Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Timothy 3:9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
9. the mystery of the faith ] Apparently repeated again 1Ti 3:16 as ‘the mystery of godliness.’ The word ‘mystery’ is significant. Coming from the Greek, ‘to close the mouth,’ and so ‘to initiate,’ it was originally used of the secret rites of Eleusis in Attica, into which each year the youth of Athens were initiated at the annual celebrations. Thence by the process so loved by St Paul of consecrating old words to higher use it becomes the pregnant expression of the truth, ‘latet in vetere novum testamentum, vetus in novo patet.’ It is a truth once hidden but now revealed, a truth which may be apprehended though not comprehended. So the Atonement is a mystery, 1Co 2:1-2; 1Co 2:7, the Catholicity of the Church is a mystery, Eph 3:3-4; Eph 3:9; the Incarnation is a mystery, 1Ti 3:16. In St Paul’s final thought of revelation in this chapter the ‘secret now told’ embraces the whole of God’s saving love, in one or other of its aspects, here as the ‘creed of creeds,’ in 1Ti 3:16 as the ‘work of works,’ here the life of Christ, there ‘the life in Christ’ We are familiar with a somewhat similar use of ‘mystery’ in the ‘mystery plays’; and compare the word ‘mystery’ in the Prayer-Book Communion Office as the equivalent of ‘Sacrament,’ the union of the outward and visible sign and the inward and spiritual grace, the living spirit through the lifeless matter ‘the dignity of that holy mystery’; ‘He hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries’; ‘have duly received these holy mysteries.’ See further, Appendix, G.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Holding the mystery of the faith – On the word mystery, see notes on 1Co 2:7. It means that which had been concealed, or hidden, but which was now revealed. The word faith here, is synonymous with the gospel; and the sense is, that he should hold firmly the great doctrines of the Christian religion which had been so long concealed from people, but which were now revealed. The reason is obvious. Though not a preacher, yet his influence and example would be great, and a man who held material error ought not to be in office.
In a pure conscience – A mere orthodox faith was not all that was necessary, for it was possible that a man might be professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Holding the mystery of the faith] Instead of , the faith, one MS. (the readings of which are found in the margin of a copy of Mill’s Greek text in the Bodleian library, and which is marked 61 in Griesbach) reads , of the resurrection. This reading, like many others in this MS., is found nowhere else; and is worthy of little regard, but as expressing what appeared to the writer to be the apostle’s meaning. One of the greatest mysteries of the faith was undoubtedly the resurrection of the dead; and this was held in a pure conscience when the person so exercised himself as to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men. See Ac 24:16. What has been since called Antinomianism, that is, making void the moral law, by a pretended faith in the righteousness of Christ, is that which the apostle has here particularly in view.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not ignorant or inconstant persons, but such as were acquainted with the mysteries of the gospel, and believed them, and held to them; and men of a holy life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. the mystery of the faithholdingthe faith, which to the natural man remains a mystery, butwhich has been revealed by the Spirit to them (Rom 16:25;1Co 2:7-10), in a pureconscience (1Ti 1:5; 1Ti 1:19).(“Pure,” that is, in which nothing base or foreign isintermixed [TITTMANN]).Though deacons were not ordinarily called on to preach (Stephen andPhilip are not exceptions to this, since it was as evangelists,rather than as deacons, they preached), yet as beingoffice-bearers in the Church, and having much intercourse with allthe members, they especially needed to have this characteristic,which every Christian ought to have.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Holding the mystery of the faith,…. The doctrine of the Gospel, called the “faith”, because it contains things to be believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable without it: it is called “the mystery”, because it is of divine revelation, and could have never been discovered by human reason; and now it is revealed, the modus of many things contained in it remains a mystery; several of the doctrines of it are mysterious ones, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity; and which the ancient Jews call by this very name, a
, “the mystery of faith”; the incarnation of the Son of God, the union of the saints to Christ, and their communion with him, and the resurrection of the dead, with others. Now this mysterious doctrine of faith is to be held by deacons; they are to profess it, and to hold fast the profession of it and that
in a pure conscience; with a conscience sprinkled by the blood of Christ; with a conscience void of offence both towards God and man; with a suitable life and conversation; a conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ, and by which it is adorned: and this part of their character is necessary, that such may be able to instruct and establish those who are weak in the faith, and oppose and refute the erroneous, and also recommend the Gospel by their own example; otherwise should their principles or practices be bad, their influence on others might be very pernicious and fatal.
a Zohar in Gen. fol. 12. 4. & 13. 1, 2. & in Exod. fol. 66. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The mystery of the faith ( ). “The inner secret of the faith,” the revelation given in Christ. See for in Paul (2Thess 2:7; 1Cor 2:7; Rom 16:25; Col 1:26; Eph 3:9).
In a pure conscience ( ). See 1:19. “The casket in which the jewel is to be kept” (Lock).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The mystery of the faith [ ] . The phrase N. T. ‘. In the Gospels only, mystery or mysteries of the kingdom of God or of heaven. In Paul, mystery or mysteries of God, of his will, of Christ, of the gospel, of iniquity, the mystery kept secret or hidden away. Several times without qualification, the mystery or mysteries. See on 2Th 2:7. The mystery of the faith is the subject – matter of the faith; the truth which is its basis, which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation. Comp. Rom 16:25; Eph 3:9; Col 1:26; 1Co 2:7. For the faith see on Gal 1:23, and comp. Introduction to these Epistles, 6
In a pure conscience [ ] . Comp. 2Ti 1:3, 5, 19. Const. with holding. The emphasis of the passage is on these words. They express conscientious purity and sincerity in contrast with those who are described as branded in their own conscience, and thus causing their followers to fall away from the faith (ch. 4 1, 2). The passage illustrates the peculiar treatment of “faith” in these Epistles, in emphasising its ethical aspect and its ethical environment. This is not contrary to Paul ‘s teaching, nor does it go to the extent of substituting morals for faith as the condition of salvation and eternal life. See 2Ti 1:9; 2Ti 2:1; Tit 3:5. Nonetheless, there is a strong and habitual emphasis on good works (see 1Ti 2:10; 1Ti 5:10; 1Ti 6:18; 2Ti 2:21; 2Ti 3:17; Tit 1:16; Tit 2:7, 14; Tit 3:1, 8, 14), and faith is placed in a series of practical duties (see 1Ti 1:5, 14; 1Ti 2:15; 1Ti 4:12; 2Ti 1:13; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 2:7; 1Ti 3:9; 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 3:10). “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” is a significant association of faith with ethics. As Weiss puts it : “It is as if the pure conscience were the vessel in which the mystery of the faith is preserved.” The idea is sound and valuable. A merely intellectual attitude toward the mystery which, in every age, attaches to the faith, will result in doubt, questioning, and wordy strife (see 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23; Tit 3:9), sometimes in moral laxity, sometimes in despair. Loyalty and duty to God are compatible with more or less ignorance concerning the mystery. An intellect, however powerful and active, joined with an impure conscience, cannot solve but only aggravates the mystery; whereas a pure and loyal conscience, and a frank acceptance of imposed duty along with mystery, puts one in the best attitude for attaining whatever solution is possible. See Joh 7:17.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Holding the mystery of the faith” (echontas to musterion tes pisteos) “Holding, having, or containing the mystery of the faith,” the body of truth concerning Jesus Christ. This mystery of the faith is referred to as the “mystery of godliness,” 1Ti 3:16. It became a revelation in Jesus Christ, Heb 1:1-3; Rom 16:25; 1Co 2:7-9.
2) “In a pure conscience” (en kathara suneidesei) “In a cleansed or purified conscience.” Paul lived in good conscience “void of offence,” Act 23:1; Act 24:16. It is the pure conscience that is also commended as a “good conscience,” 1Pe 2:19; 1Pe 3:16; 1Pe 3:21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9 Holding the mystery of faith As if he had said, “Holding the pure doctrine of religion, and that from the heart, with a sincere fear of God;” or, “Being well instructed in the faith, so as not to be ignorant of anything which it is necessary for Christians to know.” He gives to the sum of Christian doctrine the honorable appellation of a mystery; as indeed God, through the gospel, reveals to men on earth a wisdom which angels in heaven behold with admiration, and, therefore, we need not wonder if it exceed human capacity.
Let us therefore remember that it ought to be embraced with the deepest reverence; and because we could never, by our own strength, ascend to such a height, let us humbly entreat God to impart it to us by the Spirit of revelation. On the other hand, when we see wicked men either ridicule those doctrines or have no relish for them, let us acknowledge that it is owing to the grace of God that those things which have been hidden from others are in our hearts, and before our eyes, as Moses says, (Deu 30:11.)
Thus he wishes that deacons should be well instructed in “the mystery of faith;” because, although they do not hold the office of teaching, yet it would be exceedingly absurd to hold a public office in the Church, while they were ill informed in the Christian faith, more especially since they must frequently be laid under the necessity of administering advice and consolation, if they do not choose to neglect their duties. It is added, in a pure conscience, which extends to the whole life, but chiefly that they may know how to obey God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.The thought again comes to the surfacemere orthodoxy without the Christ-life was an empty, useless characteristic feature in any one; but here the man of God, writing to his dear son these solemn warnings respecting fit and proper persons to be chosen for their Masters work, has besides in these words another end in view. He had been dwelling with great earnestness on the outward characteristics which a deacon of the Church should possessthe high and stainless namethe generous respect which his old way of living had won for him among unbelievers as well as with believers; but, in addition to these things, it was absolutely necessary for one occupying such a post to know something of the deeper spiritual lifehe must hold the mystery of the faith. Now what does St. Paul mean by the mystery? He speaks of it as a treasure which must be held in the casket of a pure conscience. This mystery was what was sometimes hidden, but which was now revealed by the advent of St. Pauls Master, and comprehended the truths of the redemption, the atonement, and mighty cleansing powers of the precious blood of Christ. Thesethe master truths of Christianitymust the appointed teacher firmly grasp; and the true deacon, whose office it was rather to administer than to preach to the people, must also be especially careful to show that he lived the life he professed to teach; or, in St. Pauls own simile, must preserve the casket in which the precious mystery was shrined, holy and undefiled before menhe must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Mystery See note on 1Ti 3:16.
Faith In regard to doctrine.
Conscience In regard to moral character and conduct.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ti 3:9. Holding the mystery of the faith, &c. The deacons were to be such as held the mystery of the pure and unmixed Christian faith, and that held it in a good conscience, and would be ready openly to profess it: men of integrity, and of charity towards both Gentile and Jewish Christians,and who were not for imposing upon the one or the other. See Gal 2:2. Ephes 1:9 and Eph 3:1-11.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ti 3:9 . ] The emphasis is not on , as if it meant “holding fast,” but on (Wiesinger).
] This collocation occurs nowhere else. is not the doctrine of faith (Heumann), but subjective faith (de Wette). is the subject-matter of faith, i.e. the divine truth, which is a secret not only in so far as it was hidden from the world until it was revealed at the appointed time (Rom 16:25 ) and remains hidden to every man till the knowledge of it is wrought in him by the Spirit of God (1Co 2:7-10 ; 1Co 2:14 ), but also in so far as it is even to the believer (Wiesinger). The expression is synonymous with that in 1Ti 3:16 : .
] Comp. 1Ti 1:5 ; 1Ti 1:19 . The clause is to be joined closely with , and is to be understood neither specially of occupying the office, nor quite generally of the virtuous life, or “the moral disposition” (Hofmann), but of purity and uprightness in regard to the mystery of the faith. It stands in contrast with the impurity of the heretics, who had their conscience stained by the mingling of truth with errors; comp. 1Ti 4:2 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Ver. 9. Holding the mystery ] See Trapp on “ 1Ti 1:19 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ti 3:9 . : the faith as revealed , is the same as , 1Ti 3:16 . In the earlier epistles of St. Paul is a revealed secret , in particular, the purpose of God that Jew and Gentile should unite in one Church. The notion of a secret is still prominent, because the revelation of it was recent; but just as revelation passes from a phase of usage in which the wonderful fact and manner of the disclosure is prominent to a stage in which the content or substance of what has been revealed is alone thought of, so it was with ; in the Pastorals it means the revelation given in Christ, the Christian creed in fact. See Dean Armitage Robinson, Ephesians , p. 234 sqq ., and Lightfoot on Col 1:26 . It was not the function of a deacon to teach or preach; it was sufficient if he were a firm believer. . . . is connected with . Hort ( Christian Ecclesia , p. 201) approves of the expl. given by Weiss of . . ., “the secret constituted by their own inner faith”. This seems unnatural.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
mystery. App-193.
faith. App-160.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ti 3:9. , of the faith) The deacons were often speaking of the Christian faith, as opportunity offered, in the discharge of their duty; and even though they should not speak, still they were bound to attend to the duties of their office, and go to the church with a holy mind, and with the desire to show a good example.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Ti 3:9
holding the mystery of the faith-The mystery means those truths which could only be known to a man by direct revelations, truths which could not be reached by any process of reasoning from natural observation.
in a pure conscience.-A pure conscience is one that has not been corrupted by being misused and abased by being violated or perverted. A man perverts and corrupts his conscience by doing what he believes to be wrong, seeing the truth and violating convictions of right. A man may have a pure conscience and do wrong, but he must do what he believes is right or he corrupts his conscience. A man must take hold of the great truths of the Bible with a good and pure conscience.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
mystery
1Ti 3:16 (See Scofield “Mat 13:11”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Holding: 1Ti 1:5, 1Ti 1:19
the mystery: 1Ti 3:16, 2Jo 1:9, 2Jo 1:10
Reciprocal: Mat 13:11 – mysteries Act 24:16 – General 1Co 4:1 – mysteries 1Co 14:2 – howbeit Eph 3:4 – the mystery
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
FAITH AND CONSCIENCE
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:9
Having discoursed on the office of a bishop, St. Paul next proceeds to speak of the qualifications of a clergymanfor the reference cannot be limited to the deaconand it is significant that he puts a conscientious faith high upon his list.
I. Faith and a pure conscience go hand in hand.Both are necessary, and there is no need to decide the limits of their respective domains. St. Paul had united them together in his direct charge to Timothy himself. He now unites them again in stating his qualifications for the first step in the ministry. A good conscience is the natural element in which a sound faith exists. Therefore the man who deliberately thrusts away from him the former renders himself incapable of holding the latter, or at least places himself in great danger of making shipwreck of it. A true faith cannot live in an impure heart, though it may be there dormant and inactive.
II. Purity of conscience is an important element in determining our belief upon such doctrines as the Incarnation and the Atonement. The same may be said of any conception of God which includes the idea of holiness as a part of His character. It is true that all our ideas of holiness are relative and imperfect, as are the teachings of conscience itself; but what idea of beauty, and excellence, and holiness can be formed by one whose own heart and conscience are defiled, or how can such an one form any conception of the holiness of Him Who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity?
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Ti 3:9. The work of deacons pertains to the temporal things of life (see Act 6:2), yet they are expected to be interested in spiritual matters also. Mystery of the faith. Anything is a mystery until it is made known, regardless of whether it is something complicated or only a simple matter. Hence the faith (another name for the Gospel or salvation through Christ) was a mystery for ages, but was made known fully by the apostles. The deacons are required to maintain a pure conscience on the subject, which means they will be true to its teaching while administering their duties with the temporal needs of the poor members.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Ti 3:9. The mystery of the faith. The truth hidden before, but now revealed to the initiated-Comp. the mystery of godliness in 1Ti 3:16, and the use of the word in Eph 3:3-5. Guided by the analogy of that passage, and by 1Ti 5:8; Jud 1:3, it seems better to take faith here in its objective sense, but that and what is called its subjective meaning are so blended together in St. Pauls thoughts that it is scarcely possible to draw a hard and fast line of demarcation between them.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
That is, they must be sound believers, and of an upright life, maintaining truth of doctrine and soundness of faith, by sincerity of heart and integrity of life.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Verse 9
The mystery of the faith; the gospel,–often spoken of as a mystery, on account of its having been long withheld from the knowledge of mankind.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1Ti 3:9. “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
“holding mystery of the faith” indicates those things revealed to the church age saints. (Hidden before) 1Co 2:7-10 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
“in a pure conscience” would relate not only to belief, but to life. One serving God must have a clean conscience of his way of life. How could you honestly preach or share with others spiritually if your conscience wasn’t clear about what you believed?
When I was a member of the IFCA (Independent Fundamental Churches of America) one of the requirements for membership was that each member was to sign the doctrinal statement and signify they were still in complete agreement with it.
One year I realized that there was a small phrase within the statement that I could not agree with. I felt compelled out of “a pure conscience” to attach a three-page statement that I was in disagreement and the specifics of why.
The purpose of the signing of the statement was so that each one would take a moment and question his continuing agreement, and I believe in part, check their conscience, just to be sure they could honestly say they did.
This might be a good place to mention that the deacon is not required to be a teacher, nor is he required to be able to teach, but he is not forbidden to teach either. A deacon may well have the gift of teaching and this would be one of his areas of labor.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
3:9 Holding the {f} mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
(f) The doctrine of the Gospel, which is indeed a mystery: for flesh and blood do not reveal it.