CHAPTER III. _Concerning bishops, their qualifications and work_, 1-7. _Of deacons, and how they should be proved_, 8-10. _Of their wives and children, and how they should be governed_, 11-13. _How Timothy should behave himself in the Church_, 14, 15. _The great mystery of godliness_, 16. NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
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 being compounded of επι, _over_, and σκεπτομαι, to _look_ or _inspect_, signifies one who has the _in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Timothy 3:3. An _eighth_ article in his character is, HE MUST NOT BE _GIVEN TO WINE_; μηπαροινον. This word not only signifies one who is _inordinately attached to wine_, a _winebibber_ or _tippler_, but also one who is _imperious, abusive, insolent_, whether through wine or otherwise. _Kypk... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Timothy 3:4. The _fourteenth_ qualification of a Christian bishop is, that HE _RULETH WELL HIS OWN HOUSE_; του ιδιου οικου καλως προΐσταμενον, one who _properly presides over_ and _governs his own_ _family_. One who has the _command_, of his _own house_, not by sternness, severity, and tyr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Timothy 3:5. _FOR IF A MAN KNOW NOT_] _Method_ is a matter of great importance in all the affairs of life. It is a true saying, _He_ _that does little with his head must do much with his hands_; and even _then_ the business is not half done for want of _method_. Now, he who has a proper meth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Timothy 3:6. _Fifteenth_. - IT IS REQUIRED THAT HE BE _NOT A NOVICE_] νεοφυτον. Not a _young plant_, not _recently ingrafted_, that is, one _not newly converted to the faith_; (old MS. Bible;) one who has been of considerable standing in the Christian Church, if he have the preceding qualif... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. THE _SIXTEENTH_ REQUISITE IS, THAT HE _SHOULD HAVE A_ _GOOD REPORT OF THEM WHICH ARE WITHOUT_] That he should be one who had not been previously a profligate, or scandalous in his life. Such a person, when converted, may be a worthy private member of religious society; but I believe God _ra... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _LIKEWISE_ MUST _THE DEACONS_] The term _deacon_, διακονος, simply signifies a _regular_ or _stated servant_: from δια, _through_ or _emphatic_, and κονεω, to _minister_ or _serve_. See it explained in _Clarke's note on "_Matthew 20:26_"_. As nearly the same qualifications were required in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _HOLDING THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH_] Instead of της πιστεως, _the faith_, one MS. (the readings of which are found in the margin of a copy of Mill's Greek text in the Bodleian library, and which is marked 61 in _Griesbach_) reads αναστασεως, _of the resurrection_. This reading, like many ot... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _LET THESE - BE PROVED_] Let them not be _young_ _converts_, or persons lately brought to the knowledge of the truth. This is the same in spirit with what is required of the bishops, 1 Timothy 3:6. Let no man be put into an office in the Church till he has given full proof of his sincerit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _EVEN SO_ MUST THEIR _WIVES_ BE _GRAVE_] I believe the apostle does not mean here the _wives_ either of the _bishops_ or _deacons_ in particular, but the Christian _women_ in general. The original is simply: γυναικας ωσαυτως σεμνας. _Let the women_ _likewise be grave_. Whatever is spoken... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _LET THE DEACONS BE THE HUSBANDS OF ONE WIFE_] This is the same that is required of the _bishops_. See notes on 1 Timothy 3:2; _"_1 Timothy 3:4_"_; and _"_1 Timothy 3:5_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THAT HAVE USED THE OFFICE OF A DEACON WELL_] They who, having been _tried_ or _proved_, 1 Timothy 3:10, have shown by their steadiness, activity, and zeal, that they might be raised to a higher office, are here said to have _purchased to themselves a_ _good degree_, βαθμον καλον. for, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THESE THINGS WRITE I_] That is: I write _only_ these things; because _I hope to come unto thee shortly_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _BUT IF I TARRY LONG_] That is: Not withstanding I hope to come to thee shortly, and therefore do not feel the necessity of writing at large; yet, lest I should be delayed, I write what I judge necessary to direct thy conduct in the Church of God. _THE HOUSE OF GOD_] This is spoken in all... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Timothy 3:16. _AND, WITHOUT CONTROVERSY_] Και ὁμολογουμενες· _And confessedly, by general consent_, it is a thing which no man _can_ or _ought to dispute_; any phrase of this kind expresses the meaning of the original. _GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH_] If we take in the whole of the _14_th... [ Continue Reading ]