Observe here, 1. Our apostle acquaints Timothy with the dignity, honour, and excellency of the sacred function: HE THAT DESIRETH THE OFFICE OF. BISHOP, that is, to rule and teach in the church of God, HE DESIRETH. GOOD WORK, that is, honourable employment. As if our apostle had said, "Know,. Timoth... [ Continue Reading ]
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 scandal, without any just ground of blame: the life of. bishop should shine so bright, that others m... [ Continue Reading ]
The negative characater of. bishop now follows, showing what he must not be. NOT GIVEN TO WINE; that is, to much wine, no inordinate lover either of wine or strong drink, no wine-bibber, no sitter at wine in his own house, much less at taverns and public houses: NO STRIKER, either with hands or to... [ Continue Reading ]
A bishop being. ruler in the church of God, Timothy is advised to choose such. one to rule in the church that well and wisely governs his own family, having his children in due subjection, and both he and they behaving themselves with becoming gravity; and St. Paul subjoins. reason for this apostoli... [ Continue Reading ]
A NOVICE signifies, A YOUNG PLANT; here, A YOUNG, RAW, UNEXPERIENCED PERSON; yet not so much young in years as in knowledge; for Timothy himself was very young: not. novice in religion then, not one that is unexperienced in the mysteries of the gospel, undertaking to teach others before he has learn... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, How needful it is for. minister to be of an untainted reputation;. bishop must be of good report, saith St. Paul; it is necessary for his own salvation that he be good, and for the salvation of others that he be accounted so: great is their sin, then, who go about to blast. minister's rep... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. That there are but two sorts of fixed church-officers mentioned by St. Paul, bishops and deacons; as the church had its own bishop, so likewise its own deacons: these were at first instituted for the service of the poor; the alms of the church were brought to the altar, the deacons rec... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, they must be sound believers, and of an upright life, maintaining truth of doctrine and soundness of faith, by sincerity of heart and integrity of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Timothy is directed not to put any person suddenly into the office of. deacon, but to first to prove them for some considerable time; and their sufficiency being approved, let them be ordained, and use the office of. deacon.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the original it runs, LET THE WOMEN, by which is meant either the deacons' wives, or the deaconesses, who were appointed to take care of the poor women, as the deacons were of the men; understand it of both; these qualifications are very excellent and well becoming of both; they ought to be grave... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Let not any such be admitted deacon who has more wives than one, or that hath injuriously put away one, and married to another; and let them show by the good government of their own children and household, that they are fit to govern the church of God." Note here, That the higher officers... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Although the deacons be as servants to the bishops, yet such as use that office well, according to the foregoing rules, by so doing do purchase to themselves. good degree above the vulgar, and also have farther hopes of being advanced in the church to higher offices; and when they preach t... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "I do hope to come to thee very shortly; but if. tarry long, or be prevented at last, as. am uncertain,. write these things to thee, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to converse in the house of God, in the church of the living God, in which thou art. pillar and fir... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having exhorted Timothy in the preceding verses to behave himself worthily in the church of God, and as. pillar, supporting, maintaining, and upholding the truths of God, in this verse he reckons up six principal heads of evangelical truth, which are to be asserted and defended by him; u... [ Continue Reading ]