1 Timothy 3:2-12

2 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

4 one that ruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, 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 serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

11 Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well.

1 Timothy 3:2-12 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.