September 9

Timothy had been led to Christ by Paul. He joined Paul on his second missionary journey (see the map in the back of your Bible for a refresher).  He was instrumental in assisting Paul with six of Paul letters [II Cor. Philippians, Col., 1&2 Thes, and Philemon].  He plays a large role in the expansion following the founding of Christendom. We remember Paul sending for Timothy to come to Athens [Acts 17:14].  He joined Paul in writing the Thessalonian letters. Their interchanges, collaborations, travels, partings, meetings, tag-teaming (is that a word?!).  Timothy was more Timid than a fellow minister Titus. He was not always well. But he was dearly loved by his church in Ephesus, his family and also by Paul who found Timothy to be a wondrous encouragement.  One fairly reliable source states that Timothy (born 17 A.D.) was 80 years old, was still the main teaching elder in Ephesus at that time late in the first century.  He was preaching the gospel with all fervor when it seemed to be interrupting a procession of the pagan fertility goddess Diana.  The pagans, furious about this, beat, dragged and stoned Timothy to death [this was 97 A.D..]  He had been working here as a contemporary with the Apostle John. One tradition also says that Mary, Jesus’ mother, had recently died peacefully in this same area.  Timothy, like the other heroes mentioned in the Bible, we will meet “on the other side of the Jordan.”

2 – Paul wants the church to be a praying people, and for prayer to be their top trademark.  The leaders of the world in this era were mostly ignorant and not too privy to Christianity. Don’t trash them or criticize them. Pray for them.     Paul wanted men to be men of prayer especially.  To head your families and head the church, prayer is first – and you’ll need it.  Plus If it ‘catches’ with them, it will catch with everyone. Women, who would become the heart of the church, were to be known as good hearted souls, who worshiped, and served and learned and were not disruptive.  The forbidding to teach was spoken to a church wherein women predominantly ceased formal schooling at 12 or 13.  Men had compulsive training and mentoring in all the fields until they were early/mid 20’s.  They had normally ten more years of training than women. Hey, women weren’t stupid. They never have been. Raising children grants the equivalent of a PhD in psychology, Elem. Ed., nutrition, pediatrics, et al.  I’m being a bit tongue-in-cheek here but the truth is that the church could not become an institution run by women. Once it did, the end is in sight, because the men would pack and go fishing and not return save the effeminate ‘males’.  What men do not take seriously, the children do not follow in.  Hundreds of social studies prove this.  This church is to be the most enduring institution and vibrant living organism the world has ever known.  Not a gestational training nest for feminism that, left to itself, turns averse to domestic tranquility.  Those who rail about Paul being anti-women are making juvenile, subjective statements and not seeing the better part of wisdom that Paul is addressing with the long term health of the world in mind.  It’s just like a husband and wife riding a horse or a Harley. Someone needs to sit in front and it looks kind of dumb when the woman has the reins/controls with the man sitting in back hanging on to her to find stability.  The church was not to be a wuss-house.  That’s all Paul is getting at.

3 – The qualifications for elders/overseers are laid out here.  These are tenants that had to be adhered to. It’s an unfortunate setting today wherein most elders are simply the most successful businessmen on the church roster.  Financial competence does not equate with spiritual insight nor biblical knowledge.  A church that is this way just may have a carnal pastor who is controlled by greed.  The church such as this has a sketchy future that is not secure in the kingdom.  It just may keep right on going after the rapture.  And that is not a good thing, Einstein!  Deacons (assistants/helpers/managers) of the church were to be closely marked by a list of godly traits listed here.  The church at Ephesus received this list first.  The Ephesians were the most mature Believers in the first century world.  The Ephesians orders have not changed a bit.  To have a healthy church body in the modern world, the leadership list back then needs to be followed still.  The objective is godliness.  Let’s all remember this.