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Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1. Must - Are the following terms absolutes? Must a man possess these qualities to be a leader in the local congregation?

2. Blameless - How can we be blameless? Don't all men sin? Do we not all make mistakes? Does this word demand perfection?

3. One wife - Can one be a bishop and never be married? Can a divorced man serve as an elder? Can a man widowed and remarried be appointed to this office? If an elder's wife dies, does this disqualify him for continued service?

4. Vigilant - Describe this word. For what must an elder be vigilant?

5. Sober - Does this prohibit an elder from laughing, telling funny stories?

6. Behavior - What type of behavior would be prohibited here?

7. Hospitality - Does this mean that an elder must have each family of the church in his home for a meal? What is hospitality? Is there a relation to the word - hospital?

8. Apt - What is required for one to be "apt" to teach? Must an elder teach a class each Sunday to qualify? Does this require public teaching and preaching? Can an elder teach in private settings and meet this requirement?

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See also 1 Timothy 3:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Timothy 3:2. _A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS_] Our term _bishop_ comes from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.], which is a mere corruption of the Greek επισκοπος, and the Latin _episcopus_; the former b...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A BISHOP - A minister of religion, according to the foregoing remarks, who has the charge or oversight of any Christian church. The reference here is doubtless to one who had the government of the chu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF GOD CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)_ 2. The deacon (1 Timothy 3:8) 3. The house of God and the mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    (_b_) III. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1. Church Officials. 1 Timothy 3:1. The Bishops. Not only public worship, but also the appointment of officials, must be regulated. He who exercises oversight a good work, as i...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH (1 Timothy 3:1-7)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    There is a saying which everyone must believe--if a man aspires to the office of overseer in the Church, it is a fine work on which his heart is set. An overseer must be a man against whom no criticis...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BISHOP. Greek. _episkopos_. See Acts 20:28. BLAMELESS. Greek. _anepileptos_. Only here, 1 Timothy 5:7; 1 Timothy 6:14. HUSBAND App-123. VIGILANT. sober. Greek. _nephalcos_. Here,

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _A bishop_ R.V. THE BISHOP, as St Mark 4:3, -the sower": so George Herbert, - _The_country Parson": -A bishop" is however quite idiomatic too. _blameless_ R.V. WITHOUT REPROACH; twice again, ch. 1 Tim...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The duties and characters of Bishops or Presbyters Following the directions concerning the general arrangements for public worship come instructions as to the character and qualifications of the appo...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    II. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE CHURCH 1–7. i. BISHOPS Having spoken of the conduct of public worship, the Apostle proceeds to expound the qualifications requisite for those who hold offic...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    The best MSS. (אAD2GH) have ἀνεπίλημπτον (which should also be read in 1 Timothy 5:7 and 1 Timothy 6:14); the received spelling ἀνεπίληπτον has the support of KL and most cursives. 2. ΔΕΙ͂ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. _The...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΔΕΙ (G1163) _praes. ind. act._ Безличный гл., необходимо. Обозначает логическую необходимость, основанную на потребности или обстоятельствах (TDNT; AS), ΈΠΊΣΚΟΠΟΣ (G1985) наставник, епископ, пастырь....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS,— With respect to his moral character. The priests under the law were to be without bodily infirmities, Leviticus 21:16; Leviticus 21:24. The bishops in the Christian c...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    III. CHURCH OFFICERS 3:1-16 A. Office of the Overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7) 1. THE ELDER. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 _TEXT 3:1-7_ 1 Faithful is the saying, if a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 presbyteresse...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 Translators have experienced much difficulty with this opening sentence, because it seemed to lack the principal verb. The A V adds _ so do_, the Revisers _ so do I now_. It is very seldom that any...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 This passage is primarily intended to break down the bounds in which salvation had hitherto been confined. The testimony of past eras is no basis on which to build in this era. The testimony to the...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:2 discreet, (g-12) i.e. 'of sound mind,' as ch. 2.9....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A BISHOP] RV 'the bishop,' RM 'overseer.' Some think (see General Intro.) that the terms 'bishop' and 'elder' are used interchangeably in these Epistles, as they seem to have been at an earlier date ...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCERNING THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH 1-7. The fourth charge to Timothy, in respect to presbyters....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW TO BE A LEADER IN THE CHURCH 1 TIMOTHY _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 WHAT AN *ELDER MUST BE LIKE (3:1-7) V1 Anyone who aims to be a leader in the church desires a good task. That is true. V2 But...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS. — Now follow the various _social_ and moral characteristics of the appointed and recognised officers of the Christian Church — the presbyters or bishops, and the junio...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 11 THE APOSTLE'S RULE RESPECTING SECOND MARRIAGES; ITS MEANING AND PRESENT OBLIGATION. - 1 Timothy 3:2 THE Apostle here states, as one of the first qualifications to be looked for in a person...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 10 ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY; VARIOUS CERTAINTIES AND PROBABILITIES DISTINGUISHED. - 1 Timothy 3:1 THIS passage is one of the most important in the New Testament respecting the Christi...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The qualifications of the men who are to be ministers; and first (_a_) of the episcopus (vv.1-7) secondly (_b_) of the deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13) with a parenthetical instruction respecting women chur...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    With the qualifications of the episcopus as given here should be compared those of the deacons, 1 Timothy 3:8 _sqq._, and those of the episcopus in Titus 1:6 _sqq_. δεῖ οὖν … ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι. The ἐ...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πιστὸς ὁ λόγος : This refers to the exegesis of Genesis which has preceded. (So Chrys.). We may compare Barnabas, § 9, where, after an allegorical explanation of Abraham's 318 servants, the writer exc...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FITNESS FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP 1 Timothy 3:1 One of Timothy's most urgent duties was to take care that those who held office in the churches were beyond reproach. The tone of a Christian community...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Turning to the government of the Church, the apostle deals with two orders, bishops and deacons. The bishop is an overseer, whose duty it is to watch over the flock. The apostle describes the qualific...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    QUALIFICATIONS OF BISHOPS Paul turned from leadership in worship to leadership in the church. Men are not to be drafted into this work against their will but must desire this work. Spain says the word...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of (b) one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (b) Therefore he that shuts out married men from the office of bi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    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. ---...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given t...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    1 Timothy 1:1-20. We enter now on the confidential communications of the apostle to some of his fellow-labourers, and tonight on the epistles to Timothy. The two have much in common, but they have als...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2_A bishop, therefore, must be blameless _The particle _therefore _confirms the exposition which I have given; for, on account of the dignity of the office, he concludes that it is requisite that he b...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The apostle next points out to Timothy the qualities necessary for a bishop or a deacon, as well as for the wife of the latter. [4] He supposes here that there were some who desired to undertake this...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS,.... Or "an elder", as the Syriac version renders it; not that it can be expected that such an one should be entirely free from sin, or be blameless in the sight of God...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Ver. 2. _A bishop then must be blameless_] That is, every faithful pa...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _A bishop then_ Or an overseer of the flock of Christ, that he may be capable of such an office; _must be blameless_ In every respect with regard to his moral character, since any thing which might be...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    BLAMELESS; of irreproachable character. VIGILANT; watchful and circumspect in his deportment and office. SOBER; sober-minded, properly regulating his appetites and passions. OF GOOD BEHAVIOR; order...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP, OR PASTOR....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A BISHOP, THEN, MUST BE BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, VIGILANT, SOBER, OF GOOD BEHAVIOR, GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY, APT TO TEACH;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    If before we have seen personal conduct that is to be consistent with assembly character, this chapter, while dealing with personal character still, connects it directly with the order of the assembly...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    OF GOOD BEHAVIOR: Or, modest...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “AN OVERSEER, THEN, MUST BE”: The term “must be” means it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper _(Thayer p. 126). _“One must or has to” _(Arndt p. 172). _“It is necessary” _...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; In the following description there is the complete character of an evangelical bishop, with respect to the virtues wherewith he must be adorned, and the vices from which he must be exempt, and...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III Quid autem ad haec dicunt, qui in legem invehuntur, et in matrimonium, quasi sit solum a lege concessum, non autem etiam in Novo Testamento? Quid ad has leges...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Timothy 3:2 bishop G1985 then G3767 must G1163 (G5748) be G1511 (G5750) blameless G423 husband G435 one...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Timothy 3:2. A BISHOP MOST BE BLAMELESS. Literally, ‘ _giving no handle to reproach_, _unassailable.'_ THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE. The emphasis of the numerical adjective shows that the command is res...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THE BISHOP (τον επισκοπον). The overseer. Old word, in LXX, and inscriptions and papyri. Deissmann (_Bible Studies_, pp. 230f.) has shown it is applied to communal officials in Rhodes. See Acts 20:2...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Qualifications of elders and deacons. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Satan. CONCLUSION: Those having places of authority in the church must be blameless, not lying under any scandal, watchful ag...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Timothy 3:1. _This is a true saying,_ an indubitable word, _if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work,_ a laudable sphere of labour and usefulness. But by the idea of a primiti...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    A MAN WITHOUT FAULT. This is the basic qualification. He is one who "practices what he preaches." ONLY ONE WIFE. History shows that the church in later centuries took this to mean: "If he is married a...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The office of a bishop._ THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP A GOOD WORK If a man desire the office of a bishop from right principles, he desireth. not a secular dignity--not a good benefice--not a post of hon...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 In listing the qualifications for the overseer of a church, Paul emphasizes character rather than specific duties. The list describes a person of mature Christian chara...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 The meaning of HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE is widely debated. The Greek phrase literally states, “of one woman [wife] man [husband].” (1) Many scholars understand this to mean...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Timothy 3:1. THIS IS A TRUE SAYING.—See note on 1 Timothy 1:15. IF ANY MAN DESIRE THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP.—It is generally admitted that to the latest New Testament t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 _Faithful is the saying _for _this is a true saying_,_ _A.V.; _seeketh _for _desire_,_ _A.V. FAITHFUL IS THE SAYING (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15, note). This manifestly refers...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    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 qualificat...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight we will be studying First Timothy three and four. It is interesting as Paul writes to Timothy on several occasions, he uses phrases that are interesting to me. He said, This is a faithful sayi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 4:9; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 3:10; 1 Timothy 4:3;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Blameless [α ν ε π ι λ η μ π τ ο ν]. Or without reproach : one who cannot be laid hold of [λ α μ β α ν ε ι ν] : who gives no ground for accusation. o P. Only in 1st Timothy. The husband of one wife ...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Therefore — That he may be capable of it. A bishop — Or pastor of a congregation. Must be blameless — Without fault or just suspicion. The husband of one wife — This neither means that a bishop must b...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here we have St. Paul's positive character of. bishop, and what he ought to be, who is admitted into that high and honourable office in the church of God: he ought to be BLAMELESS,. person free from...

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Old Testament