1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for bishops  1
Qualifications for deacons  8
Marvelous Christ 14
Text Comments
.1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
.2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
.3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; (NKJV)
 4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
 5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
 6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
.7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
  1 - If a man  Concerning women in church leadership, see on 1co1105. "Man" here is not generic as we can see from v2.
  1 -Bishop The word has taken a little different meaning than is intended here where it means "overseer." We all should strive for the kind of behavior on Paul's list.
  2 - Sober From Greek nephalios meaning abstaining from fermented wine. (The Greek word for wine, oinos, may also mean grape juice jn0203.)
  3 - Not given to wine me paroion. This appears to mean "not an alcoholic." It has been argued that Paul condones moderate drinking and that nephalios in v2 must be only a metaphor. Instead it is a stronger admonition meaning "not (from Greek me) 'near' or 'involving' (par) wine (oinos)." The charge is for church leaders to stay away from places where alcohol is served or sold and from people who are drinking. Compare pr2331, 1co0511. For more on abstinence see 1pe0113. And the wedding at Canaan jn02.
.8 ¶ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
 9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
.10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
 11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
 12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
 13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  8 - Deacons This term originally implied more responsibility than we might think of ac0602.
  8 - Not given to much wine It appears that a little is okay. This commentary disagrees. Abstinence is intended as noted above for v3.
  9 - Mystery ... faith Compare ro1125.
.14 ¶ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
.15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
.16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
  15 - Behave thyself How often today entertainment has replaced reverence in the houses of worship dedicated to God.
  15 - Church Notice that behavior is important and that the church was the strength of truth jn1717.
  16 - Mystery Godliness is a mystery for humans like you and me who have natural sinful tendencies je1709. So how can we comply with God's requirements? Jesus was born of the Spirit lu0135. We may be born again (every day) jn0303. We may receive a portion of His nature and resist temptations as He did 2pe0104! We copy the pattern. We can't duplicate it and have all the fullness of the Godhead co0209. We can be perfect within our sphere.
  16 - Received up Who or what was "received"? We see the divinity of Jesus confirmed ac0109.
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