1.牧師(監督)の資質
使徒たちの時代の教会組織はきわめて単純で、牧師(長老、監督)と執事に分かれていました(ピリピ1:1)。主として牧師は教育を(1テモテ5:17)、執事は運営を担当していたようです。大切なのは、その立派な職務を志す者の資質です。パウロは、もし牧師(長老、監督)になりたいと言う人がいるなら、以下の事柄を資質として考えよと言います。
①批判されるところがない(2a)。②しっかりとした倫理観がある(2b)。③自制力がある(2テモテ4:5)(2c)。④分別があり(2d)。⑤礼節や常識感覚がある(1テモテ2:9)(2e)。⑥よく人を助け、よく面倒を見る、親切心(2f)。⑦教える力がある。特にこの教える力は、牧師と執事の資質の差として重要です。牧師には聖書を教える力がなくてはなりませんが、執事にはそれは必ずしも要求されません。ただ執事も聖書の教えはよく理解していなくてはならないのです(9節)。そしてよく教える人はよく学ぶ人です。⑧お酒に飲まれない人(3a)。⑨優しい振る舞いをする人(3b)。⑩穏やかで(3c)、⑪争い事を好まず(3d)。⑫金銭に欲がない(3e)。⑬家庭をよくまとめ、子どもをしっかりしつけている人(4-5節)。⑭信者になったばかりの人ではなく(6節)、⑮教会外の人々、つまりご近所の評判も悪くないことです(7節)。
2.執事の資質(3:8-16)
次に執事ですが、その起源は、使徒6章に遡ると考えてよいでしょう。歴史的に執事のイメージも異なるでしょうが、最初は、使徒たちを補佐する働き人でした。彼らは、使徒たちがみ言葉と祈りといった霊的な働きに専念できるように働いたのです。執事のその本質的な役割は昔も今も変わることはありません。パウロが、エペソ教会の執事に必要とされる資質と述べたことは次のとおりです。①礼儀作法やマナーがしっかりしていること(8a)。②嘘のない人(8b)。③酒に飲まれない(8c)、④不正にお金を儲けようとはしない人です(8d)。当時の執事は、家庭訪問をする機会が多かったので、お酒やお金に関する心がけは特に重視されたようです。⑤また、単に実務能力があるだけではなく、霊的な部分がしっかりしている(9節)。⑥執事に相応しいと、認められるものがある(10節)。つまり審査を必要とする、ということです。⑦牧師同様、家庭のよき長であることです(11-12節)。
なお、11節の「この奉仕に就く女の人」は、執事の妻ではなく、女性執事と考えられています。確かに、バプテスマや訪問とかの付き添いなどにおいて女性の働きが求められました。その任に与る人もまた、男性の執事同様に、良き資質が求められたわけです。中でも注目すべきは、陰口をきかないことでしょう。
ともあれこうしてみると、執事は、皆の模範となる大変な役回りのようにも思えますが、それでもこの働きをしっかり行うのなら、その人は、信仰において深い確信を持つ特権があると言います。確かに、私自身も牧師の働きをしたことで、自分がいかに足りない者であるかを教えられ、ますますキリストの恵みに寄り頼んでいく、つまり神とのより深いつながりに生きるようになった、と思うところがあります。
3.教会とは何か
14節からは、新しい段落です。このようにして選ばれた教会の中心となる働き人と共に、どのように教会の働きを進めていくのか。そもそも教会とは何か、それは、真理を明らかに掲げる場です。真理については既に説明されました(2:4)。それはキリストの福音であり、パウロはそれを奥義と呼んで繰り返します(15節)。キリストの真理を高く掲げ証しする、そこに教会が建てられるのです。
神のことばは真実です。神の祝福がありますように、ではまた明日、このチャンネルでお会いしましょう。
Chapter 3 Qualities and Lifestyles of Pastors and Stewards
1. Qualities of Pastors (Overseers)
The church organization at the time of the apostles was quite simple, divided into pastors (elders, overseers) and stewards (Philippians 1:1). The pastor seems to have been primarily responsible for teaching (1 Timothy 5:17), while the stewards were responsible for administration. What is important are the qualifications of those who seek these honorable offices. Paul says that if someone wants to be a pastor (elder, overseer), he should consider the following qualities.
(1) No room for criticism (2a). (2) A strong sense of ethics (2b). (3) He has self-control (2 Timothy 4:5) (2c). (4) He is reasonable (2d). (5) A sense of decency and common sense (1 Timothy 2:9) (2e). (6) A kind heart that helps and cares well for others (2f). (7) The ability to teach. This ability to teach is especially important as the difference between the qualities of a pastor and a steward. A pastor must have the ability to teach the Bible, but a steward is not necessarily required to have this ability. However, a steward must also have a good understanding of biblical teaching (v. 9). And a person who teaches well is a person who learns well. (viii) A person who does not drink (3a). (9) A person who acts kindly (3b). (10) They are gentle (3c). (11) They do not like quarrels (3d). (12) They are not greedy for money (3e). He organizes his family well and disciplines his children well (vv. 4-5). Not someone who has just become a believer (v. 6). Not someone who has a bad reputation among people outside the church, i.e., neighbors (v. 7).
2. The qualities of a steward (3:8-16)
Next are the stewards, whose origins can be traced back to Acts 6. Historically, the image of a steward may vary, but at first they were workers who assisted the apostles. They worked so that the apostles could devote themselves to the spiritual work of the Word and prayer. This essential role of the steward was and is the same today. Paul’s description of the qualities needed in a steward of the Ephesian church are as follows. (1) A person of good manners and etiquette (8a). (2) A person who does not lie (8b). (iii) Not a drunkard (8c), and (iv) Not trying to make money illegally (8d). Since stewards at that time had many opportunities to visit households, it seems that their attitudes toward alcohol and money were particularly important. (v) In addition, he is not only capable of practical work, but also has a strong spirituality (v. 9). There are things that are recognized as suitable for a steward (v.10). In other words, testing is required. (vii) Like the pastor, he must be a good head of the household (vv. 11-12).
Note that the “woman who is to serve in this office” in verse 11 is considered a female steward, not the wife of a steward. Certainly women were called for baptism, visitation, and oversight. Those who were assigned to this task were required to have the same good qualities as the male stewards. The most important of these qualities was the absence of slander.
Anyway, it seems to me that the role of a steward is a very difficult one, and one who does it well is privileged to have a deep conviction in the faith. Certainly, the ministry of my pastor has taught me how much I lack, and I have come to rely more and more on the grace of Christ, in other words, to live in a deeper relationship with God.
3. what is the church?
Beginning with verse 14 is a new paragraph. How do we go about the work of the Church with the workers who are the core of the Church chosen in this way? First of all, what is the church? The truth has already been explained (2:4). It is the gospel of Christ, which Paul repeats by calling it the depths (v. 15). It is the place where the church is built, where the truth of Christ is upheld and witnessed to.
The Word of God is truth. God bless you and see you tomorrow on this channel.