This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 'Faithful is the saying.' A needful preface; for the office of a bishop in Paul's day, being attended with hardship and often persecution, would not seem to the world a desirable and "good work." DESIRE, [ o... [ Continue Reading ]
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; The existence of church organization, presbyters, and presbyteresses at Ephesus is presupposed (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Timothy 5:19). The directions here to Timothy, the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; NOT GIVEN TO WINE, [ Mee (G3361) Paroinon (G3943) includes, not indulging in the brawling which proceeds from being given to wine. The opposite of epieikee (G1933), 'patient,' 'forbearing,' reaso... [ Continue Reading ]
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; RULETH, [ proistamenon (G4291)] - 'presiding over.' HIS OWN HOUSE - children and servants, as contrasted with 'the church (house) of God' (1 Timothy 3:5; 1 Timothy 3:15), which he is to preside over. HAVING... [ Continue Reading ]
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) FOR, [ De (G1161)] - 'But.' THE CHURCH. Perhaps, 'a church.' [But Theou (G2316) being without the article, justifies its omission before the governing word, ekkleesias (G1577).] How shall he who can... [ Continue Reading ]
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. NOT A NOVICE - one just converted. This proves the church of Ephesus was established for some time. The absence of this rule in the letter to Titus accords with the recent planting of the church at Crete. N... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. A GOOD REPORT - Greek, testimony. So Paul was influenced by the good report of Timothy to choose him as his companion (). OF THEM WHICH ARE WITHOUT - the as-yet-unconverted Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; DEACONS. The singular, on the other hand, is used of the "bishop" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7, where "presbyters" (plural) precedes). The deacons were chosen by the people. Cyprian ('Epistle,'... [ Continue Reading ]
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH. Holding the faith, which to the natural man remains a mystery, but which is revealed by the Spirit to them (; 1 Corinthians 2:7) in a pure conscience (; ). ("Pure;" i:e., in which nothing base or foreign is intermixe... [ Continue Reading ]
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 'And moreover' [ kai (G2532) ... de (G1161)] be proved-not by a period of probation, but by searching inquiry by Timothy, the ordaining president (1 Timothy 5:22), then when found 'unaccused' ( an... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (THEIR) WIVES - rather, 'women;' i:e., deaconesses. For there is no reason that special rules should be laid down as to wives of deacons, and not also as to wives of bishops. Moreover, if wives of deacons were meant... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ONE WIFE (note, ). RULING (THEIR) CHILDREN. There is no article; 'ruling children' implying he regarded the having children to rule as a qualification (; ). THEIR OWN HOUSES - distinguished from "the... [ Continue Reading ]
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. PURCHASE TO THEMSELVES A GOOD DEGREE, [ bathmon (G898) peripoiountai (G4046)] - 'are acquiring ... a ... step.' Not promotion to the higher office... [ Continue Reading ]
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: WRITE I UNTO THEE, HOPING - i:e., 'though I hope to come unto thee' (1 Timothy 4:13). As his hope was not confident (1 Timothy 3:15), he provides for Timothy's lengthened superintendence by the preceding rules to guide him. He now... [ Continue Reading ]
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. BUT IF I TARRY LONG - before coming. THAT - i:e., I write (1 Timothy 3:14) "that thou mayest know," etc. BEHAVE THYSE... [ Continue Reading ]
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. AND - following up 1 Timothy 3:15: 'AND (that thou mayest know how grand is that truth w... [ Continue Reading ]