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Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.
5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.
13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Reasons for Paul’s Instructions
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that,
15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 3 Commentary
Chapter3
The qualifications and behaviour of gospel bishops. (1-7) And of deacons and their wives. (8-13) The reason of writing about these, and other church affairs. (14-16)
Verses 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 in a good work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He must be sober, temperate, moderate in all his actions, and in the use of all creature-comforts. Sobriety and watchfulness are put together in Scripture, they assist one the other. The families of ministers ought to be examples of good to all other families. We should take heed of pride; it is a sin that turned angels into devils. He must be of good repute among his neighbours, and under no reproach from his former life. To encourage all faithful ministers, we have Christ's gracious word of promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, ( Matthew 28:20 ) . And he will fit his ministers for their work, and carry them through difficulties with comfort, and reward their faithfulness.
Verses 8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ.
Verses 14-16 The church is the house of God; he dwells there. The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by his own Son taking the nature of man. Though reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false charges with which he was loaded. Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Let us remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.
Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)
Cross References 31
- 1. S
1 Timothy 1:15 - 2.
Acts 20:28 ;Philippians 1:1 ;Titus 1:7 - 3.
Titus 1:6-8 - 4. ver 12
- 5. ver 11;
Titus 2:2 - 6. S
Romans 12:13 - 7.
2 Timothy 2:24 - 8.
Titus 1:7 - 9.
2 Timothy 2:24 - 10.
Luke 16:14 ;1 Timothy 6:10 ;2 Timothy 3:2 ;Hebrews 13:5 ;1 Peter 5:2 - 11. ver 12;
Titus 1:6 - 12. S
1 Corinthians 10:32 - 13.
1 Timothy 6:4 ;2 Timothy 3:4 - 14. S
2 Peter 2:4 - 15. S
Mark 4:11 - 16.
2 Timothy 2:26 - 17.
Philippians 1:1 - 18.
1 Timothy 5:23 ;Titus 1:7 ;Titus 2:3 - 19. S
Acts 23:1 ;1 Timothy 1:19 - 20.
1 Timothy 5:22 - 21.
2 Timothy 3:3 ;Titus 2:3 - 22. ver 2
- 23. ver 2
- 24. ver 4
- 25. ver 5; S
1 Corinthians 10:32 ;Ephesians 2:21 - 26. S
Matthew 16:16 - 27. S
Romans 16:25 - 28. S
1 Timothy 2:2 - 29. S
John 1:14 - 30.
Psalms 9:11 ;Colossians 1:23 - 31. S
Mark 16:19
Footnotes 4
- [a]. Or "him with proper"
- [b]. The word "deacons" refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
- [c]. Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
- [d]. Or "vindicated in spirit"
Chapter Summary
INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY 3
In this chapter the apostle treats of the qualifications of officers of churches, bishops and deacons, and of their wives; and points at the principal reason of writing this epistle to Timothy: and first, he commends the office of a bishop, as a good and desirable one; and asserts it to be such in the strongest manner, 1Ti 3:1 and then follow the qualifications for it, some of which are of the economical or domestic kind, and regard him as an husband and parent, and the head of the family; others of a moral nature, and relate to sobriety, hospitality, temperance, patience, and liberality; and others of the ecclesiastical sort, as aptness to teach, and that he should not be a novice in religion; and in general, that he should be a man of a blameless life, and of good report in the world, 1Ti 3:2-7, next an account is given of the qualifications of deacons; some which concern their moral character; others their soundness in the faith; and others their domestic affairs, and their conduct in their families; about which they should be first examined, before they were put into their office; the characters of their wives are also given; and for their encouragement in the faithful performance of their office, it is observed, that they hereby obtain a good degree of honour and boldness in the faith of Christ, 1Ti 3:8-13. And the end of the apostle's writing this epistle, and particularly of giving Timothy this account of the qualifications of the officers of the church of God, is, that he might know whom to appoint over it, and how to conduct himself in it; which he commends from its being the house of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and ground of truth, 1Ti 3:14,15. Of which truth he gives a summary, in several particulars of it, which open the great mystery of godliness, 1Ti 3:16.
Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
1 Timothy 3 Commentaries
People's New Testament
PLUS
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary
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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
Geneva Study Bible
PLUS
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
PLUS
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