1 Timothy 3:1-7

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 times the terms “bishop” and “presbyter” were applied to the same persons. Whether subsequent developments have any binding force for us may be left an open question. The R.V. indicates that there are two words in the original for “seeketh” and “desireth”—not one, as the A.V. might lead us to suppose. The former means “to stretch oneself out in order to grasp.”

1 Timothy 3:2. Blameless.—R.V. “without reproach.” Some think the term an agnostic one, signifying one who gives his adversary no hold upon him, applied here metaphorically to one who gives others no just cause to accuse him. Ellicott denies any but an ethical sense. The husband of one wife.—Full play is given to subjective interpretation on this passage. A bishop must have a wife, only one at a time, must not have a concubine, only a wife, and on the loss, even by death, of his wife must never have a second. Such are some of the interpretations. Vigilant.—R.V. better “temperate,” in its usual and literal meaning. Sober.—R.V. “sober-minded.” Of good behaviour.—R.V. “orderly.”

1 Timothy 3:3. Not given to wine.—R.V. “no brawler.” The A.V. margin indicates that it is not simply a liking for wine, but the quarrelsomeness of a man so addicted. Not greedy of filthy lucre.—Omitted in R.V. The idea comes in with the last word of the verse.

1 Timothy 3:4. One that ruleth well.—The management of his own household with dignity would be a recommendation to the oversight of a larger family.

1 Timothy 3:6. Not a novice.—Lit. “a neophyte”—one just born. Lest being lifted up.—“A beclouded and stupid state of mind must be associated with that of pride” (Ellicott). The condemnation of the devil.—Whose great sin was pride.

1 Timothy 3:7. A good report of them which are without.—How different this sounds from the Master’s “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you!” And yet how often has the world borne witness to a life of spotless humility!

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 1 Timothy 3:1

Qualifications of a New Testament Bishop.

I. He must be a man of upright and irreproachable life (1 Timothy 3:1).—The office of bishop or presbyter is a good work in itself, has to do specially with good things, and gives a signal opportunity of doing good to others. Speaking to Bishop Crowther, the first coloured bishop in connection with the Church of England, a clergyman said: “If a man desire the office of a bishop, what saith the word of God that he desireth?—a large income?—a palace?—to be called my lord? No—he desireth a good work. Work for Christ is the true honour of the bishop.” Such a man should possess both gifts and grace, and both in a high degree. The qualifications of a bishop are here given by the apostle in detail. “A bishop then must be blameless”—unexceptionable, giving no just handle for blame. “The husband of one wife.” The feeling which prevailed among the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, of that age against a second marriage would, on the ground of expediency and conciliation in matters indifferent and not involving compromise of principle, account for Paul’s prohibition here in the case of one in so prominent a sphere as a bishop or a deacon. “Vigilant, sober”—ever on the watch, as sober men alone can be—keenly alive, so as to foresee what ought to be done. “Of good behaviour”—orderly. “Sober” refers to the inward mind; orderly to the outward behaviour, tone, look, gait, dress. “Given to hospitality”—both to Christian brethren and to strangers. “Apt to teach.” They who labour in word and doctrine are counted worthy of double honour. “Not given to wine”—not merely drunkenness, but any intemperance in wine-drinking. The word also includes not indulging in the brawling, violent conduct towards others which proceeds from being given to wine. “Not covetous”—not a lover of money, whether we have much or little.

II. He must be a man showing the faculty of government in his own family.—“One that ruleth well his own house … for how shall he take care of the Church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:4). Presiding over his own children and servants, as contrasted with the house of God, which he may be called on to preside over. The fact that he has children, who are in subjection to him in all gravity and modesty, is the recommendation in his favour as one likely to rule well the Church. If he cannot perform the lesser function, how can he perform the greater and more difficult one?

III. He must be a man not raw and inexperienced in spiritual things.—“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). Not one just converted—a neophyte, a young plant, luxuriantly verdant—lest being lifted up with pride, being beclouded, darkened, befooled, inflated with self-conceit and exaggerated ideas of his own importance, he falls into the same condemnation as that in which Satan fell, who was condemned for his pride. The minister is emphatically the spiritual man, and should be deeply and experimentally acquainted with the mind of the Spirit and with spiritual things.

IV. He must be a man of unquestionable reputation.—“He must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:7). He should be blameless, not only in the eyes of the Church, but be esteemed for his moral worth and uprightness by the world. Not even the former life of a bishop should be open to reproach. The reproach continually surrounding him for former sins might lead him into the snare of becoming as bad as his reputation. Despair of recovering reputation might, in a weak moment, lead some into recklessness of living.

Lessons.—

1. The officers of the Church should be above reproach. 2. A bishop should be a competent leader of the Church. 3. Only the grace of God can make a true bishop.

GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES

1 Timothy 3:2. “Apt to teach.” The Pulpit a Light and Power.

I. To meet the claims of a good teacher one must be willing to learn.

II. We must have a lesson to impart.

III. One must be master of the lesson he would impart.

IV. A sacred enthusiasm is indispensable.

V. We must gather strength and success by prayer.

VI. Apt to teach has the element of faith.—Homiletic Monthly.

1 Timothy 3:4. Family Government—

I. Must be carried on in a religious spirit.

II. Is necessary in the proper training of children.

III. Is a preparation for higher ministerial duties.