1 Timothy 3:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1

The apostle, having in the previous chapter regulated the worship of the congregation and placed it in the hands of men, not women, now proceeds to describe the qualifications of the pastors of congregations, as if to imply that the pastorate did not belong to all men. I. THE OFFICE OF PASTOR IS A GOOD WORK . "Faithful is the saying, If any one seeketh the office of pastor [or, 'bishop'], he desireth a good work." 1. The office in question was held by persons called... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-13

I. QUALIFICATIONS OF A BISHOP . Preliminary direction to Timothy . "Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." The Scripture idea of the episcopate is that of oversight , viz. of souls. A bishop was one who had the duty of overseeing a congregation in spiritual matters, being, in respect of gravity and dignity, called presbyter or elder. Timothy was to encourage any who sought to enter into the episcopate. The saying in Christian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

It was one of the weightiest duties laid upon Timothy, when called to be the spiritual ruler of the Church of Ephesus, to take care that the priests and deacons were men well qualified for their holy office. The condition of a congregation depends so largely upon the spiritual character of those who minister to it, that the choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of God's Church is a matter of vital importance to the welfare of the people, and demands the utmost wisdom and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1

This is a trite saying - Greek, “Faithful is the word” - the very phrase which is used in 1 Timothy 1:15; see the notes on that verse. The idea here is, that it was worthy of credence; it was not to be doubted.If a man desire - Implying that there would be those who would wish to be put into the ministry. The Lord, undoubtedly, by his Spirit, often excites an earnest and irrepressible desire to preach the gospel - a desire so strong, that he in whom it exists can be satisfied in no other... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Timothy 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1. Because some false teachers were now spreading their erroneous doctrines with assiduity among the believers at Ephesus, and it was necessary that Timothy (to whom the care of the church there was committed) should be assisted by some bishops, or elders, and deacons, well qualified to teach the people, the apostle, after observing what an honourable office that of a Christian bishop is, here describes the qualities and virtues necessary in one who desires to attain it. This is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Elders and deacons (3:1-13)Churches of the New Testament era were self-governing bodies that were independent of each other and under the control of local elders. Elders were also known as shepherds, overseers, guardians, leaders and bishops, but these names represent only two words in the original Greek, presbuteroi and episkopoi.These two Greek words refer to the same office and people. For example (in the words of the RSV), in Acts 20:17 Paul sent for the elders (presbuteroi) of the Ephesian... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Timothy 3:1

true = faithful. App-150 . See 1 Timothy 1:16 . saying. App-121 . If a man = lf ( App-118 . a) any one ( App-123 .) desire . Greek. oregomai , Here, 1 Timothy 6:10 , Hebrews 11:16 . the office , &c. Greek. episkepe . See Acts 1:20 . desireth . Greek. epithemeo , as Hebrews 6:11 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1

This great chapter conveys the apostolic instructions relative to the appointment of elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13), concluding with a marvelous Christological passage regarding the mystery of redemption (1 Timothy 3:14-16).Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)Faithful is the saying ... Despite the fact of some scholars applying this remark to the conclusion of the previous chapter it would be more appropriately... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1

1. Translate as Greek, "Faithful is the saying." A needful preface to what follows: for the office of a bishop or overseer in Paul's day, attended as it was with hardship and often persecution, would not seem to the world generally a desirable and "good work." desire—literally, "stretch one's self forward to grasp"; "aim at": a distinct Greek verb from that for "desireth." What one does voluntarily is more esteemed than what he does when asked (1 Corinthians 16:15). This is utterly distinct... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Timothy 3:1

Paul cited another well-known saying (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15) to introduce and give support to what he was about to teach."Overseer" (Gr. episkopes) is a term that emphasizes this leader’s leadership and management responsibilities and is evidently synonymous with "elder" (presbuteros; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:1) and "pastor" or "shepherd" (poimen; Ephesians 4:11). Paul used the term "elder" more frequently, so I have chosen to use it in commenting on this pericope. At the time Paul wrote the... read more

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