1 Timothy 3:1-13

Overseers and Deacons

1 1It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the 2office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 3An overseer, then, must be above reproach, 4the husband of one wife, 5temperate, prudent, respectable, 6hospitable, 7able to teach,
3 8not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, 9free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who 10manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of 11the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so * that he will not become 12conceited and fall into the 13condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must 14have a good reputation with 15those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and 16the snare of the devil.
8 17Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, 18or addicted to much wine 19or fond of sordid gain,
9 20but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 21These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 Women must likewise be dignified, 22not malicious gossips, but 23temperate, faithful in all things.
12 24Deacons must be 25husbands of only one wife, and 26good managers of their children and their own households.
13 For those who have served well as deacons 27obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 27

  • 1. 1 Timothy 1:15
  • 2. Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1
  • 3. 1 Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 1:6-8
  • 4. Luke 2:36; 1 Timothy 5:9; Titus 1:6
  • 5. 1 Timothy 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2
  • 6. Romans 12:13; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9
  • 7. 2 Timothy 2:24
  • 8. Titus 1:7
  • 9. 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 6:10; Titus 1:7; Hebrews 13:5
  • 10. 1 Timothy 3:12
  • 11. 1 Corinthians 10:32; 1 Timothy 3:15
  • 12. 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:4
  • 13. 1 Timothy 3:7
  • 14. 2 Corinthians 8:21
  • 15. Mark 4:11
  • 16. 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26
  • 17. Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:12
  • 18. 1 Timothy 5:23; Titus 2:3
  • 19. 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2
  • 20. 1 Timothy 1:5, 19
  • 21. 1 Timothy 5:22
  • 22. 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3
  • 23. 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 24. Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8
  • 25. 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 26. 1 Timothy 3:4
  • 27. Matthew 25:21

Footnotes 10

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