This is a true saying
Some think this clause belongs to the last verse of the preceding
chapter; and then the sense is, this is a doctrine that is true,
and to be believed, that there is salvation through the birth of
a Son, or through the incarnate Son of God, for men and women
that believe in him, and continue in the faith of him, and love
to him, joined with works of righteousness and holiness. And so
the same phrase seems to belong to what goes before in ( 1 Timothy
4:8 1 Timothy
4:9 ) ( 2 Timothy
2:10 2 Timothy
2:11 ) . Though it regards what follows in ( 1 Timothy
1:15 ) and so it seems that it should be considered here; and
is used to excite attention, and suggests that what was about to
be said was of moment and importance, and what was without
controversy, and unquestionably true. The apostle, having denied
to women the work and office of teaching, proceeds to observe,
that though this belonged to men, yet not to every man; and
therefore he gives the qualifications of such; which might serve
as a direction to churches, in the choice of them; as well as be
a means of stirring up persons in such an office, to a proper
regard to themselves and their work:
if a man desire the office of a bishop;
which is the same with that of a pastor or elder; and so here the
Syriac version renders it, "if a man desires presbytery, or
eldership"; and it lies in preaching the word, administering the
ordinances of the Gospel, and taking care of the discipline of
the church, and in the visiting, inspection, and oversight of it;
as the word (episkoph) ,
"episcopacy", here used, signifies; and this work and office may
be lawfully and laudably desired, with a view to the glory of
God, and the good of immortal souls. Nor should any undertake it,
but such who find in themselves an hearty desire, and inclination
to it, on such principles, and a real delight and pleasure in it;
and such an one
he desireth a good work:
the office of a bishop, elder, or pastor of a church, "is a
work", and a very laborious one; wherefore such are called
labourers in the word and doctrine: it is not a mere title of
honour, and a place of profit, but it is a business of labour and
care; yet a good one, a famous and excellent one; it being an
employment in things of the greatest excellency in themselves,
and of the greatest usefulness for the good of men, and the
honour of God; as the doctrines, ordinances, and discipline of
the Gospel; and so must be excellently, honestly, pleasantly, and
profitably a good work.