Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 3

Introduction

Overview

1 Timothy 3:1, How bishops and deacons, and their wives should be qualified; 1 Timothy 3:14, and to what end Saint Paul wrote to Timothy of these things; 1 Timothy 3:15, Of the church, and the blessed truth therein taught and professed.

Verse 1

is a: 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11, Titus 3:8

the office: 1 Timothy 3:2-7, Acts 1:20, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 2:25

bishop: Acts 20:28, Hebrews 12:15, 1 Peter 4:15, 1 Peter 5:2,*Gr.

desireth: Proverbs 11:30, Luke 15:10, Romans 11:13, Ephesians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, James 5:19, James 5:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:3 - to do Deuteronomy 18:6 - and come with 1 Chronicles 15:16 - chief Matthew 26:10 - a good

Verse 2

bishop: Titus 1:6-9

blameless: 1 Timothy 3:10, Luke 1:6, Philippians 2:15

the husband: 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 5:9, Hebrews 3:14

vigilant: Isaiah 56:10, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8

of good behaviour: or, modest

given: Romans 12:13, Titus 1:8, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9

apt: 2 Timothy 2:24

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:17 - blemish Leviticus 21:18 - a blind man 2 Chronicles 15:3 - a teaching Ezra 7:10 - and to teach Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow Matthew 8:14 - wife's Luke 14:13 - call John 10:2 - he that Acts 20:28 - overseers Romans 12:7 - or he 1 Corinthians 9:5 - to lead Philippians 1:1 - the bishops Colossians 1:28 - teaching 1 Thessalonians 5:6 - sober 1 Timothy 3:11 - sober 1 Timothy 3:12 - General 1 Timothy 3:15 - know Titus 1:7 - a bishop Titus 2:2 - sober Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage

Verse 3

Not given to wine: or, Not ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine, 1 Timothy 3:8, Leviticus 10:9, Isaiah 5:11, Isaiah 5:12, Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 56:12, Ezekiel 44:21, Micah 2:11, Matthew 24:45-51, Luke 12:42-46, Luke 21:34-36, Ephesians 5:18, Titus 1:7, Titus 2:3

no: 2 Timothy 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 1:7

not greedy: Proverbs 1:19, Proverbs 15:27, Isaiah 56:11, Jude 1:11

filthy: 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Samuel 8:3, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2

patient: 1 Timothy 6:11, Ecclesiastes 7:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:24, Revelation 1:9

a brawler: Titus 3:2, James 4:1, *marg.

not covetous: 1 Samuel 2:15-17, 2 Kings 5:20-27, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Micah 3:5, Micah 3:11, Malachi 1:10, Matthew 21:13, John 10:12, John 10:13, John 12:5, John 12:6, Acts 8:18-21, Acts 20:33, Romans 16:18, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, Revelation 18:11-13

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:21 - hating Leviticus 21:18 - a blind man Judges 18:4 - hired me Nehemiah 6:12 - hired him Isaiah 23:17 - and she shall Ezekiel 22:12 - greedily Ezekiel 44:15 - the sons Matthew 26:15 - What 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or covetous Ephesians 4:31 - clamour Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 5:23 - General 1 Timothy 6:5 - supposing Hebrews 13:5 - conversation

Verse 4

ruleth: 1 Timothy 3:12, Genesis 18:19, Joshua 24:15, Psalms 101:2-8, Acts 10:2, Titus 1:6

with: Philippians 4:8,*Gr: Titus 2:2, Titus 2:7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:9 - the daughter Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow Malachi 2:15 - That he Mark 10:45 - and to Romans 12:8 - ruleth Ephesians 5:21 - submitting 1 Timothy 3:8 - be 1 Timothy 3:11 - be Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage

Verse 5

if: 1 Samuel 2:29, 1 Samuel 2:30, 1 Samuel 3:13

the church: 1 Timothy 3:15, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 5:24, Ephesians 5:32

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:19 - command Leviticus 21:9 - the daughter 1 Kings 13:11 - came Psalms 101:2 - walk Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow Malachi 2:15 - That he Matthew 16:18 - my Romans 12:8 - ruleth 1 Corinthians 7:34 - careth 1 Corinthians 10:32 - the church 1 Corinthians 11:22 - or 2 Corinthians 7:12 - that our 1 Timothy 3:12 - General 1 Timothy 5:17 - rule Titus 1:6 - having Hebrews 12:23 - the general Hebrews 13:7 - which

Verse 6

novice: or, one newly come to the faith, 1 Corinthians 3:1, Hebrews 5:12, Hebrews 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2

lest: Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 17:20, 2 Kings 14:10, 2 Chronicles 26:16, 2 Chronicles 32:25, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 16:19, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 29:23, Isaiah 2:12, 1 Corinthians 4:6-8, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 5:5

the condemnation: Isaiah 14:12-14, Luke 10:18, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:3 - thirty years Numbers 4:35 - General Ezekiel 28:2 - Because Daniel 5:23 - lifted Daniel 11:12 - his heart Matthew 4:9 - if Matthew 13:52 - scribe 1 Corinthians 4:1 - the ministers Ephesians 4:14 - tossed 1 Timothy 3:10 - let these 1 Timothy 5:22 - suddenly 1 Timothy 6:4 - He Revelation 12:9 - the Devil

Verse 7

a good: 1 Timothy 5:24, 1 Timothy 5:25, 1 Samuel 2:24, Acts 6:3, Acts 10:22, Acts 22:12, 3 John 1:12

them: 1 Corinthians 5:12, Colossians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:12

lest: 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 2 Corinthians 6:3, 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Titus 2:5, Titus 2:8, 1 Peter 4:14-16

the snare: 1 Timothy 6:9, 2 Timothy 2:26

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:18 - a blind man Job 18:8 - he is cast Psalms 119:39 - Turn Mark 4:11 - them Acts 16:2 - was 2 Corinthians 6:8 - evil Philippians 4:8 - are of 1 Timothy 5:10 - reported Revelation 12:9 - the Devil

Verse 8

the deacons: Acts 6:3-6, Philippians 1:1

be: 1 Timothy 3:4

doubletongued: Psalms 5:9, Psalms 12:2, Psalms 50:19, Psalms 52:2, Romans 3:13, James 3:10

not given: 1 Timothy 3:3, Leviticus 10:9, Ezekiel 44:21

Reciprocal: Isaiah 23:17 - and she shall Isaiah 56:11 - they are John 10:12 - he that Ephesians 5:32 - a great Philippians 4:8 - honest 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 6:5 - supposing Titus 1:7 - not given to filthy Titus 2:2 - grave Titus 2:3 - false accusers 1 Peter 5:2 - not for 2 Peter 2:3 - through

Verse 9

Holding: 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:19

the mystery: 1 Timothy 3:16, 2 John 1:9, 2 John 1:10

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:11 - mysteries Acts 24:16 - General 1 Corinthians 4:1 - mysteries 1 Corinthians 14:2 - howbeit Ephesians 3:4 - the mystery

Verse 10

let these: 1 Timothy 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:22, 1 John 4:1

use: 1 Timothy 3:13, Acts 6:1, Acts 6:2

being: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Colossians 1:22, Titus 1:6, Titus 1:7

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 13:13 - counted Acts 6:3 - honest Romans 16:10 - approved Philippians 1:1 - and deacons Philippians 2:15 - blameless

Verse 11

their: Leviticus 21:7, Leviticus 21:13-15, Ezekiel 44:22, Luke 1:5-6, Titus 2:3

be: 1 Timothy 3:4

not: Psalms 15:3, Psalms 50:20, Psalms 101:5, Proverbs 10:18, Proverbs 25:13, Jeremiah 9:4, Matthew 4:1, John 6:70, 2 Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:3,*Gr: Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:10

sober: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 2 Timothy 4:5, Titus 3:2,*Gr: 1 Peter 5:8

faithful: 1 Timothy 1:12, 1 Timothy 6:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:16 - talebearer Ezra 10:18 - the sons Malachi 2:15 - That he Galatians 5:22 - faith Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking Philippians 4:8 - honest Titus 2:2 - sober James 4:11 - Speak 1 Peter 2:1 - all evil

Verse 12

1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:19 - command Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow Malachi 2:15 - That he Philippians 1:1 - and deacons 1 Timothy 5:9 - having Titus 1:6 - the husband Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage

Verse 13

they: Matthew 25:21, Luke 16:10-12, Luke 19:17

used: or, ministered, Matthew 20:28, Romans 12:7, Romans 12:8, 1 Corinthians 16:15, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11

degree: Acts 21:35,*Gr.

great: Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Acts 6:15, Acts 7:1-53, Philippians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:1

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 3:12 - plainness 1 Timothy 3:10 - use

Verse 14

hoping: 1 Timothy 4:13, 1 Corinthians 11:34, 1 Corinthians 16:5-7, 2 Corinthians 1:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Philemon 1:22, Hebrews 13:23, 2 John 1:12, 3 John 1:14

Reciprocal: 1 John 2:1 - these Revelation 1:20 - and the

Verse 15

know: 1 Timothy 3:2, Deuteronomy 31:23, 1 Kings 2:2, 1 Kings 2:4, 1 Chronicles 22:13, 1 Chronicles 28:9-21, Acts 1:2

the house: Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 2:22, 2 Timothy 2:20, Hebrews 3:2-6, 1 Peter 2:5

the church: 1 Timothy 3:5

the living: 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 Timothy 6:16, Deuteronomy 5:26, Joshua 3:10, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Kings 19:4, Psalms 42:2, Psalms 84:2, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 23:36, Daniel 6:26, Hosea 1:10, Matthew 16:16, John 6:69, Acts 14:15, Romans 9:26, 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 7:2

the pillar: Jeremiah 1:18, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18, Romans 3:2, Galatians 2:9

ground: or, stay

the truth: 1 Timothy 3:16, John 1:17, John 14:6, John 18:37, 2 Corinthians 6:7, Galatians 3:1, Ephesians 4:21, Colossians 1:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:17 - the house Exodus 35:35 - the cunning Exodus 40:18 - and fastened Numbers 12:7 - faithful Numbers 18:5 - And ye Proverbs 9:1 - builded Song of Solomon 1:17 - beams Song of Solomon 3:10 - General Isaiah 56:5 - will I Ezekiel 44:24 - they shall keep Ezekiel 48:15 - for the city Zechariah 14:21 - in the Matthew 13:52 - scribe Luke 12:42 - ruler Acts 20:28 - the church 1 Corinthians 1:2 - the church 1 Corinthians 3:9 - ye are God's building 1 Corinthians 10:32 - the church 1 Corinthians 11:22 - or Ephesians 1:22 - to the 1 Timothy 4:13 - I come 1 Timothy 6:17 - the living Hebrews 3:6 - whose Hebrews 10:21 - the house

Verse 16

without: Hebrews 7:7

the mystery: 1 Timothy 3:9, Matthew 13:11, Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:3-9, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Revelation 17:5, Revelation 17:7

God: Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 23:6, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:23, John 1:1, John 1:2, John 1:14, Acts 20:28, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:5, 1 Corinthians 15:47, Galatians 4:4, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 1:16-18, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 2:9-13, 1 John 1:2, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18

manifest: Gr. manifested, 1 John 3:5

justified: Isaiah 50:5-7, Matthew 3:16, John 1:32, John 1:33, John 15:26, John 16:8, John 16:9, Acts 2:32-36, Romans 1:3, Romans 1:4, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 5:6-8

seen: Psalms 68:17, Psalms 68:18, Matthew 4:11, Matthew 28:2, Mark 1:13, Mark 16:5, Luke 2:10-14, Luke 22:43, Luke 24:4, John 20:12, Acts 1:10, Acts 1:11, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:12

preached: Luke 2:32, Acts 10:34, Acts 13:46-48, Romans 10:12, Romans 10:18, Galatians 2:8, Ephesians 3:5-8, Colossians 1:27

believed: Acts 14:27, Colossians 1:6, Colossians 1:23, Revelation 7:9

received: Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, John 6:62, John 13:3, John 16:28, John 17:5, Acts 1:1-9, Acts 1:19, Ephesians 4:8-10, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:14 - In Exodus 37:9 - cherubims spread Psalms 45:6 - O God Psalms 47:5 - God Song of Solomon 1:17 - beams Song of Solomon 3:10 - General Song of Solomon 5:15 - as Lebanon Song of Solomon 8:1 - that thou Isaiah 12:2 - God Isaiah 32:2 - a man Isaiah 40:9 - Behold Isaiah 44:6 - beside Isaiah 50:8 - near that Isaiah 64:4 - have not Haggai 2:9 - glory Zechariah 12:8 - the house Matthew 13:52 - scribe Matthew 22:45 - how Mark 12:11 - General Mark 12:37 - and whence Luke 1:1 - those Luke 2:9 - lo Luke 8:10 - Unto Luke 9:51 - that Luke 18:19 - General Luke 20:44 - how John 1:51 - and the John 3:12 - heavenly John 10:30 - General John 16:10 - righteousness John 20:28 - My Lord Acts 1:2 - the day 1 Corinthians 4:1 - mysteries 1 Corinthians 13:2 - understand 1 Corinthians 14:2 - howbeit 2 Corinthians 5:19 - God Ephesians 3:4 - the mystery Ephesians 3:9 - fellowship Ephesians 3:18 - able Ephesians 4:10 - ascended Ephesians 5:32 - a great Philippians 1:15 - preach Colossians 1:28 - Whom Colossians 2:9 - in 1 Timothy 1:4 - godly 1 Timothy 3:15 - the truth 1 Timothy 4:7 - exercise 2 Timothy 3:12 - live Titus 1:1 - after Hebrews 1:8 - O God Hebrews 2:14 - he also Hebrews 5:7 - the Hebrews 6:1 - principles of the doctrine Hebrews 10:5 - but Hebrews 10:20 - his 2 Peter 1:6 - godliness 2 Peter 3:11 - godliness 1 John 4:2 - come 1 John 5:20 - This is 2 John 1:7 - who