A Torah Verse By Verse Commentary Of Paul's Epistles by Re'tzon Ha'El - HTML preview

Chapter 3

The Organisational Structure of the Ecclesia

It is prudent to introduce the organisational structure of the early assemblies of Messiah, in order to have a deeper understanding of the role of elders and deacons, and other sectors of the body. First and foremost, it is of paramount importance to understand that the leadership roles were never monopolized by a single soul. This was necessary to prevent dictatorial, Nicolaitan behaviour within the body of Messiah, which attracts the greatest displeasure from Yeshua cf Rev 2:6,15. This was introduced by the Roman Catholic hierarchical religious system of a pontifical potentate, diabolically perceived as the vicar of the Son of Elohim, whose subordinates are under rank and file. This nefarious system, together with the daughter churches which are offshoots of this system, protestant or otherwise, is contrary to scriptural tenets representative of the first century assemblies of Messiah.

Yeshua ensured that his disciples were paired in their preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, never allowing for a sole member to do so cf Lk 10:1-2; Mk 6:7,12-13. The book of Acts lays out the organisational structure of the assemblies quite lucidly. In summary, an assembly can only be so-called, if the group of believers i.e. disciples of Yeshua, are led by at least two elders. If there are to be any deacons, there also must be a plurality of them. These elders are ordained by apostles, of which these apostles must at the very least be a pair. The apostles began by Yeshua’s appointment. These were then instructed to go out into the world to preach the gospel, in order to begin the cycle of assembly building cf Matt 28:19-20, Mk 16:15-17. These apostles operated in pairs at the very least cf Acts 3:1-3,19-20; 5:17-18,29; 11:29-30; 12:24-25. To expand the ecclesia, they were commissioned to lay hands on disciples of good repute, some ordained as deacons, some as elders cf Acts 6:1-6. Prophets and teachers within the ecclesia are also supposed to be more than one in number cf Acts 13:1-5, 1 Cor 14:29-32.

The apostles of Yeshua having created an assembly by laying on of hands on would be elders and deacons, were not destined to be the last. The newly created ecclesia was then to identify men of good repute after having been closely scrutinized, who could be ordained by the elders to become apostles to be sent out to establish new assemblies in different localities. Apostolos is Greek for ‘sent out ones’. These men given this best gift of the Holy Spirit, had the greatest and often most hazardous task out of all the disciplines cf 1 Cor 12:28-31. Examples of newly created apostles are found in Acts 14:4,14,20-28; 15:4,6,22,25-27. Men of different disciplines could in time graduate to being apostles too such as the prophets Silas and Judas cf Acts 15:32-40.

We can readily infer that Timothy’s gift from the Holy Spirit referred to in 1 Tim 4:14, was that of apostleship, prophesied beforehand, and confirmed by laying on of hands in Lystra by the elders (plural). The narrative of his becoming so is found in Acts 16:1-5; 1 Tim 1:18. Timothy laid hands to ordain elders cf 1 Tim 5:22. Timothy represented the cycle of the apostle and the assembly’s establishment:

a. disciple of good report, gets experience mentored by a seasoned apostle

b. becomes a full-fledged apostle by elders laying hands

c.  goes to congregations of disciples and lays hands on worthy disciples to become elders-disciple's with ordained elders become labelled an Ecclesia or assembly

d.  An assembly must have more than one elder in order to be deemed an assembly. If not, the disciples are simply a gathering, home group

V1 It is not and should not be frowned upon to desire serving Elohim cf 1 Cor 12:31. We have been conditioned into thinking that one must have some ethereal anointing before they may serve Elohim. Indeed, some are specially chosen by The Most High to serve Him, but this does not preclude others from wilfully and earnestly seeking to be conscripted as warriors in the spiritual battle. Episkope translated bishop is old English for an overseer, elder or presiding officer of a Christian congregation. In this day and age, a bishop is perceived as one who lauds over the laity, and this title has been abused, being transformed into a political position of power within churches of today, frequently coupled with riches, especially in the prosperity gospel sector.

V2-5 It is one thing to desire to serve Elohim, however one so doing must be aware of the great degree of piety expected of such a position of great responsibility. Overseeing the flock of Messiah, requires one to walk in the very steps of Yeshua which include:

1.  Anepileptos translated ‘blameless’ means one who is irreproachable, and not open to censure. 

2. Exemplary conduct is paramount, being married only to one wife and obviously true and honest to her if he is to be deemed blameless. Having an affair or cheating on one’s wife, immediately disqualifies one of such a responsibility. 

3. Nephaleos translated vigilant means abstaining from wine i.e. sober, whereas

4. Sophron translated sober actually means of a sound mind and having self-control or temperance.

5. Kosmios translated of good behaviour means being seemly and modest.

6. Philoxenos means being generous and hospitable

7. Didaktikos means being able to teach-there must be knowledge of Torah within him.

8. Me paroinos means he must not be near wine i.e. be not a tippler.

9. Be not pugnacious, nor quarrelsome.

10. Be not aischrokerdes/eager for base gain.

11. Epieikes translated patient actually means equitable, fair, mild.

12. Amachos-abstaining from fighting.

13. Aphilarguros-not avaricious

14. He may have all the above qualities, but must absolutely prove headship and control of his own house, if he is to preside over members of the body of Messiah, who would be a much larger family to manage. If he has unruly children who do not respect him, then he must never consider heading a congregation, likely to have more than its fair share of immature Christians, likely to need disciplining of greater degree.

V6 -7 It is imperative that one seeking to oversee Elohim’s congregation, be of good repute and be well experienced. It is foolish for an immature Christian, solely armed with an elementary understanding of scripture, incapable of understanding the importance of observing the laws of Elohim, and inexperienced in spiritual warfare, to attempt to preside over the flock of Yeshua. Satan and his demonic host will quite literally eat him alive in the spiritual realm starting by filling such an one with pride, which led to the condemnation of Satan. Pride is always the beginning of one’s fall as exemplified by the devil himself. Positions of power tend to attract flattery and false praise from congregants, and worse still attract the attention of loose women, especially when planted into the congregation by the agents of Satan. His host of evil speedily transform such a spiritual neophyte into a preacher of a false gospel, led by spirits of deception and delusion. Many a pastor has started off with benevolent intentions but due to immaturity and subsequent pride, have fallen for the devices of Satan’s kingdom, and fallen for money, women, drugs and false doctrine, ultimately leading the flock down a path of destruction. This is a recurring theme which has become more prevalent in our time.

V8 -12 diakonos translated deacon is defined as one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master. A synonym would be an attendant. A deacon, is also rendered as one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use. Paul expressly uses the terminology ‘likewise’ in v8 in exhorting them to live virtuous lives akin to those of bishops/elders of the ecclesia. This entails:

1. Semnos- being honourable

2. Me dilogos-not being double tongued, saying one thing with one person yet another with another (with the intent to deceive)

3. Not given to much wine. It would seem deacons are not as restricted as elders, who are expected to abstain from wine outright.

4. Must not be eager for base gain.

5. The mystery of the faith is the gospel of Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection by whom believers are redeemed from Satan’s kingdom unto the hope for salvation. It was a mystery since before creation, to Satan and his angels until that glorious day of resurrection which led to Yeshua’s victory over death and Hades cf 1 Cor 2:6-8. A deacon must uphold this faith with a katharos/clean, pure suneideisis/conscience defined as the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other.

6. Must be scrutinized in order to be deemed worthy of the ministry, under the proviso of being found irreproachable.

7. They must have equally honourable wives, free from slander, temperate and wholeheartedly faithful.

8. As expected of elders, attending to the flock of Yeshua is an onerous task, hence Deacons must prove their capability evidenced by strict rule over his household, commanding reverent respect from his wife and children. V12 seems to restrict the role of Deacons to men as well, to prevent women usurping the leadership role over men in the congregation.

V13 The office of Deacon is not to be held lightly. Not everybody who takes up such a post is capable of serving his duties well. Those who overcome all adversity though, purchase to themselves a good bathmos/Greek for a step, stair. This in the earthly life would mean a greater degree of honour in the ecclesia, possibly elevating to a greater role such as that of an elder. In the afterlife, it would mean purchasing a greater prize given out to the saints at the bema seat judgement cf 2 Cor 5:10. Additionally, a triumphant Deacon would be purchasing greater confidence in the faith to exhibit the power of the Holy Spirit, this faith being a gift from the Holy Spirit in Messiah cf 1 Cor 12:7-9.

V14 It is unclear from whence Paul envisaged meeting Timothy. The last verse in chapter 6 alludes to him having been in Laodicea. ‘These things write I’ refers to the passage from v1-13.

V15 Paul was uncertain how long he would be held back from seeing Timothy again. In the event of being delayed, he was confident that the guidance of prerequisites given in these first 13 verses would suffice. We learn here that the congregation of Elohim, which is representative of the congregation of Israel, comprised of Jews and grafted-in Gentiles, is also referred to as the House of Elohim. Oikos translated house means a dwelling. Born-again saints are indeed the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit of Elohim cf 1 Cor 6:19; 1 Pet 2:5. The ecclesia is one of a living Elohim, unlike the dead temples of demon gods which littered the Roman empire. Additionally, the ecclesia being the body of Yeshua the Messiah, is the pillar and hedraioma/support, ground of truth cf Eph 2:19-22.

V16 This verse is one of the strongest in scripture which proves that Yeshua the Son of Elohim IS Elohim too, being a part of the triune Elohim-head. Much debate has been wasted on whether the Greek word Theos meaning Elohim, existed in the original manuscripts or not, some contending that the original word was ‘who’ or ‘which’ or ‘He’. It would be nonsensical as it is not a mystery for a person to be manifest in the flesh, as everybody else. However, scripture clearly states that Yeshua was born of the Holy Spirit of Elohim through the virgin birth, which by all accounts is a mystery never repeated thereafter. It defies logic how these so-called scholars, who are truly purveyors of falsehood, fail to see the lucidity of this verse. It gives a concise synopsis of the mystery of Yeshua’s appearance on earth and His subsequent glorification after ascending back to heaven:

a. Elohim was manifest in the flesh through the virgin birth, the seed being that of Elohim by His Holy Spirit cf Lk 1:35; Matt 1:18.

b. Yeshua was justified in the Spirit when baptized by John the Baptist cf Mk 1:10; Matt 3:16; Isa 11:2. He continued in the power of the Spirit after the wilderness temptation cf Lk 4:14. This mystery of the Divine had never been seen heretofore cf Matt 9:33. 

c. Seen of angels after the wilderness temptations cf Matt 4:11. Also in the garden of Gethsemane Lk 22:43. 

d. Preached unto the Gentiles. Satan and his emissaries never saw this mystery coming, brought about by the resurrection of Yeshua, which allowed the grafting in of Gentiles into the commonwealth of Israel cf Eph 2:12-13; Matt 28:19-20: Acts 1:8

e. Yeshua was believed on in the world by both Jew and Gentile, up to this very day.

f. Received into glory cf Acts 1:9