Ven. 12, 13.-77ie domutic duty of deawnt1. The apostle here retUl'llll to add aome further injunctions about deacons, as well as to suggest a reason for exacting the qualifi- cations already described. I. THE DEACONS' DOMESTIO RELATIONS. 1. "Let the deacons be the huabanda of one wife." The same qualification is needed for deacons as for bishops, for their houses were to be examples of purity, peace, and orderliness. 2. "Ruling their children and their own houses well." The father of a loving household would be beat fitted for the sympathetic administration of funds allocated to the poor, while the pious order of his family would enhance the public confidence in the reality of his religious character. II. REASON FOB THE VARIOUS QUALIFICATION8 DESCRIBED. "For those who have done the work of a deacon well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." 1. The good degre.e does not refer to promotion to higher ecdesiastical office. The idea, indeed, would be quite an anachronism. 2. It refers tc the place of hmour and distinction that will be given to the faithful deacon in the day of final recompense. The doctrine of rewards is that of Scripture, and especially of our Lord's parables (Matt. x.xv. 45; Luke xix. 11-27). 3. There is the further idea of the joyful confidence toward God which would characterize him in view nf a faithful discharge of hi& dutie8-& confidence springing out of faith resting in Jesus Christ.-T. C. Vel'B. 14, 16.-The importance of a due regul,a,tion of CJhurch order. The apostle expected to visit Ephesus shortly, but in case of his visit being delayed by necessary • causes, he deemed it right to give Timothy these instructions in writing respecting the appointment of bishops and deacons, and other details of Church order. "These things I write to thee, hoping to come shortly; but if I should tarry, [I write them] that thou mayest know how thou ought.est to conduct thyself in God's house." L THE NEOESBITY OF A DUE ORDER IN THE CHURCH. 1. Darbyitu mppose that it i3 wrong for man to make arrangements in Go~s CJhurch-tha.t it is the Holy Ghost who should regulate the order of worship and service, and that his presidency should be recognized in everything. In that case why should the apostle have been at such pains to regulate even the ministrations of prophets and speakers with tongues at Corinth? God is a God of peace, not of confusion (1 Cor. xiv. 33). 2. It was not enough for Timothy to stir up his own personal gifts and do the work of an f/lJGngelist, but he mUBt execute the special commission he had received from the apostle, to regulate the appoint- ment of the office-bearers of the Church, and the details of Church worship. The Church was to be guided in choice of ministers by the considerations suggested by the apostle. 3. There was special reason for these instructions in the rise of heresies at Ephesus and elaewhere. (Ch. iv.1-3.) IL THE DIGNITY AND OFFl"E OF THE CmraOH. It is "God's house, which indeed is the Church of the living God, the pillar and basement of the truth." 1. It is the Ohurch of the living God. (1) It is so, regarded either as the Christian congregation with a loco.l reference, or as the whole Church of the redeemed, in co=union with uhrist and with each of its member11. (2) Its internal glory consists in the fact that it is no material temple of dead deitieM, like the proud temple of Diana which reared itself o.loa over the roofs of Ephesus; but a spiritual community, realizing the living and personal presence of God in the midst of it. 2. It is the hou;;e of God. (1) This term denoted primarily the temple at Jerusalem, and secondarily the covenant people (Numb. xii. 7; Hos. viii. 1), who .had God for a Sanctu11ry or Dwelling-place (Ps. xc. 1; Ezek. xi. 16). There was a mutual indwelling-they in him, and he in them. (2) It now denotes the Church of God, represented variously as (a) n spiritual building resting on Christ ns chief Corner-stone (Eph. ii. 20); (b) as the true temple in which God dwells (1 Cor. vi 16); (c) as the household or "house of God," over which is Christ as Son (Heb. ill. 6)-" whose hoUBe are we." Moses was servant in this house, Jesus a Son over it; it was, therefore, the same house in the two dispensations. A proof, in opposition to Darbyism, that the Church existed in Old Testament times, and did not first come into existence at Pentecost. 3. It is the pillar and basement of the truth. (1) Negatively, Christ, and not the Church, is the only ground of truth. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. iii. 11). This passage implies that the Church rests upon the truth rather than that the truth reata on the Church. But a misappreheDllion arises from confounding the truth aa it 82 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [oa. DL 1-16,
is in it&elf with the truth as apprehended by believers and acknowledged before the world. Further, the truth does not derive its authority from the Church but from Christ. (2) Positively, the passage sets forth (a) the presentative manifestaiion of the tru~h; for "the Church is the pillar of the truth." The Church is to hold up the savmg truths of the gospel before the eyes of men. It is a pillar inscribed all over with the t"l:th. W:ithout the Church "there would be no witness, no guardian of archives, no basis, nothmg whereon acknowledged truth would rest." It is the Church which holds the deposit of truth, and perpetuates it from generation to generation. (!:) 'l.'he pa111111ge sets forth the stability of the truth. "The Church is the basis of truth. The truth finds it.s true ba.~is in the hearts of believing men, who hold forth the glories of redemption amidst all the fluctuations of the world. There is nothing in this exposi- tion to ea.nction the assumptions of the Church of Rome, because she must first sub- stantiate her claims to be a teacher of the truth before she can be regarded u "a pillar and groUDd of the truth."-T. C.