Verses 1-7
1. Qualifications for elders 3:1-7
The Ephesian church already had elders long before Paul wrote this letter (Acts 20:17-35).
"If our identification of the false teachers as elders is correct, then Paul’s reason for this set of instructions is that Timothy must see to it that elders are living according to their appointment, that is, by these standards. At the same time, of course, the whole church will be listening in and will thus be given the grounds for discipline of erring elders as well as for their replacement (cf. 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Timothy 5:24-25)." [Note: Fee, 1 and 2 Timothy . . ., p. 79.]
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