_THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE_ ‘The office of a bishop.’ 1 Timothy 3:1 There are, and have been from the earliest times, three Orders in the ministry. St. Paul in this chapter describes the qualifications for the office first of a bishop, and then of the general body of the clergy, for the reference in 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_FAITH AND CONSCIENCE_ ‘Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.’ 1 Timothy 3:9 Having discoursed on the office of a bishop, St. Paul next proceeds to speak of the qualifications of a clergyman—for the reference cannot be limited to the deacon—and it is significant that he puts a co... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHURCH_ ‘The Church of the living God.’ 1 Timothy 3:15 What does it mean when it is said so expressly, ‘the Church of the living God’? I. IS IT IN CONTRAST TO THE TEMPLES OF THE HEATHEN, whose gods are dead, and cannot hear, or speak, or see? Or does it mean more expressly that it is ‘the... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘THE CHURCH TO TEACH, THE BIBLE TO PROVE’_ ‘The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.’ 1 Timothy 3:15 The Bible is not one book; it is a library of books, written by different men, of different ages, climes, and periods of history To understand the Bible we need a guide.... [ Continue Reading ]
_MYSTERY IN RELIGION_ ‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.’ 1 Timothy 3:16 ‘Without controversy’—i.e. by universal consent a... [ Continue Reading ]