A bishop then must be blameless
Or "an elder", as the Syriac version renders it; not that it can
be expected that such an one should be entirely free from sin, or
be blameless in the sight of God; but that he should be one, who
is so before men, and has not been guilty of any notorious and
flagitious crime; and particularly, is not chargeable with the
vices hereafter mentioned or hinted at. So the priests under the
law were to be without blemish, even in their bodies, ( Leviticus
21:17-23 ) to which the apostle may here allude.
The husband of one wife;
which is not to be understood in a mystical and allegorical sense
of his being the pastor of one church, since the apostle
afterwards speaks of his house and children, that are to be ruled
and kept in good order by him, in distinction from the church of
God; but in a literal sense of his conjugal estate; though this
rule does not make it necessary that he should have a wife; or
that he should not marry, or not have married a second wife,
after the death of the first; only if he marries or is married,
that he should have but one wife at a time; so that this rule
excludes all such persons from being elders, or pastors, or
overseers of churches, that were "polygamists"; who had more
wives than one at a time, or had divorced their wives, and not
for adultery, and had married others. Now polygamy and divorces
had very much obtained among the Jews; nor could the believing
Jews be easily and at once brought off of them. And though they
were not lawful nor to be allowed of in any; yet they were
especially unbecoming and scandalous in officers of churches. So
the high priest among the Jews, even when polygamy was in use,
might not marry, or have two wives, at once; if he did, he could
not minister in his office until he divorced one of them
F21. For it is written, ( Leviticus
21:13 ) , "he shall take a wife", (Mytv alw txa) , "one, and not two" F23. And
the same that is said of the high priest, is said of all other
priests; see ( Ezekiel
44:22 ) , likewise the Egyptian priests might not marry more
wives than one, though others might have as many as they pleased
F24: and so the Flamines among the
Romans F25. An elder or pastor must also be
one that is
vigilant;
or wakeful and watchful, who is diligent in his business, and
attends to his care and charge; is watchful over himself, his
words, and actions; and watches for the souls of men, to do them
all the good he can; and is sober in body, is temperate, and uses
moderation in eating and drinking; and in mind, is modest,
humble, and prudent; and so the Vulgate Latin Version renders the
word "prudent": and the Ethiopic version, "a wise man", one of a
sound judgment, a good understanding, and prudent conduct; is not
wise above what is written, but thinks soberly of himself, as he
ought. The Syriac and Arabic versions render it, "chaste", as
free from intemperance, so from uncleanness: and
of good behaviour:
neat and decent in his apparel; modest in his whole deportment
and conduct, and affable and courteous to all; beautiful in his
life and conversation, being adorned with every thing that is
graceful and comely:
given to hospitality:
to the love of strangers, and to the entertainment of them; and
especially the saints and fellow ministers, who are exiled, or
are travelling for the sake of spreading the Gospel, or upon some
lawful and laudable account. These he is to assist by his advice
and counsel, and with the necessaries of life, according to his
abilities. Abraham and Lot are noted instances of this virtue.
Apt to teach;
who has a considerable store of knowledge; is capable of
interpreting the Scripture to the edification of others; is able
to explain, lay open, and illustrate the truths of the Gospel,
and defend them, and refute error; and who is not only able, but
ready and willing, to communicate to others what he knows; and
who likewise has utterance of speech, the gift of elocution and
can convey his ideas of things in plain and easy language, in apt
and acceptable words; for otherwise it signifies not what a man
knows, unless he has a faculty of communicating it to others, to
their understanding and advantage.
F21 Maimon. lssurc Bia, c. 7. sect. 13. & Cele Hamikdash. c. 5. sect. 10.
F23 T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 59. 1.
F24 Diodor. Sicul. l. 1. p. 51. vide Tertull. de monogamia, c. 17. & Exhort. castitat. c. 13.
F25 Alex. ab. Alex. Genial Dier. l. 6. c. 12.