1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:1

A True saying] Gr. faithfull. See 1 Timothy 1:15.

If a man desire] Not ambitiously affect, but finds in himself a fitnesse and willingnesse to take upon him that office, moved thereunto by a holy and sincere affection to consecrate himself unto God in the service of his Church, and to employ and improve there those gifts which he hath received of him for the edification of Gods people.

a bishop] That is, the office of an over-seer; which word may either have relation to the flock of Christ onely, and in that sense it belongeth to all Pastours who have cure of souls: Or, to the Pastours themselves also, as well as the flock; and in that sense antiquitie hath appropriated, the word to signifie the chief Presbyter, or Minister, who had a superintendence over a whole Church comprised withn a Citie, or Diocesse, in which there were divers inferiour Pastours. See the note upon Philippians 1:1.

a good work] See 1 Thessalonians 5:13.

1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop, &c.] See Tit. 1. 6, &c.

blamelesse] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth not faultlesse, for there are no such in the world, but such a one who hath not been, or cannot be appeached with any crime, a man of an unoffensive life, a man that is not attained with any common blemish, 1 Corinthians 1:8. Luke 1:6.

the husband of one wife] He that is to be chosen a Bishop must not necessarily be a married man, but necessarily be no polygamist; that is, such a one who hath been husband but of one wife at once, Hicron. Epist. 82. c. 2. For though polygamie were a common practise among the Jews, yet it was ever held a scandall and a brand among Christians: therefore none who had that brand upon him ought to be chosen either Bishop, or Deacon, vers. 12.

of good behaviour] Or, modest.

apt to teach] Not onely endued with sufficient knowledge to teach, but such as are willing and ready upon all occasions to instruct the people of God.

1 Timothy 3:3

Not given to wine] Or, not ready to quarrell and offer wrong, as one that is in wine.

filthy lucre] Her forbiddeth in a Bishop not onely covetousnesse, which is afterwards taxed, but the taking of any base course, or using any unworthy means to improve his estate: in which kind the Bishops of Rome of all other are most notoriously faultie, who make a gain of all sorts of sinne, even those that are not to be named among Christians.

not covetous] Gr. not a lover of silver.

1 Timothy 3:4

gravitie] Gr. comclinesse.

1 Timothy 3:6

a novice] Or, one newly come to the faith.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Not a man newly plated, or engrassed into Christ by baptisme; or not such a one who hath newly entered into the studie of Divinitie.

lifted up] Gr. puffed up, or swollen with.

fall into the condemnation of the devill] Lest by reason of his sudden advancement to the degree, he take occasion to be proud, which will undo him, and so he fall into the same condemnation that the devill himself is fallen into. Or lest he be subject to the censure of calumniating persons.

1 Timothy 3:8

grave] Or, honest.

1 Timothy 3:9

Holding the mystery of the faith] Either deeper and more abstruse and hidden points of saving knowledge; or in generall the doctrine of the Gospel which is a mysterie indeed, for flesh and bloud cannot reveale it unto us, nor can the most learned perfectly comprehend it, 1 Corinthians 2:7.

1 Timothy 3:10

use the office of a deacon, being] Or, minister, and being.

1 Timothy 3:11

grave] Or, honest; or, modest.

1 Timothy 3:12

deacous be the husbands] See vers. 2.

1 Timothy 3:13

used the office] Or, ministred.

good degree] Deservedly obtain the honour to be preferred to an higher office in the Church.

boldnesse in the faith] Or, libertie of speech. Greater courage and holy boldnesse in the profession of the Gospel: for the testimonie of a good conscience, and the faithfull discharge of the ministery makes a man bold as a lion, wheras the contrary stops a mans mouth, and makes him a coward in Christs quarrell.

1 Timothy 3:14

shortly Gr. sooner.

1 Timothy 3:15

house of God] As the Catholike Church is as it were the whole house of God; so every particular Church, as this Ephesus was, in which Timothie resided, was a part thereof, and by a Syneedoche may be called the house of God, because God dwelleth therein by his word and Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:16. Heb. 3. 5, 6.

the living God] See Romans 9:26. 2 Corinthians 3:3. 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

pillar and ground of the truth] Or, stay. Some referre these words to them that follow. vers. 16. and thus make the construction. The pillar and ground of truth, and without controversie great is the mystery of godlinesse, viz. God, &c. Others referre them to the words immediately going before, the house of god, which is called the pillar and ground of truth in respect of the profession, and maintenance of the true religion of God, which it both supporteth as a pillar, and maketh it openly known to others, as the Magistrates used to hang and affix their Orders and Proclamations or pillars, or others places of strength and firmnesse; and here consequently is declared the office and dutie of the Church in publishing the same truth, and defending it against all errours, contradictions, and corruptions whatsoever. Or it may be referred to Timothie, as it is by divers of the Ancients, and read, he being a pillar and upholder of the truth, Galatians 2:9. Revelation 3:12.

1 Timothy 3:16

mysterie of godlinesse] Not barely of ceremonies, as were those mysteries of the law Moses, nor of vain and profane superstitions, as those of the Gentiles; but most holy indeed and truly religious, whereby God is served in spirit and truth.

God] That is, the eternall Sonne of God, as the word is taken, John 1:1. Acts 20:28. Romans 9:5.

was manifest] Made his Divinitie known, Luke 24:19. John 1:14.

in the flesh] That is, in the humane nature which he assumed into the unitie of his person, John 1:14. Romans 1:3. Hebrews 2:14.

justified in the Spirit] In or by the Spirit, which is to be understood of the divine nature of Christ, whereby he hath raised himself again from the dead; and consequently also was approved to be righteous and innocent, notwithstanding he was condemned both by Jews and Gentiles as a malefactour. Or declared to be the Sonne of God, Romans 1:4.

seen of angels] As of the Messengers and Ministers, both at his nativitie, Luke 2:14. and at his temptation, Matthew 4:11. and at his passon, Luke 22:43. and at his resurrection, Luke 24:4. and at his ascension, Acts 1:10.

preached unto the Gentiles] Gr. among.

received up into glory] To the right hand of his Father, from whence he poureth out the gifts of his Spirit upon the Church, and manifesteth his glory by signs and wonders, Mark 16:19-20. Acts 1:2. and Acts 2:4. 33.