Eph 1369 3/3/91

DOCTRINE OF REPROACH

A. Greek Vocabulary Related to Reproach.

1. There are three Greek words related to reproach.

a. ONEIDIZO, the verb which means to reproach or to revile.

b. ONEIDISMOS, the noun which means reproach, disgrace, insult. This noun is used for pastors who fail by being “beyond reproach and snare of the Devil.”

c. ANEGKLETOS, a noun which is used for deacons.

2. The two nouns above mean blame, censor, disgrace, discredit, or an object of contempt. Both pastors and deacons qualify for their functions by being above reproach or beyond reproach.

a. 1 Tim 3:7, “And he must be of good reputation with those who are outside the church so that he may not fall into reproach [ONEIDISMOS] and the snare of the Devil.” To fall into reproach here means to be subject to discipline from the supreme court of heaven.

b. 1 Tim 3:10, “But also let those deacons first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are beyond reproach [ANEGKLETOS].” Again, reproach has the connotation of liability before the supreme court of heaven. This includes being free from criminality and things whereby leadership would fail because of prejudice and other things.

B. The Concept of Beyond Reproach.

1. There is a bad connotation of reproach.

a. The phrase “beyond reproach” applies to two categories of leadership in the local church—pastors and deacons.

b. In both cases, beyond reproach indicates no criminality, no system of public disgrace which is incompatible with the Christian testimony, such as dishonorable discharge from the military, tax evasion conviction, creating the public lie, conspiracy against the government, being a traitor to your nation, drug addiction, sexual sins.

c. Beyond reproach has another connotation related to the function of church discipline and dealing with problems among believers in the local church.

(1) Church leadership must be free from the arrogance complex of sins: jealousy, bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, hatred, inordinate ambition, revenge motivation and function, the lust pattern of the sin nature, and vilification including creating the public lie. This does not mean that they will fail in one of these areas, but it must not be a habitual thing that could ever influence them in functioning under the concepts of church discipline, hearing complaints, or serving on a church court.

(2) Church leadership must also be free from the emotional complex of sins.

(a) The hysterical category of sins includes fear, worry, anxiety, panic, shock, consternation, irrationality, and dissociation.

(b) The anger-hatred category of sins. No pastor or deacon can ever exercise hatred toward anyone. Hatred makes it impossible to teach the Word of God objectively. There must be no hatred, resentment, vindictiveness, loathing, or animosity toward those in the congregation.

(d) The reaction category of sins in which there is revenge.

2. There is a good connotation of reproach.

a. There is a sense in which believers should be under reproach, Jam 1:5-6, “But if any one of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God who gives to all [believers] generously and does not reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

(1) This is no saying that you will get wisdom through prayer, but that can ask for wisdom from God in dealing with the problems of people. This is not referring to lack of wisdom in the understanding of Bible doctrine but in its application to the problems of people. Even mature believers must prayer for wisdom under certain conditions.

(2) God does not reproach you or hold you in contempt for asking for wisdom in dealing with the problems of people.

(3) The word “faith” here is the Greek noun PISTIS, and is used for the second stage of the faith-rest mechanics. The basis for offering such a prayer is mixing a strong faith with the essence of God rationale.

(4) If anyone ever asks while doubting, they should never serve on a church court because they are unstable.

b. Reproach is an honorable thing under the conditions of 1 Pet 4:14, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ [and you are], you are blessed, because the glory and the Spirit of God rest upon you.”

c. Heb 10:33, “And you were made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations.”

d. Heb 11:26, “[Moses] ...considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” The reproach of Christ was the divine discipline for murdering an Egyptian.

e. Reproach is used for right priorities in life. Heb 13:13, “Therefore, let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

R. B. Thieme, Jr. Bible Ministries 5139 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 621-3740

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