Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 3

Verses 1-16

5 This passage is primarily intended to break down the bounds in which salvation had hitherto been confined. The testimony of past eras is no basis on which to build in this era. The testimony to the nations, committed to the apostle Paul (which he deems it necessary to solemnly affirm) is to the effect that Christ was not only the Son of David, to confirm the kingdom to Israel, or the Son of Abraham, to bring blessing to the faithful, but He is Adam's greater Son, a Man, and as such, is the Mediator for the whole human race. Nor is Israel's God limited to them: for there is only one God for all mankind. The Man Christ Jesus is giving Himself as a Ransom for all. Only a few, comparatively, are vitally affected by this fact at present, but, in due time, the offense of Adam will be much more than offset by the just award of the Man, Christ Jesus ( Rom_5:18 ). Paul was assigned this testimony for the present era. No other apostle presents it, for it is foreign to their ministry. Christ gave His soul a ransom for many ( Mat_20:28 ), but gives Himself a ransom for all. Redemption is for the saints, during the eons. Ransom is for all when the eons end.

9 The dancing women of the East, who are, perhaps, the only class who appear in public, braid their hair with strands strung with gold and pearls, and their vesture is most elaborate, to attract the attention of the men, who form their audience. How much better, for those whose reputation is bound up with the glory of God, to be adorned with acts which reflect His love and grace!

14 The part played by Adam in the temptation receives much light from this passage. While Eve was utterly deluded, Adam was not, and probably partook so as to involve himself in the same plight as Eve. In this light, his defense, "the woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" ( Gen_3:12 ) has more of truth than is usually conceded. Perhaps it is especially in this sense-as deliberately involving himself in Eve's transgression-that we are to consider him as a type of Christ.

1 Each ecclesia in Paul's day seems to have had two distinct classes of officers, if we may so term them. There were the supervisors (sometimes called overseers or bishops), and the servants (or deacons). The supervisors seem to have had a general oversight of the ecclesia and its members, while the servants took a subordinate place, rendering such service as the ecclesia stood in need of. The qualifications for these positions are here given. Young and untested men were not welcome to these responsibilities. Indeed, it seems taken for granted that the supervisor is an elder (Compare Tit_1:5 ; Tit_1:7 ). Both supervisors and servants must show their fitness by controlling their own households.

15 In this epistle the ecclesia is the public exponent of the truth. It is called "God's house." Like a pillar in the temple it upheld and manifested the truth of God. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, written after the apostasy had set in, he calls the ecclesia a "great house" in which are utensils both honorable and otherwise. Such is the case today. The church is no longer "the pillar and base of the truth."

16 Not only is the manuscript evidence against the reading " God manifest in flesh", but other considerations force us to the same conclusion. In the typical teaching of the tabernacle the curtain represented His flesh ( Heb_10:20 ). Now the veil did not reveal , but rather hid the Divine presence. It could not be said to manifest it. The phrase "justified in spirit" is also inept when applied to Christ. The proclamation among the nations is out of place, as no such ministry was attempted until long after He had been "taken up in glory." The whole passage is concerned with conduct. The secret of devout conduct is traced in its various manifestations in those who are its subjects. It should be manifested in flesh by the ideal acts which it produces, it enjoys justification in spirit, is the subject of angelic inspection ( Eph_3:10 ), is proclaimed among the nations, and will be removed from the world before the Lord appears in judgment.