The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 76

polygamy, or improper 11econd marriages." • Temperate, aober-mlnded, orderly." One who is to be chosen &e a minister must be temperate, i.e. must have command of hie desires and hie temper. He must also be sober-minded, i.e. must bring sound sense to the consideration of all matters. He must also be orderly, i.e. must have a love for good rules. "Given to hospitality." He must be raised above all meanness toward those whom he ought to entertain. How is he to commend the generosity of God, if he is niggardly in hill own dealings? "Apt to teach." Thie is a special qualification. With all that is right.eous and sensible and even lovely in hie character, he must have skill in teaching- in opening the Word, and in bringing it to bear for all its uses on the wants of men. However excellent a man's character is, he ill not fit for being a minister if he cannot skilfully handle Divine truth. "No brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious." A disqwi.lification is being quarrelsome over wine, and consequently coming to blows. He must, on the other hand, be gentle; i.e. while he is to be thoroughly reasonable, he is to be kindly and forbearing, waiving even hie rights for the sake of gaining his end as a minillter, viz. the spiritual good of those with whom he deals. It ill a disqualification to be contentious, i.e. to be in one's element, and to give way to unholy feelings, in fighting. "No lover of money." It is a further disqualification to have a grovelling desire for money, instead of having a feeling of responsibility with regard to its proper uses. "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." Thie ill in one view an ordinary qualification, inasmuch as it is what is expected of every one who ill in authority in a house. It is expected even of e. man who is not qwi.li.fied to teach that he can rule well hie own house, i.e. lay down proper rules for hie household, and see to their being carried out. The apostle's idea of ruling the house well, is the having the children in subjection with all gravity. "In the phrase, 'all gravity,' he ill looking at a kind of obedience that touches the deepest notes of principle and character. Contrary to this, there is an obedience without principle, which is obedience with all levity; that which is paid to mere will and forr,e; that which is another name for fear; that which is bought by promises and paid by indulgences; that which makes a time-server, or a coward, or a lying pretender, as the case may be, and not a Christian. This latter-that which makes a Christian-is the aim of all true govermnent, and should never be out of sight for an hour." Parenthesis showing how a bishop ought to be abl,e to nde his own lwuse well. "But if a man knoweth not how to rule hie own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?" A bishop has to manage men. The Church of God is the fa.mily enlarged and heightened. If one fails in the lower sphere, how can he be expected to succeed in the higher sphere? Even Confucius had before this time said," It is impossible that he who knows not how to govern and reform hie own family should rightly govern and reform a people." "Not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil." By a novice we a.re to understand a recent convert to Christianity. Such a one being necessarily inexperienced in the truth, and also in the evil of his own heart, was unfitted for office. ADd the putting him into office was fitted to have a bad effect upon him. 'l'he introducer of evil into the universe was in high position, but gave way to a feeling of pride. How this feeling operated is described by a word which means enveloped with smoke, as if that were the kind of atmosphere that pride throws a.round a person. In some 1D&tter in which hie rank was involved, under the clouding of pride, instead of bending to the will of God, which would have been his approval, he asserted hie self- importance, which was his condemnation. So the novice, instead of being weighed down under the responsiblitiee of office, is more likely, under the clouding of pride occasioned by his elevation, to fall into the condemnation of the devil. "Moreover he muet have good testimony from them that are without lest he fall into reproach; and the snare of the devil." He must be able to command the respect of non-Christiane, especially for his acting in a way consistent with his professions. For if he falls BO low as not to be respected by those, then this want of respect is sure to be used as a snare by Satan for his destruction. lL QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS. .. Deacons in like manner." Deacons, orlgine.lly the al.monere of the Church, came to be regarded as assistants of the elders, having the oversight of the temporal a.f["aire e.e these of the spiritual affairs of a congregation. "M.ust be grave." They must feel the responsibility of life, and especially the respon- libiliy oonnected with their office. "Not double-tongued, not given to much wine, JLOt flB. ill, l-16.J THE FIRST EPISTLE 'fO TIMOTHY. 65