One word I enjoyed studying the most as I taught through the characteristics of biblical elders is translated “of good behavior” in First Timothy 3:2. Several of the words overlap in meaning, but I thought this was an odd phrase, since the verse already says bishops must be blameless.
The word also means “orderly.” At first, that didn’t help me either. I thought, “So, does it mean to shepherd a local congregation of God’s people, a man must be tidy?” There would be a great deal of subjectivity to the idea. How neat would someone have to be?
Then I looked at other places where the word occurred. There’s only one. Paul used it one chapter before.
“in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works" (1 Tim 2:9, 10, Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved).
Can you guess what word from these verses was translated “of good behavior” in chapter 3? It is “modest” here.
This might take the direction of the study a different way than you thought it would go. As we investigate, it will help us understand both modesty and orderliness.
The way we commonly think of modesty is “being covered enough.” While that is a part of the topic, it fails to communicate the lifestyle and purpose that is meant by the word. Verse ten explains the kind of modesty, “which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” Her outside gives an indication of the direction of what’s going on inside.
When we define the root word for the words “orderly” or “modesty,” it clarifies the picture. These words are from the Greek word kosmios. Does that look familiar? It’s the adjective of kosmos. We would spell it cosmos. It is mostly used in the New Testament for “world.”
While it didn’t have the meaning of space or the universe as we think of it today, the word kosmos did carry the idea of arranged decoration, or adornment (1 Pet 3:3). When we look at the “good behavior” of a pastor being something that should characterize him, what we see is that his life is meant to be arranged in a certain way. In what way? God’s creation is a good illustration and example for us. Look at Psalm 19:1.
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Similarly, an elder’s life should be arranged in such a way that it directs observers to the One Who arranged it. He orders his life to serve God, and it becomes clear there is a divine design for what he does. Like most of the other characteristics required in leaders of the church, we should all grow in this. When someone observes your conduct, are they directed toward God?
Be “of good behavior.”
Van
