Timothy was chosen by the Apostle Paul to train the next generation of church leaders in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3-7).  They were to lead the congregation but not exercise ungodly power over the church; neither should they be passive officials who could be bribed or manipulated by the congregation.  Instead, they were to watch over (oversee) and direct God’s family like a wise father should watch over his own family (1 Timothy 3:4).  The word translated here as ‘overseer’ is also used for ‘bishop’, ‘elder’ or ‘presbyter’.

Deacons differ from elders, whose first role is to teach and pastor God’s flock.  The Greek word diakonos was used of a house servant who did whatever was necessary including running errands.  Deacons enable the practical functions of the church family, enabling the elders to lead and teach without the added responsibility of practical administration.  In Acts 6:1-7, seven such men were appointed to oversee the distribution of food to poor families.  They were ‘hands on’ helpers and organisers.  But the practical and spiritual work of the church are not separate.  Deacons and elder

Paul’s first letter to Timothy is full of instructions about how Christians should relate with each other and behave in the world.  The people in the Ephesian church had multi-cultural and multi-faith backgrounds.  When they came to Christ they also came into a new family of which God is the Father (Ephesians 3:14-15).  That is why they needed to learn how to live a new life which matched their new faith.  This was so important that Paul felt the teaching could not be delayed until his next visit, because faith which is not expressed in right behaviour is useless (James 2:14-26).

All food is good; it is created by God for human consumption (Genesis 9:1-3).  However, in the Ephesian church, some believers objected to eating certain kinds of produce … but for different reasons.  Some from a Jewish background had never eaten food which God prohibited to His people for public health reasons.  The Apostle Peter had the same problem until the Lord told him that those rules, in Leviticus 11:1-47, no longer applied to believers in Jesus (Acts 10:9-16).  Others, from a pagan background, did not want to eat food which had been offered to idols.  For some, it became not only a