1 Timothy 3:1
1 This is a true [pistos] saying, [logos] If a man [ei tis] desire [oregomai] the office of a bishop, [episkope] he desireth
[epithumeo] a good [kalos] work. [ergon] KJV-Interlinear
1 It is a trustworthy statement:
if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to
do. NASB
Paul moves from
speaking of the general roles of Christians, to the more specific role of the
leadership of Christianity.
While everyone has an obligation
to fulfill the duties of Christianity, as living examples of the faith, it
falls upon a very few, who will bear the responsibility of teaching the
fundamental principles of Christianity to believers.
And it is to them that
a higher calling, or rather a higher standard is
expected.
As with any human
endeavor, the people are the weak link.
Since we all have sin natures, anything that people do, is subject to
flaws.However, the flaws of people are
not to be interpreted as Christian attributes.
Unfortunately there are far too many Christians who do not adhere to even
the basics of Christian doctrine and that is where
Christianity gets a bad name.
Beginning with its
leadership (instructors), the collective Church (of Christians) is only as good
as its leadership, and is only as good as its (believers in general) collective
desire to want to learn and grow.
When the leadership is
in it for the prestige, of the approbation, for the attention they perceive,
for an easy ride through life, for the fad of a given or popular subject, then
their motives are wrong. The damage they can inflict on believers can be
tremendous.Consequently, people who
enter into a ministerial endeavor with the wrong motives or in violation of
Gods mandates, and likewise any followers who pursue Christianity in similar
fashion, are subject to special discipline.
Hos 4:9
9 And it will be, like
people, like priest; So I will punish them for their
ways, And repay them for their deeds. NASB
Christian leadership is
the core of Christian teaching.Support
of that leadership is likewise the core of Christian growth. We studied just a few weeks ago, that the
individual believer has the obligation to pray for two basic things namely Bible
doctrine and their instructors.
Since all of our lives
depend on a relationship with God, and the only means of obtaining that
relationship is through the written Word, then we must have access to doctrine
and someone who is objectively qualified to teach it. Without either of these, then none of us
would have anything.
Paul starts this
chapter with a general understanding that this topic is well known, and
therefore needs no further documentation.
It is a true saying,
means this concept is well known and is an obvious truth.
If I were to tell you
that jumping off of a thousand foot tall building would end up badly for you,
and that it was an obviously stupid thing to do, and that it is a well known
and understood fact, then there would be no further need for proof. We would not have someone jump off of the
building just to prove it.So, everyone
understands the concept.
As for those who want
to argue the idea, well their motives are self serving, subjective, confrontational
and for attention getting only.You ll
find a lot of these types of people online who profess atheism or some religion
or other false belief.
It is a well known
fact, that if a man (masculine) desires the office of bishop, then it is a good
thing, an honorable pursuit.
This desire to teach
others, is the honorable pursuit, not the title.
Office of a bishop
refers to the duties of that person, not the title, not the recognition, but
the day to day job that belongs to the job.
Bishop, episkope, means overseer, chief, boss, one who is
responsible, an instructor of others, pastor, elder, Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5-9; 1
Peter 5:1-2.
The instructor is given
the responsibility of teaching others, and to set the example, the spiritual
example, for others.
Luke 6:40
40 "A pupil is not
above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like
his teacher. NASB
The office is limited
to men, the office is there only for those who have
the desire (passion) to carry out its responsibilities. The office is not fad
or popular topic oriented only.The
office is not for temporary utilization or the convenience of those who would
float in or out of it, based on whims.
It is an office of good
work.
Good means intrinsic or
valuable regardless of the circumstances.
Work means toil,
responsibility, productive duty.
This office is not one
of inactivity or for lazy people, who only want to escape their
responsibilities and obligations in this world under the guise of doing work
for Jesus.
This post is not for
casual entertainment or casual interest in popular subjects. It is not an academic undertaking nor just
like any other subject in life. It is
not a position to be taken lightly because of the long term affects it can have
on others.
It is an honorable
post, because its primary objective is to help people prepare completely, for
their eternal life.The
results of Bible teaching (all subjects), sets the stage for the lives of people,
for all of their eternal existence, for their ultimate completion, for their
fulfillment, for their meaning and purpose in existing. Its value is intrinsic because its objective
is infinite.
That makes it the most
honorable position in all of the world. No other occupation can make the same claim.
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