1 This is a true G4103 saying, G3056 If a man G1536 desire G3713 the office of a bishop, G1984 he desireth G1937 a good G2570 work. G2041
Take heed G4337 therefore G3767 unto yourselves, G1438 and G2532 to all G3956 the flock, G4168 over G1722 the which G3739 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 hath made G5087 you G5209 overseers, G1985 to feed G4165 the church G1577 of God, G2316 which G3739 he hath purchased G4046 with G1223 his own G2398 blood. G129
For G1063 ye were G2258 as G5613 sheep G4263 going astray; G4105 but G235 are G1994 now G3568 returned G1994 unto G1909 the Shepherd G4166 and G2532 Bishop G1985 of your G5216 souls. G5590
Brethren, G80 if G1437 any G5100 of G1722 you G5213 do err G4105 from G575 the truth, G225 and G2532 one G5100 convert G1994 him; G846 Let G1097 him G846 know, G1097 that G3754 he which converteth G1994 the sinner G268 from G1537 the error G4106 of his G846 way G3598 shall save G4982 a soul G5590 from G1537 death, G2288 and G2532 shall hide G2572 a multitude G4128 of sins. G266
But G1063 let G3958 none G3361 G5100 of you G5216 suffer G3958 as G5613 a murderer, G5406 or G2228 as a thief, G2812 or G2228 as an evildoer, G2555 or G2228 as G5613 a busybody in other men's matters. G244
The fruit H6529 of the righteous H6662 is a tree H6086 of life; H2416 and he that winneth H3947 souls H5315 is wise. H2450
This is a faithful G4103 saying, G3056 and G2532 these things G4012 G5130 I will G1014 that thou G4571 affirm constantly, G1226 that G2443 they which have believed G4100 in God G2316 might be careful G5431 to maintain G4291 good G2570 works. G2041 These things G5023 are G2076 good G2570 and G2532 profitable G5624 unto men. G444
It is a faithful G4103 saying: G3056 For G1063 if G1487 we be dead with G4880 him, we shall G4800 also G2532 live with G4800 him:
This is a faithful G4103 saying G3056 and G2532 worthy G514 of all G3956 acceptation. G594
A bishop G1985 then G3767 must G1163 be G1511 blameless, G423 the husband G435 of one G3391 wife, G1135 vigilant, G3524 sober, G4998 of good behaviour, G2887 given to hospitality, G5382 apt to teach; G1317 Not G3361 given to wine, G3943 no G3361 striker, G4131 not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre; G146 but G235 patient, G1933 not a brawler, G269 not covetous; G866 One that ruleth G4291 well G2573 his own G2398 house, G3624 having G2192 his children G5043 in G1722 subjection G5292 with G3326 all G3956 gravity; G4587 (For G1161 if a man G1536 know G1492 not G3756 how G1492 to rule G4291 his own G2398 house, G3624 how G4459 shall he take care of G1959 the church G1577 of God?) G2316 Not G3361 a novice, G3504 lest G3363 being lifted up with pride G5187 he fall G1706 into G1519 the condemnation G2917 of the devil. G1228 Moreover G1161 G2532 he G846 must G1163 have G2192 a good G2570 report G3141 of G575 them which are without; G1855 lest G3363 he fall G1706 into G1519 reproach G3680 and G2532 the snare G3803 of the devil. G1228
Now G1161 we exhort G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 warn G3560 them that are unruly, G813 comfort G3888 the feebleminded, G3642 support G472 the weak, G772 be patient G3114 toward G4314 all G3956 men.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Timothy 3
Commentary on 1 Timothy 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
In this chapter our apostle treats of church-officers. He specifies,
1Ti 3:1-7
The two epistles to Timothy, and that to Titus, contain a scripture-plan of church-government, or a direction to ministers. Timothy, we suppose, was an evangelist who was left at Ephesus, to take care of those whom the Holy Ghost had made bishops there, that is, the presbyters, as appears by Acts 20:28, where the care of the church was committed to the presbyters, and they were called bishops. It seems they were very loth to part with Paul, especially because he told them they should see his face no more (Acts 20:38); for their church was but newly planted, they were afraid of undertaking the care of it, and therefore Paul left Timothy with them to set them in order. And here we have the character of a gospel minister, whose office it is, as a bishop, to preside in a particular congregation of Christians: If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work, v. 1. Observe,
1Ti 3:8-13
We have here the character of deacons: these had the care of the temporal concerns of the church, that is, the maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor: they served tables, while the ministers or bishops gave themselves only to the ministry of the word and prayer, Acts 6:2, 4. Of the institution of this office, with that which gave occasion to it, you have an account in Acts 6:1-7. Now it was requisite that deacons should have a good character, because they were assistants to the ministers, appeared and acted publicly, and had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave. Gravity becomes all Christians, but especially those who are in the office in the church. Not doubled-tongued; that will say one thing to one and another thing to another, according as their interests leads them: a double tongue comes from a double heart; flatterers and slanderers are double-tongued. Not given to much wine; for this is a great disparagement to any man, especially to a Christian, and one in office, unfits men for business, opens the door to many temptations. Not greedy of filthy lucre; this would especially be bad in the deacons, who were entrusted with the church's money, and, if they were covetous and greedy of filthy lucre, would be tempted to embezzle it, and convert that to their own use which was intended for the public service. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience, v. 9. Note, The mystery of faith is best held in a pure conscience. The practical love of truth is the most powerful preservative from error and delusion. If we keep a pure conscience (take heed of every thing that debauches conscience, and draws us away from God), this will preserve in our souls the mystery of faith. Let these also first be proved, v. 10. It is not fit that the public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they have been first proved, and found fit for the business they are to be entrusted with; the soundness of their judgments, their zeal for Christ, and the blamelessness of their conversation, must be proved. Their wives likewise must have a good character (v. 11); they must be of a grave behaviour, not slanderers, tale-bearers, carrying stories to make mischief and sow discord; they must be sober and faithful in all things, not given to any excess, but trusty in all that is committed to them. All who are related to ministers must double their care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ, lest, if they in any thing walk disorderly, the ministry be blamed. As he said before of the bishops or ministers, so here of the deacons, they must be the husband of one wife, such as had not put away their wives, upon dislike, and married others; they must rule their children and their own houses well; the families of deacons should be examples to other families. And the reason why the deacons must be thus qualified is (v. 13) because, though the office of a deacon be of an inferior degree, yet it is a step towards the higher degree; and those who had served tables well the church might see cause afterwards to discharge from that service, and prefer to serve in preaching the word and in prayer. Or it may be meant of the good reputation that a man would gain by his fidelity in this office: they will purchase to themselves great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Observe,
1Ti 3:14-16
He concludes the chapter with a particular direction to Timothy. He hoped shortly to come to him, to give him further directions and assistance in his work, and to see that Christianity was well planted, and took root well, at Ephesus; he therefore wrote the more briefly to him. But he wrote lest he should tarry long, that Timothy might know how to behave himself in the house of God, how to conduct himself as became an evangelist, and the apostle's substitute. Observe,