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 office in the Church, the ἐπίσκοποι (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and the διάκονοι (1 Timothy 3:8-13). The significance of these terms, as used in the Pastoral Epistles, has been dealt with in the Introduction, chap. V. It seems clear that they are used here in an official sense, and further, from the manner in which the qualifications of the ἐπίσκοποι and διάκονοι are discussed, that the instructions relate to officials whose existence in the Church is well established and of considerable standing.

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Old Testament