy felt by God, an allegation plausible to a nature swayed by emotion rather than by reflection.” (White)

1 Timothy 2
12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

From my commentary:
The failure of men to lead in the home and in the church, and to lead in the way Jesus would lead, has been a chief cause of the rejection of male authority – and is inexcusable.

Paul’s meaning seems clear. Women are not to have the role of teaching authority in the church. To be under authority is the principle; not teaching is the application.

The strength of Paul’s wording here makes it challenging to obey this command in today’s society. Since the 1970’s, our culture has rejected the idea that there may be different roles for men and women in the home, in the professional world, or in the church. In this text (among others), the Holy Spirit clearly says there is a difference in roles.

But the cultural challenge must be seen in its true context – not just a struggle between men and women, but as a struggle with the issue of authority in general. Since the 1960’s, there has been a massive change in the way we see and accept authority.

· Citizens do not have the same respect for government’s authority.

· Students do not have the same respect for teacher’s authority.

· Women do not have the same respect for men’s authority.

· Children do not have the same respect for parental authority.

· Employees do not have the same respect for their employer’s authority.

· People do not have the same respect for the police’s authority.

· Christians no longer have the same respect for church authority.

1 Timothy 2
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

Commentary:
Let a woman learn in silence: This unfortunate translation has led some to believe that it is forbidden for women to even speak in church meetings. Paul uses the same word translated silence in 1 Timothy 2:2, and it is translated peaceable there. The idea is without contention instead of total silence.

i. In other places in the New Testament, even in the writings of Paul, women are specifically mentioned as praying and speaking in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5). To learn in silence has the idea of women receiving the teaching of the men God has chosen to lead in the church, with submission instead of contention.

With all submission: The word for submission here literally means, “To be under in rank.” It has to do with respecting an acknowledged order of authority. It certainly does not mean that men are more spiritual than women or that women are inferior to men.

I think according to today’s new culture, this is no longer acceptable.
No one wants to be “under” anyone anymore. Even at work, to be a subordinate to your boss is intolerable.

People no longer believe that how you dress is a reflection of something deeper.

1 Timothy 2
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and [e]moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

From the commentary:
Propriety asks, “Is it appropriate for the occasion? Is it over-dressed or under-dressed? Is it going to call inappropriate attention to myself?” Moderation asks, “Is it moderate? Is it just too much – or far too little?” Moderation looks for a middle ground.

How you dress reflects your heart. If a man dresses in a casual manner, it says something about his attitude. Likewise, if a woman dresses in an immodest manner, it says something about her heart.