Wrestling with Theology

Now an overseer must be ... temperate. (1 Timothy 3:2) Temperate What does "temperate" mean? Why is "temperance" such a good thing? Temperance is the practice of moderation. As Paul in Philippians 4:5, "Let your moderation be known to all men" (KJV). All things are lawful for God's children (1 Corinthians 10:23), but everything needs to be in moderation and in its appropriate circumstances. All th...

In the Torah, there were many sections of laws that were binding on Old Testament Israel to set them apart from the kingdoms around them. In this section, we speak about the need for restitution, justice in civil proceedings and proper worship.

Now the overseer must be ... the husband of one wife. (1 Timothy 3:2) Monogamy Having talked last month about women's ordination, I want to take this moment to bring another great point in the relationship of the genders. Pastors should be married, but Paul makes the great statement that it must be a monogamous marriage. One husband, one wife. As the Gospel spread throughout the world, this became...

Now the overseer must be above reproach. (1 Timothy 3:2) Above Reproach What does it mean to be "above reproach"? And why do pastors need this? Actually, all Christians are called to be above reproach. Each of us is called to live the life that Christ has called us to. "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10)....

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone set his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1) Noble Task The office of pastor is definitely a noble task. God puts pastors in charge of large numbers of people and the well-being of their souls. If that's not a noble task, please tell me what is. Think about it for a moment. Your pastor is entrusted and charged with the mainten...

But women will be saved through childbearing-- if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15) Continue in Holiness Continuing in faith and love we receive holiness. Jesus' holiness and righteousness which hung on the cross for our sins. We receive this as a gift. He takes our sinful stain and gives us the white robe of His righteousness and holiness. The robe that ha...

But women will be saved through childbearing-- if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15) Continue in Love After continuing in faith, we're to continue in love. Love doesn't form faith. Faith forms loves. "We love because God first loved us" (1 John 4:19). God loved us enough that He sent His Son into the world to redeem the world. To redeem sinful mankind and sa...

But women will be saved through childbearing-- if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15) Continue in Faith Right after the unusual sound bite, Paul goes on to clarify his statement. Not the actual act of giving birth would mean salvation to women. It's the Child who would be born. The Christ who would be born to take away the sins of the world. Israel's Messiah....

Melanchthon tackles the distinction between Church and State in the last article of the Augsburg Confession. By the time of the Reformation, many of the clergy had also achieved high ranks within the civil government. Is this by divine right? No. I also talk about the place of the wedding ceremony in this distinction.

But women will be saved through childbearing. (1 Timothy 2:15) Saved Through Childbearing Now we've come to one of St. Paul most misunderstandable sound bites. Women will be saved by childbearing? Does that mean that a mother with ten or more children is more holy than a woman with only a couple? What does that mean for the woman unable to have children? Does that mean that Nadya Suleman is one of...

For Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:14) The Woman Deceived Paul reminds Timothy that Adam was not deceived by the serpent. Eve was deceived. That doesn't excuse Adam for his part in the sin: "She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it" (Genesis 3:6). Both are to blame for their sins, just as each of us are t...

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. (1 Timothy 2:13) Adam Formed First St. Paul proposes what is known as the "order of creation" argument. Adam was formed from the earth before Eve was formed from his rib. Therefore Adam has supremacy over Eve. Many feminists will use similar logic to say that since Eve was formed last that she is the greatest of God's creatures and therefore should have suprema...

I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man. (1 Timothy 2:12) Assume Authority Women aren't to assume a man's authority. A better word would be usurp. To better understand Paul's statement, we need to look at Judges 4-5. The only female judge listed in the Bible's history was Deborah. She was called to that role by God, but she determined to defer much of her judgments to th...

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. (1 Timothy 2:11) Learn in Quietness St. Paul sounds harsh when he tells women to learn in quietness and submission. It's not harshness. It's a calling to go with nature. Women are better listeners than men. I'll admit it. That's one reason why men are more suited to be pastors. If you come to us and confess your sins, we're bound by our ordina...

In this episode of Common Ground, we see that the liturgy plays an important role in the life of the Church. It is the pulse of the Spirit as He moves through the congregation. However, the fact that there is only one Holy Spirit does not mean that there is only one true, pure form of the liturgy. The liturgy is influenced by the culture in which it is prayed, but it also produces a new culture th...

but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works. (1 Timothy 2:10) Godliness Paul wraps up his words about women's beauty by reminding us what our clothing is and should be. All who have been baptized have been clothed with Christ's righteousness (Galatians 3:27). A Christian's proper clothing is the good works that God has given him or her to do. This continues the image o...

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire (1 Timothy 2:9) Moderation Paul continues his thought with a call for moderation in how a woman presents herself. Image is everything, but beauty is only skin deep. That's what the world tries to tell our girls as they grow up. It's only...

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire (1 Timothy 2:9) Modest Women Now, we get into controversial territory. St. Paul has been taken to task for his words concerning women in the Church for the last century. When we come to the issue of a woman's role in the Church, many have...

I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. (1 Timothy 2:8) Lifting Holy Hands Paul calls for men everywhere to lift up their hands in worship. Not in wrath or disputing but in holy worship and praise of God. The Bible talks many times about people going to war with each other, people slaying each other, by lifting up their hands against...

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-- I am telling the truth; I am not lying-- a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:7) Teacher in Faith and Truth One of the great tasks of preachers is to teach. St. Paul spent so much time in many of the cities where he established churches because he needed to do more than preach. He needed to teach the people. He didn't have...

The Roman presbyters get to the point of how peace can be restored to the congregation in Corinth.

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-- I am telling the truth; I am not lying-- a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:7) Appointed St. Paul was appointed to be an Apostle and a preacher. He reminds the Corinthians that he was not sent to baptize. He was sent to preach the Gospel. He didn't preach because he wanted to preach. St. Paul preached because that is what...

[Christ Jesus] gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:6) Ransom for All C.S. Lewis captures the idea of Christ's ransom for all with his character named Ransom in his Space Trilogy. A voice speaks to him, "It is not for nothing that your name is Ransom. My name is also Ransom" ( Perelandra ). Elwin Ransom's battle with the Un-Man on Pere...

How is Jesus' atonement limited among Mormons? What are the three levels of Mormon Heaven?

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) One Mediator As St. Paul continues to discuss the need for prayer for all people, he also reminds us about the one Mediator who prays for us before our heavenly Father. The one Mediator who we know for certain is able to pray for us and bring our petitions before the Father is our Lord and Sa...