Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 3

Verse 2

Blameless ; of irreproachable character.

Vigilant ; watchful and circumspect in his deportment and office.

Sober ; sober-minded, properly regulating his appetites and passions.

Of good behavior ; orderly and decorous in all his deportment.

Verse 3

Greedy of filthy lucre ; that is, of gain obtained by base arts and employments.

Verse 4

With all gravity ; with reverent and decorous deportment in all things. The words refer to the deportment of his children. It is proper that a bishop as a minister of the gospel should be married: and if married, he should with discretion and fidelity discharge the various duties of the head of a family; especially should he set an example of good family government, and train up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Verse 6

A novice ; one recently converted, who has but little knowledge of Christian doctrines and duties, and has not yet become fully established in the faith.

The condemnation of the devil ; that which befell him for his pride.

Verse 7

Have a good report ; be of unblemished reputation in view not only of Christians, but of others.

The snare of the devil ; which he sets by tempting men so to act as to injure themselves and the cause of religion. As the work of a bishop is sacred and momentous, it should be undertaken only by those who, by a course of good conduct, have formed the character and secured the reputation, in the church and in the world, of being good men; free from the imputation of vice, meanness, sensual indulgence, or love of money; men who have knowledge, and are able and willing to teach; who are patterns of what is upright and honorable, lovely, and of good report.

Verse 8

Grave ; dignified and decorous in their deportment.

Double - tongued ; deceitful, saying one thing and doing or meaning another.

Verse 9

The mystery of the faith ; the doctrines of the gospel, so called because they are addressed to our faith, and are a revelation of truths undiscoverable by the light of human reason.

In a pure conscience ; a conscience not defiled by indulgence in sinful practices. The deacons must be sound in daily life, as well as in faith.

Verse 10

Proved ; tried in regard to their previous Christian life, and their qualifications for the office.

Verse 11

Must their wives be grave ; in selecting deacons, regard must be had to the character of their wives, for they will greatly help or hinder their husbands in their work. But many prefer to render, "must the women be grave"; that is, those selected to be deaconesses.

Verse 13

A good degree ; a good standing in the church of Christ, enlarged influence and means of usefulness.

Great boldness in the faith ; in professing and maintaining the faith.

Verse 14

The office work of both bishops and deacons is such, that their comfort and success in it depend much on the character and conduct of their wives. These should be pious, prudent, and discrect, especially in the use of the tongue; and say nothing which is suited to do evil to themselves or others. They should also be one in judgment and effort with their husbands in governing their children, and examples of wisdom and energy, patience and kindness, in all their concerns.

Verse 15

In the house of God ; in conducting the affairs of the church.

Pillar and ground of the truth ; the church is the means of sustaining, extending, and perpetuating the saving knowledge of divine truth among men. The cordial reception of the great truths of the gospel, especially those which relate to the character, work, and glory of Christ, is the means of true godliness; and the church is God’s institution to maintain those truths, perpetuate a knowledge of them, and extend them through the world.

Verse 16

The mystery of godliness ; that great mystery of the manifestation of God in human nature, of which the apostle proceeds to speak. It is a mystery, as having been hitherto hidden in the secret counsels of God; and the mystery of godliness, as having godliness for its end in all that believe.

God was manifest in the flesh ; compare John 1:14 , "And the Word was made flesh"-the same Word which was in the beginning with God, and was God, verse 1 Timothy 3:1 .

Justified in the Spirit ; shown to be just in his claims as the Messiah, by the Holy Ghost, given to him without measure, and working in and by him with divine power.

Seen of angels ; who ministered to him and worshipped him, even in his deepest humiliation. Hebrews 1:6 .

Preached unto the Gentiles ; to all nations as the almighty and only Saviour.

Believed on ; by multitudes of Jews and Gentiles.

Received up into glory ; where he ever lives to make intercession for all who come unto God by him. Hebrews 7:25 .