a concordance for the appearances of these three words: deacon, minister, servant Functions a Overseers were superintendents of a local church They were also the teachers and preachers of the congregation, having the responsibility of feeding the ock (Acts 20:28; cf Pet 5:2) Other duties included guarding the congregation from spiritual harm (Acts 20:29-31); being examples to the members (1 Pet 5:3); and visiting those in need (James 1:27) In other words, the title overseer of the rst centuries was equivalent to the present-day title of pastor.10 b Deacons were the assistants of the overseers, serving in spiritual matters but especially in the physical, mundane areas of the church’s life Read Acts 6:1-6, which is the description of what may be the rst deacon appointments in the New Testament church (even though the word deacon does not appear in the Bible text) On the basis of the previous discussion, would you say that the two o ces of the early New Testament church called for very strict quali cations of those who would serve in them? In the light of this, study the quali cations given by Paul in Timothy 3:1-13: qualifications of the overseer (3:1-7); qualifications of the deacon (3:8-13) D HYMN OF DOCTRINE (3.16) Paul may be quoting here from an early creedal hymn used by the Christians What prime doctrines appear in the stanza? What you think Paul has in mind by introducing the lines by the phrase, “great is the mystery of godliness”? E ANTIDOTE FOR FALSE TEACHING (4:116) False teaching was one threat to the churches that Paul vigorously forewarned against The apostle’s consistent formula was, in e ect, destroy false doctrine by sound doctrine This is the subject of 4:1-16, as Paul turns his attention particularly to Timothy’s missions, showing him how he can minister to the needs and problems of the Ephesian churches What false doctrines and teachers does Paul expose in 4:1-5? What sound doctrines does he teach throughout the chapter? F WIDOWS, ELDERS, AND SLAVES (5:3— 6:2a) Questions and problems that had arisen in the churches about widows, elders, and slaves are now discussed by Paul Widows Four groups of widows are cited.11 Only the rst group is eligible for church support Observe in the text the description and disposition given for each group real widows (5:3, 5, 9-10) widows with relatives able to support (5:4, 8, 16) widows living in wanton pleasure (5:67) young widows (5:11-15) Elders (5:17-25) The word elder does not appear after verse 19, but it seems that Paul is still thinking about this group of church leaders until he moves to the next group at 6:1 Following this pattern, observe ...church (even though the word deacon does not appear in the Bible text) On the basis of the previous discussion, would you say that the two o ces of the early New Testament church called for... quali cations of those who would serve in them? In the light of this, study the quali cations given by Paul in Timothy 3:1-13: qualifications of the overseer (3:1-7); qualifications of the deacon... lines by the phrase, “great is the mystery of godliness”? E ANTIDOTE FOR FALSE TEACHING (4:116) False teaching was one threat to the churches that Paul vigorously forewarned against The apostle’s