20/20 for JESUS - Blogpost #377 for 10/11/2021: ABOVE REPROACH... FAITHFUL TO HIS BRIDE... TEMPERATE... SELF-CONTROLLED... RESPECTABLE... HOSPITABLE... ABLE TO TEACH... NOT GIVEN TO DRUNKENNESS... NOT VIOLENT BUT GENTLE... NOT QUARRELSOME... NOT A LOVER OF MONEY... WORTHY OF FULL RESPECT... GOD... GOOD REPUTATION WITH OUTSIDERS... WORTHY OF RESPECT... SINCERE... NOT INDULGING IN MUCH WINE... NOT PURSUING DISHONEST GAIN... CLEAR CONSCIENCE... TESTED... NOT MALICIOOUS TALKERS... TEMPERATE AND TRUSTWORTHY IN EVERYTHING... FAITH... MANAGES HIS HOUSEHOLD WELL... FAITH... CHRIST JESUS... THE LIVING GOD... THE PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH... APPEARED IN THE FLESH... VINDICATED BY THE SPIRIT... SEEN BY ANGELS... PREACHED AMONG THE NATIONS... BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD... TAKEN UP IN GLORY...

 

1 Timothy 3 

Qualifications for Overseers/Shepherds/Elders and Deacons

NOTE:  Followers of JESUS have characteristics of JESUS.  Therefore, those characteristics/descriptions of how Overseers and Deacons should be are also those that describe JESUS.

1 "Here is a trustworthy saying: 

Whoever aspires to be an overseer (elder/shepherd) desires a noble task. 

2 Now the overseer is to be 

-ABOVE REPROACH, 

-FAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE (BRIDE), 

-TEMPERATE, 

-SELF-CONTROLLED, 

-RESPECTABLE, 

-HOSPITABLE, 

-ABLE TO TEACH,  

3 -NOT GIVEN TO DRUNKENNESS, 

-NOT VIOLENT BUT GENTLE, 

-NOT QUARRELSOME, 

-NOT A LOVER OF MONEY. 

4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner WORTHY OF FULL RESPECT.   

5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of GOD’s church?) 

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 

7 He must also have a GOOD REPUTATION WITH OUTSIDERS, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8 In the same way, deacons are to be

-WORTHY OF RESPECT

-SINCERE

-NOT INDULGING IN MUCH WINE

-NOT PURSUING DISHONET GAIN.

9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a CLEAR CONSCIENCE. 

10 They must first be TESTED; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women are to be 

-WORTHY OF RESPECT, 

-NOT MALICIOUS TALKERS, but

-TEMPERATE AND TRUSTWORTHY IN EVERYTHING.

12 A deacon must be FAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE (BRIDE) and must MANAGE HIS children and HOUSEHOLD WELL.   

13 Those who have SERVED WELL gain an EXCELLENT STANDING and great assurance in their FAITH in CHRIST JESUS.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 

15 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.   

16 Beyond all question, THE MYSTERY FROM WHICH TRUE GODLINESS SPRINGS  is great:

HE APPEARED IN THE FLESH,
    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."