One Mediator Between God and Men
Comments for Study 2
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I. The Man Jesus Christ (2:1-15)
>1. How are we to pray for others? (1)
* 1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--"
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* "intercession"
* "thanksgiving"
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>Should there be reason to exclude anyone from our prayers?
* "be made for everyone"
* Paul urges for prayer for everyone (1). He especially points out to pray for kings and all those in authority (2). Understanding all that he went through due to orders from selfish, personally ambitious, and cruel rulers I can understand why Paul wanted all to pray for people in authority. People in authority have the power to allow others to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, or they can take that away (2).
I think back on my life to those in positions of authority who were cruel, some even made evil decisions. They would not care for me or others. Some purposely set out to harm.
The first impulse is to take revenge upon such a person and to make them endure the same pain that they inflicted upon others. The sinful nature wants to make them pay for what they did. Some popular TV series like The Handmade's Tale embrace this belief.
Jesus taught that he wants his followers to turn the other cheek when someone sticks the first. I believe the phrase "turn the other cheek" has lost its meaning. It means when someone hits me, rather than strike back I am to allow them to hit me again.
When Jesus hung on the cross the religious authorities came and bragged about their accomplishment. They publically declared their righteousness so all could hear, "If he is the son of God let him come down and save himself." "He could save others, but he cannot save himself." Jesus could have, but he purposely kept to his mission to bring glory to God and save me. Then he prayed for them, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus took no revenge. He prayed for those in authority.
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>Who does Paul especially point out that we should pray for? (2)
* 1 Timothy 2:2 "for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
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>What should be the subject of our prayer for these people?
* "that we may live peaceful"
* "quiet lives"
* "in all godliness and holiness"
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>Why? (3)
* 1 Timothy 2:3 "This is good, and pleases God our Savior"
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>What is the desire of God's heart for all, even those in authority? (4)
* 1 Timothy 2:4 "who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
* "who wants all men to be saved"
* "and to come to a knowledge of the truth"
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>2. What does it mean that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men? (5)
* 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"
* Prayer seems like a simple subject to think about. After thinking about it for a while I realize that it is not. As many people that are alive and breathing, have ever walked the earth, or will ever exist must have their own thoughts and beliefs about praying.
Prayer is a rapport with God. Some may replace God there with "an object of worship." Prayer is personal.
I accept the truth that Jesus is God's appointed mediator between him and me (5). Jesus is with me when I talk to and with God. Jesus understands what it is to be me, a human male making a journey through life that has its good times and its hard times. The Spirit searches my heart, feeling with me.
My attitude during prayer has varied greatly when I have prayed through the years. It all depended on my life circumstances and my reaction to them. There is nothing to hide, or can be hidden from God. So I come to him in the spirit I am in, just like I see David did in the Pslams.
My attitude towards others affects my prayer. When am angry with someone, that anger comes out in my requests. If I have had a dispute with someone the emotions, and thoughts that accompany the argument swirl around my head like the fake snow in a snow globe. They disrupt my personal time with God, my maker. Jesus and Paul taught it is best to go to my brother and/or sister and peacefully settle the matter before attempting to pray (8, Mark 6:5-15, Luke 11:1-13).
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>What did Jesus do as mediator?
* 1 Timothy 2:6 "who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."
* "who gave himself as a ransom for all men"
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>Why is a ransom given? (Job 33:23-28)
* Job 33:23-28 "Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, to be gracious to him and say, 'Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him'-- then his flesh is renewed like a child's; it is restored as in the days of his youth. He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. Then he comes to men and says, 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.'"
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>3. What was Paul's commission? (7)
* 1 Timothy 2:7 "And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles."
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>What did Paul desire of the men preached to? (8)
* 1 Timothy 2:8 "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
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>What did Paul desire of the women he preached to? (9-10)
* 1 Timothy 2:9-10 "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."
* Paul continues to give pastoral instructions to his young friend Timothy, who he considers a son in the Lord and a fellow pastor.
Some consider the instructions in these verses cultural, dependant on a woman's education and experience, only to be applied in church functions, and subject to society's customs. I tend to agree for they start with "I" meaning they are from Paul. Directions like these are meant not to be forced onto people and society, but for each person to decide how and when to apply them.
While living in Pennsylvania around 10 years ago I knew a woman who had taught the Bible in her church for many years. She handled the word of God well. Many years ago when I was a young believer in Jesus I knew another woman who was an oversee missionary for many years. She also taught the Bible to anyone who was willing to listen. She too handled the word of God well.
As for attire, it is wise to dress pleasant and modest when in congregational settings. Doing otherwise seems to upset some women more than men.
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>4. What is the meaning behind the instruction in verse 11?
* 1 Timothy 2:11 "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission."
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>And verse 12?
* 1 Timothy 2:12 "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent."
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>Why? (13-14)
* 1 Timothy 2:13 "For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."
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>What then was Adam's sin? (Genesis 3:6, 17a)
* Genesis 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."
* Genesis 3:17a "To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'"
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>What does childbearing have to do with faith, love and holiness?
* 1 Timothy 2:15 "But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."
* Genesis 3:16 "To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
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>What is propriety?
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II. Overseers and Deacons (3:1-16)
>5. What is an overseer and why is this a noble task? (1)
* 1 Timothy 3:1 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task."
* Bishop is an old English word meaning overseer, church official, and leader. The business equivalent is middle management. Just as companies, organizations, and governments have people responsible for overseeing the daily, weekly, and annual functions of a corporation, so congregations and denominations have people responsible for such things. Some responsibilities include managing people, finances, operations, press, and production.
Unlike the secular world, the body of Christ must first and foremost consider a person's qualification for such an important position. The consideration is based on their character and social and spiritual health (2-4). A congregation's decision is not the same as judging a person. Judging implies punishment. Assessing someone for the position of a bishop is determining in order to help and improve the health of the body of Christ. (Some bishops may consider it punishment; this meant in humor.)
Verses 6 and 7 bring up an easily overlooked fact, an overseer may be a good candidate at first, but can easily become subject to the same judgment as of the devil. And like the devil often pastors and congregations find it hard to remove the devil's bishop from positions of importance not because they can't, but because selfish reasons and lack of faith make it hard for them to let go of the deceptive influence. Indeed, I have seen and experienced many birds in the mustard plant.
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>Why do some leaders stay away from teaching about overseers? (Luke 22:25; Phil. 1:17; and 2 Tim. 3:6-9)
* Luke 22:25 "Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors."/p>
* Philippians 1:17 "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains."
* 2 Timothy 3:6-9 "They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone."
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>What are some of the first listed requirements to be an overseer? (2)
* 1 Timothy 3:2 "Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach"
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>What are some more listed in verse 3?
* 1 Timothy 3:3 "not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money."
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>What kind of family life must he lead? (4)
* 1 Timothy 3:4 "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect."
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>Why? (5)
* 1 Timothy 3:5 "(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)"
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>6. What will happen if a recent member to a congregation is appointed an elder? (6)
* 1 Timothy 3:6 "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil."
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>How is an elder to live a balanced life, in and out of the congregation? (7)
* 1 Timothy 3:7 "He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap."
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>7. How are the duties of deacons different than the duties of an elder? (8)
* 1 Timothy 3:8 "Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain."
* Deacon is an old English word literally meaning servant. Most congregations and denominations have people in the position of deacon and deaconess whether it is an official office or meanly one in action only. Those who serve in a congregation should conduct themselves as described here.
Yesterday's passage consisted of the position of bishop (overseer). Elder is also a position within some congregations and denominations (1 Ti 5:19, Tit 1:6, 1 Pe 5:1, 2 Jn 1:1, 3 Jn 1:1) All 3 positions have similar personal, social, and family requirements. A congregation will do well to seek people to fill such positions.
A congregation's pastor (shepherd) needs not only helpers but accountability and checks and balances. Any leader including pastors is prone to the temptation of overloading those who are supposed to be under their care. I've seen it all too many times.
Right now more so than any time in recent decades many congregations and denominations are dwindling to such low numbers that they are dissolving. At the same time, new congregations and denominations are quickly growing.
The reason for the switch is that pastors, elders, bishops, and deacons of the former congregations confused culture with Christianity. They were only willing to bend to their will and needs, and not the needs of others. They got drunk on the wine of power and influence. They put down and ridiculed the very people that Jesus told us to help. To this day they sit in empty church services believing that they are right and/or unable to accept that they were wrong.
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>What kind of life should a deacon live?
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>8. What are the deep truths mentioned in verse 9?
* 1 Timothy 3:9 "They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience."
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>How might a person be tested if he is to be a deacon? (10)
* 1 Timothy 3:10 "They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons."
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>9. Why must a deacon be married and how is their wives to live? (11)
* 1 Timothy 3:11 "In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything."
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>Their children? (12)
* 1 Timothy 3:12 "A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well."
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>10. Whether as a deacon, an overseer, or however serving what do they gain? (13)
* 1 Timothy 3:13 "Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus."
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>How do we benefit from these instructions? (14-15)
* 1 Timothy 3:14-15 "Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
* Each person and every person who believes in Jesus is the church (congregation/assembly) of the living God (15). God lives in me. I am the house of God. I am a temple where God resides. I am in the family of God and the Father of our family is in me.
No matter where I go or what I do, God is here within me. He knows my inner thoughts and motives. He experiences what I experience. He lives and I live because he lives in me. He is in a continuous mode of assessing and addressing my character. No wonder Paul wrote, "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great." (16)
I like reading and watching mysteries and detective shows. If there is a puzzle to be solved I will enjoy finding the solution. The mystery of godliness, that which gives me reverence for God is one of the greatest mysteries. It is dynamic and relevant when and if I submit to my Father's work in my character and being.
The short poem at the end was most likely a ditty sung by the early congregation. When God moved Paul to write about the mystery of godliness he sang a song. I want to sing these words among the believers some Sunday. Would someone put these to a melody?
God became flesh. Amazing. He is called Jesus and lives among us. Amazing. The Spirit declared him righteous and approved. Amazing. All creation sees him including the angels in the flesh. Amazing. His name and deed are known around the world. Amazing. Some from every tongue, tribe, people group, and nation believes in Jesus. Amazing. Jesus ascended to heaven in glory. Amazing.
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>What is the great truth and meaning behind verse 16?
* 1 Timothy 3:16 "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."
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>What is the glory mentioned in this verse?
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