CHAPTER III The apostle here continues his special instructions to Timothy, but directs them to another topic, and one of still greater moment to the right order and government of the church; namely, to the calling and qualifications of its official representatives and guides. The subject, however,... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 2. _A pastor, therefore, ought to be blameless_ (ἀνεπίλημπτον, irreproachable), _husband of one wife, sober, discreet, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach._ With one exception, all these qualifications are so easily understood, and so obviously becoming in a Christian pastor, that they scarcely c... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 3. The apostle proceeds with the enumeration of qualities that ought to meet in the pastor: μὴ πάροινον, which the Authorized Version renders, “not given to much wine,” but it is rather _not a brawler, or of vinous temperament,_ not given to such impetuous and violent behaviour as is wont to be... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 4. The proper pastor is further described as _ruling well his own house_ his own (ἰδίου) as contradistinguished from God's, the relatively little, and more easily managed; _having children in subjection with all gravity,_ or decency of deportment; having, in short, a well-ordered and properly t... [ Continue Reading ]
culiarly influenced by the power of hope (see Romans 8:24; Colossians 1:27; Titus 1:2). The hope, considered with respect to its realization, is here called _blessed_, because of the happy results with which it shall be associated in the experience of all to whom it properly belongs. But the hope it... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 10. _But these also,_ or, And _these too, let them first be proved_ καὶ οὗτοι δὲ : not enough that they seem to have all the qualifications previously mentioned, but let this further precaution be taken, let them be first proved; then let them serve as deacons, if (namely, after being proved) t... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 11. There is a difference of opinion among commentators how this verse should be understood: whether of women in the sense of wives the wives of the deacons mentioned immediately before; or of women holding much the same relative position in the church as deacons women called to do active servi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 12. The apostle, returning again to the deacons for the purpose of supplementing what he had previously said, adds concerning them: _Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses;_ the same qualifications precisely which had been required of the higher... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 13. Here follows a reason for exacting such qualifications of deacons, as requisite for the safe and efficient discharge of the trust committed to them; the yap, _for,_ coupling this to the whole of the preceding instructions on the subject: _for those who have done the work of a deacon well ob... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 14. _These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly:_ τάχιον, literally, more quickly sooner, that is, than I at one time thought, or than would seem to call for more detailed communications.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 15. _But if I should tarry,_ [the things have been written] _in order that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in God's house, which indeed is the church of the living God, the pillar and basement of the truth._ The expression rendered, _how thou oughtest to conduct thyself_ ... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 16. The more immediate reason, obviously, which led the apostle to bring so prominently out the spiritual and elevated idea he had just presented of the church of Christ, was to impress upon the mind of Timothy the gravity and importance of the charge devolved on him, and the imperative duty of... [ Continue Reading ]