“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6 (ESV)
What does God promise for believers in Christ who seek to glorify the Lord by using all things God created for His glory? What results when followers of Christ reject their own self erected altar, which is being the master of their own self-importance?
The Apostle Paul shared encouraging words to Timothy. These self-same words are also for our encouragement. They are explicitly formed and fashioned into three precious promises but they include an implicit warning.
The apostle began with the phrase “If you put these things before the brothers.” If you put…before (ὑποτιθέμενος; hypotithemenos) means to presently and personally make known or give instructions. These things (Ταῦταl tauta) refer to an entire previous discourse. The brothers (ἀδελφοῖς; adelphos) refer to fellow believers in Christ.
If the faithful steward of God continues to present to fellow believers the truth God reveals in His written Word, especially concerning His creative goodness, then the Lord stated such an individual will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. The phrase you will be (ἔσῃ; ese) is a future, middle indicative verb. To hold to the truthfulness of God’s word results in a personal promise from the Lord to be realized in the future.
This future promise is the individual in question will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. Good (καλὸς; kalos) means to be praiseworthy and fine in God’s sight. Servant (διάκονος; diakonos) refers to a servant minister who helps believers. The English word deacon originates from this Greek noun. The phrase of Christ Jesus (Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ; Christou Jesou) refers to the servant belonging solely to the only Savior and Anointed One.
“Timothy must warn against coming danger. He must point out what will be the outcome of certain errors which in their initial form were manifesting themselves even now but which as to their further development belonged to the future. He must make plain to the leaders and to the people of Ephesus and surroundings what the Spirit has distinctly revealed as to the nature of the approaching falsehood and as to the way in which it should be combated. Hence, the expression “these matters” refers to the things touched upon in verses 1–5. Timothy must submit these things to the brothers, that is, he must place a firm foundation under their feet (note the verb ὑποτίθημι only here and in Rom. 16:5),” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
“The apostle writes that these things must be submitted to “the brothers” (cf. 5:1; 6:2; 2 Tim. 4:21). Paul is fond of this term (see 1 Thess. 1:4). Though he is never afraid to assert his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ, nevertheless, he places the emphasis on love. Believers in the Ephesus-community are brothers, members of Paul’s (and of God’s!) spiritual family. Paul loves them. God loves them.[2]
Now, by submitting these things to the brothers, Timothy will prove himself to be “an excellent minister of Christ Jesus.” For “minister” the original uses the term “diakonos,” from which we have derived the word “deacon.” In 1 Tim. 3:8, 12 its meaning is “deacon.” But in 1 Tim. 1:12 the closely related “diakonia” does not mean deaconate but ministry, and it is probable that the related verb, wherever it is used in the New Testament (see 1 Tim. 3:13), does not mean “to function as deacon” but “to minister,” or “to supply by ministering.” “An excellent minister” is one who, in loving devotion to his task, to his people, and above all to his God, warns against departures from the truth and shows how to deal with error. Such a man truly represents (and belongs to) Christ Jesus.[3]
God calls each believer to this task: pastors and lay persons. No believer in Christ is exempt. We all share this responsibility and the resulting praiseworthiness from God.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 149.
[2] Ibid., 149.
[3] Ibid., 149.
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