Married Deacons & Bishops (presumably Married Priests too!) and Submissive & Silent Women in the Early Church?
I understand that this is the Early Church sometime in the first or second century A.D. but it is also the New Testament of Love, Compassion, Mercy, and Redemption too!
Married Deacons—“Deacons also must be honorable, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain, but holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. Deacons should be men who have been married but once, ruling well their children and their own households.”
Married Bishops—“A bishop then, must be blameless, married but once, reserved, prudent, of good conduct, hospitable, a teacher, not a drinker or a brawler, but moderate, not quarrelsome, not avaricious. He should rule well his own household, keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful. For if a man cannot rule his own household, how is he to take care of the Church of God?”
Submissive & Silent Women—“I (Apostle Paul) wish, then, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up pure hands, without wrath and contention.
In like manner I wish women to be decently dressed, adorning themselves with modesty and dignity, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good works such as become women professing godliness.
Let a women learn in silence with all submission. For I do not allow a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over men; but she is to keep quiet.
In like manner let the women be honorable, not slanderers, but reserved, faithful in all things.“
The reasoning way back when?
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the women was deceived and was in sin. Yet women will be saved by childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with modesty.”
Adam was not deceived? Didn’t God instruct Adam as well as to the rules of the Garden of Eden?
“The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The Lord God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.”—Genesis 2:15-17
“So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”—Genesis 3:6
I guess the Creation of the World, even by God, like the formation of the United States of America was not perfect from the get-go but go we do seeking to implement God’s Design for Life together going forward as best we can!
More Good News and a revelation to me–”Now the Spirit expressly says that in after times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies hypocritically, and having their conscience branded.”
I never knew that The Holy Spirit recognized that some will depart from the faith. I always thought that all could be redeemed and saved through Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. A quick Google Search pointed back to this verse in First Timothy so not sure where the Spirit expressed His Beliefs?
I guess the inspiration in this part of the Scriptures is that things have changed, are changing and will continue to change to implement God’s Word, create more Unity and Faith in Our World.
I know it is happening within me….
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The First Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy, Chapters 1-4; Married Deacons & Bishops and Submissive & Silent Women in the Early Church???
Bible Notes:
Timothy was a convert of Saint Paul and Bishop of Ephesus. In this letter Paul instructs him on the duties of his office: preaching, public prayer, an exemplary private and public life, and care for all the members of his flock.
ADDITION to The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
CORRECTION for The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
First Timothy Chapter 1: Greeting; Timothy’s Mission at Ephesus; Role of the Law; The Apostle’s Own Life; Fidelity to Vocation
Greeting:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the order of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord
CORRECTION for The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the Order of God our Savior, of Christ Jesus our Hope, and of The Spirit of Holiness our Power to Timothy, his beloved Son in the Faith: Grace, Mercy and Peace from God the Father, from Christ Jesus our Lord and The Spirit of Holiness.”—First Timothy 1:1-2
Timothy’s Mission at Ephesus:
I asked thee to stay on at Ephesus that thou mightest charge some not to teach novel doctrines… rather than godly edification, which is on the faith. Now the purpose of this charge is charity, from a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned.
ADDITION to The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
“Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ… to Timothy, his beloved Son in the Faith… I asked thee to stay on at Ephesus… now the purpose of this charge is Charity, from a Pure Heart and a Good Conscience and Faith Unfeigned.”
—First Timothy 1:1-5
Role of the Law:
But we know that the Law is good, if a man uses it rightly, knowing that the Law is not made for the just, but for the unjust and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for criminals and the defiled… and whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine, according to the Gospel of the Glory of the Blessed God, which has been committed to my trust.
The Apostle’s Own Life
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has strengthened me, because He counted me trustworthy in making me His Minister… but I obtained the Mercy of God because I acted ignorantly, in unbelief. Indeed, the grace of ur Lord had abounded beyond measure in the faith and love that is Christ Jesus. This saying is true and worthy of entire acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world t save sinners, of whom I am the chief… as an example to those who shall believe in him for the attainment of life everlasting. To the King of the ages, who is immortal, invisible, the one only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
ADDITION to The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
“To the King of the Ages, who is Immortal, Invisible, the One Only God, be Honor and Glory forever and ever. Amen.”—First Timothy 1:17
Fidelity to Vocation
…thou mayest fight the good fight by means of the prophecies having faith and a good conscience. Some rejecting this have made shipwreck of the faith, among whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
??? Apostles can perform miracles and deliver folks up to Satan???
First Timothy Chapter 2: Directions on Prayer; Woman in Public Assemblies
Directions on Prayer:
I urge therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all men; for kings, and for all in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all piety and worthy behavior.
ADDITION to The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
“I, Apostle Paul, urge therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all men; for kings, and for all in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all piety and worthy behavior.”—First Timothy 2:1-2
For there is One God and One Mediator between God and men, himself man. Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, bearing witness in His own time.
CORRECTION for The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness
“For there is One God and Two Mediators between God and men. Himself Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, bearing witness in His own time and The Spirit of Holiness who empowers all to be their Splendid Spiritual Self and attain Salvation, Spiritual Freedom, and Eternal Life while living a human life on Planet Earth.”—First Timothy 2:5-6
To this I have been appointed a preacher and an apostle (I tell the truth, I do not lie), a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth.
Woman in Public Assemblies:
I wish, then, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up pure hands, without wrath and contention.
In like manner I wish women to be decently dressed, adorning themselves with modesty and dignity, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good works such as become women professing godliness.
Let a women learn in silence with all submission. For I do not allow a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over men; but she is to keep quiet.
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the women was deceived and was in sin. Yet women will be saved by childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with modesty.
First Timothy Chapter 3: Qualities of a Bishop; Qualities of a Deacon; Pillar and Mainstay of the Truth.
Qualities of a Bishop:
A bishop then, must be blameless, married but once, reserved, prudent, of good conduct, hospitable, a teacher, not a drinker or a brawler, but moderate, not quarrelsome, not avaricious. He should rule well his own household, keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful. For if a man cannot rule his own household, how is he to take care of the Church of God?
Avaricious—characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.
Qualities of a Deacon:
Deacons also must be honorable, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain, but holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.
Deacons should be men who have been married but once, ruling well their children and their own households.
In like manner let the women be honorable, not slanderers, but reserved, faithful in all things.
Pillar and Mainstay of the Truth:
…how to conduct thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and mainstay of the Truth. And obviously great is the Mystery of Godliness: which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, appeared to Angels, was preached to the Gentiles, believed in the world, taken up in Glory.
First Timothy Chapter 4: Lying Teachers; Piety and False Accusations; Zeal in his Office.
Lying Teachers:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in after times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies hypocritically, and having their conscience branded.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected that is accepted with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer.
Piety and False Accusations:
For bodily training is of little profit, while Godliness is profitable in all respects, since it has the promise of the present life, as well as of that which is to come… that we hope in the Living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Zeal in his Office:
Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example to the faithful in speech, in conduct, in charity, in faith, in chastity.
Do not neglect the grace that is in thee by reason of prophecy with the laying on of hands of the presbyterate.
Meditate on these things, give thyself entirely to them, that thy progress may be manifest to all… For in so doing thou wilt save both thyself and those who hear thee.
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