1 Timothy 3:1 - Exposition

Faithful is the saying for this is a true saying , A.V.; seeketh for desire , A.V. Faithful is the saying (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15 , note). This manifestly refers to what follows, not, as Chrysostom and others, and margin of the R.V., to the saying which precedes, in 1 Timothy 2:15 . Seeketh ( ὀρέγεται ); literally, stretches out his hands after . It is peculiar in the New Testament to the pastoral Epistles and the Epistle to the Hebrews, though common in classical Greek (see 1 Timothy 6:10 ; Hebrews 11:16 ). The noun ὔρεξις , appetite, desire (which is found several times in the LXX .), is used once by St. Paul ( Romans 1:27 ). The office of a bishop ; meaning here, as everywhere else in Scripture, that of a presbyter, or priest. ἐπισκοπή , in the sense of "the episcopate," occurs only here and Acts 1:20 , where it is rendered "bishopric" in the A.V., and "overseer-ship" in the margin of the R.V., being the translation in the LXX . of Psalms 108:1-13 . (109., A.V.) of the Hebrew וֹתדָקֻףְ , "his office." Elsewhere ( Luke 19:44 ; 1 Peter 2:12 ; 1 Peter 5:6 ) it means "visitation." But ἐπίσκοπος , "bishop" ( Psalms 108:2 )—except in 1 Peter 2:25 , where it is applied to Christ—always means the overseer of the particular flock,—the presbyter ( Acts 20:28 ; Philippians 1:1 ; Titus 1:7 ); and ἐπισκοπεῖν the functions of such ἐπίσκοπος ( 1 Peter 5:2 compared with 1). It was not till the sub-apostolic age that the name of ἐπίσκοπος was confined to the chief overseer who had " priests and deacons" under him, as Timothy and Titus had. Possibly this application of the word arose from the visits of the apostles, and afterwards of men sent by the apostles, as Timothy and Titus, Tychicus and Artemas , were, to visit the Churches, being occasional and temporary only, as those of Visitors. For such occasional visitation is implied in the verb ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ( Matthew 25:36 , Matthew 25:43 ; Luke 1:68 , Luke 1:78 ; Acts 7:23 ; Acts 15:36 ; James 1:27 ). Afterwards, when the wants of the Churches required permanent oversight, the name ἐπίσκοπος —vescovo (It.), eueque (Fr.), bischof (Get.), bisceop (A.S.), aipiskaupus (Moeso-Goth.), etc.—became universal for the chief overseer of the Church. A good work ( καλοῦ ἔργου , not ἀγαθοῦ , as verse 10). καλού means "honourable," "becoming," "beneficial," and the like.