_He desireth a good work. No doubt but the work, or office, and charge of a bishop is good; but the motive of desiring to be a bishop not always good. However, in those days, the desire could scarce be grounded on temporal advantages. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
A bishop (the same name then comprehended priest) to be blameless, as to life and conversation, adorned, (says St. John Chrysostom) with all virtues. See also St. Jerome in his letter to Oceanus. --- The [1] husband of one wife. It does not signify, that to be a bishop or priest he must be a married... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not given to wine, or a lover of wine. This, says St. John Chrysostom, is less than to be a drunkard; for such are excluded from the kingdom of heaven, whoever they be. (1 Corinthians vi. 10.) --- No striker. St. John Chrysostom understands not striving, fighting or quarreling even with his tongue.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ruleth well his own house, &c. Before he is set over the Church, let him have given proofs of his talents for governing within his own house, by the regularity he has made all his dependants observe. In the infancy of the Church, it was frequently necessary to ordain the most regular fathers of fam... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not a neophyte. Not one newly as it were planted, or newly instructed in the faith. (Witham) --- That is, one lately baptized, a young convert. (Challoner) --- He fall into the judgment and condemnation of the devil, by returning to his evil habits he has so lately quitted. (Witham) --- Devil; i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deacons, &c. By the Greek, grave, sober, &c. But why does he pass from bishops to deacons, not naming priests? St. John Chrysostom answers, that priests were comprehended under the name of bishops, their functions being much the same, except as to the ordination of the ministers of God. (Witham) --... [ Continue Reading ]
_ Women, &c. By the Greek again, sober, grave, &c. By these women are commonly understood such as had made a vow of not marrying, and who assisted at the baptism of women; (Witham) i.e. deaconesses, who were women charged with the assistance, and sometimes with the instruction, of persons of their o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The pillar and ground of the truth. By the promises of Christ to direct his Church by the infallible spirit of truth; (see John xvi. 7; Matthew xxviii. 20; &c. (Witham)) and therefore, the Church of the living God can never uphold error, nor bring in corruptions, superstition, or idolatry. (Challon... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mystery of piety, meaning the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God: and so in most Greek copies, and in St. John Chrysostom we read, God appeared in the flesh. [6] --- Taken up into glory, by Christ's glorious ascension into heaven. (Witham) --- After having spoken of the grandeur and infal... [ Continue Reading ]