1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:1-13

The apostle instructs Timothy in the qualification to in those who were to be set apart to the office deacon in the church. 1 Tim. III. 1—13.

1 TIMOTHY III. 1.

[IT is] a faithful saying, most certain in itself, and worthy of being always acknowledged and attended to, that, if any one earnestly desireth the episcopal or pastoral office, he desireth a good work. To feed the church of Christ, and to take the oversight of it, is indeed a very laborious employment; but it is also very honourable, and greatly tends to advance the glory of God, and to promote the good of mankind, if it be discharged in a proper manner. A bishop therefore, or an overseer of the flock of Christ, must be blameless in every respect, with regard to his moral character, since any thing which may be amiss in him will tend to bring a reproach upon his office, and greatly to obstruct his usefulness. It is particularly requisite that if he be a married man, he should be the husband of only one wife;ᵃ for if he have more than one at a time, or have divorced a former without sufficient excuse, and taken another during her life, it is an irregularity by no means to be countenanced in a person from whom it is natural to expect such exemplary purity of manners. It is also necessary that he be watchful, and not one of a slothful and indolent temper, who would sleep over so high and sacred a charge; that

The husband of one wife] Mr. Hallet and Mr. Whiston both infer from hence, that second marriages are unlawful to the living; and the Muscovites suppose that one wife is so necessary, that no man can become a bishop till he be married, nor continue to exercise that office longer than his wife lives. Percy’s Pussia, p. 250. But circumstances may be so adjusted, that there may be as much reason for a second marriage as for the first, and as little inconvenience of any kind may attend it. Upon the whole, therefore, it seems to me most reasonable to believe, that as there is no express precept in the Bible, requiring a man who had several wives at the time of his embracing Christianity, to divorce or dismiss all but one) the Divine wisdom might judge that it was a proper medium, between encouraging polygamy, and too great a rigour in condemning it, to fix such a brand of infamy on this irregular practice, by prohibiting any man, let his character be ever so extraordinary, to undertake the ministry, while he had more than one wife, and to discourage it in those already converted by such passages as Mat. xix. 9, and 1 Cor. vii. 2.

ot given to wine, nor greedy of filthy lucre ;

he be prudent and steady in his behaviour, regular and decent, guarding against those little indecorums which expose men to contempt, even where there is nothing grossly vicious in their conduct. And it is particularly desirable that he be given to hospitality, as Christians, who travel from one place to another, will naturally go to the minister’s house, if they are strangers in the place, and expect, on account of their common profession, to be received there. He must also be a person of such natural abilities, and so instructed in the doctrines of Christianity, as that he should be fit to teach publicly, as well as to preside in other respects. Not one that sitteth long over wine, or any other kind of strong liquor, or that has so little government of himself, as to be ready to strike those that displease him. He must not be attached to any method of sordid and dishonourable gain, but must be moderate in all his desires and passions, not given to contention, not a lover of money, so as to take a pleasure in hoarding it up, even if it be justly and properly his own. It is also evidently desirable, that he should be one who presides well over his own house, having his children, if he be a father, in subjection with all gravity, that their follies may not bring a reproach upon the family, and by consequence in some measure upon himself; For, if any one cannot preside over his own house, in

b Given to hospitality.] Let it be observed once for all, that as there were then in the eastern countries few houses of public entertainment, hospitality was a virtue more peculiarly seasonable and necessary than among us; I mean so far as it related to the accommodation of entire strangers on their travels.

c Apt to teach.] The bishop of Winchester lays some stress on our not meeting with any directions relating to ordination in this enumeration of the offices of a bishop, or presbyter. (For so candid and judicious a writer could not but acknowledge they are here words of the same signification.) But it is strange he should not have observed, that nothing is here said of administering the sacraments, which concur with many other circumstances to shew how far the apostle was from intending a full re presentation of all the pastoral du-

ties. And it may be added, that the directions he afterwards gives to Timothy, on the head of ordination, may suggest instruction in this respect to all ministers. And it must be submitted to consideration, whether the omission of any charge to presbyters, enjoining them to obey their bishop as a person of superior authority, does not weigh much more one way, than the omission pleaded above can avail the other. See Haidly of Episcop. p. 390.

d Attached to sordid gain.] It is remarkable that this phrase is seldom or never used in the New Testament to express an gain, but that which is made or procured by the covetousness of Christian ministers, and never surely does an eage ness of greediness in pursuit of money appear more dishonourable and sordid than it persons of that noble, but alas! too often prostituted profession.

But having a good report of them that are

such a manner as to preserve a due decorum in the family, where he has such a natural authority, how shall he be able to take care of the church of God, where there will be such a diversity of persons and tempers, over which it will be impossible for him to maintain an equal inspection and influence? A bishop also should not be one newly converted to Christianity, lest, not having had a sufficient acquaintance with its principles, nor establishment in the duties it teaches, he should be lifted up with pride, in consequence of his distinguished character, and arrogate to himself an authority and dominion which God never intended for him. [And] should this be the case, he might easily fall into the condemnation of the devil, who was intoxicated with self conceit, and so rose up into mad rebellion against God, that he might obtain that greater exaltation to which he imagined his own excellency gave him a claim. It is necessary also, in order to a pastor’s filling up this important office with a becoming dignity, that he have a good report of those that are without, lest he should otherwise fall into reproach, and in consequence of that be taken in the snare of the devil, who will easily know

Who presides well over his own house, &c.] Exactly parallel to this is a wise saying of Confucius, when directing princes to take care of their families: “It is impossible that he who knows not how to govern and reform his own family, should rightly govern and reform a people.” Conf. Mor. p. 38.

Condemnation of the devil.] Many have imagined that the first instance of Satan’s ride was an affectation of equality with God, but others have thought that improbable, and have concluded it was the breach of some positive law, either relating to the manner in which God required to be worshipped, or the order and station of the angelic squadrons, or refusing some appointed ministry to some lower world, or rejecting the dominion of God’s incarnate Son, who might in general be revealed as the future Head of angels as well as men. This last is the scheme which Milton prefers, and it is insisted upon at large in Reign Quer of the Ing. World, Q. xvi. p. 15-28. But though it is certain the crime was pride, our conjectures may never be

able to determine what was the particular instance; nor is the inquiry by any means necessary.

Snare of the devil.] Some have explained the word Sars, of some human slanderer, but it seems to me much more natural to understand it in the sense it has just above, where I think it must signify, our great infernal enemy. And it is easy to see, that Satan might graft many dangerous temptations on the evil report which a man might have incurred by any scandal, before he entered on the ministry; either attempting to draw him to the repetition of former evils, from an apprehension, that he had very little reputation to lose by a new fall, or weakening his hands in efforts of usefulness, by a fear, that the remembrance of those past irregularities would render his attempts less effectual. Thoughts worthy the consideration of all who design themselves for the ministry, and especially to be recollected, when persons who have been remarkably profligate, are desirous of undertaking it, or returning to it.

ns shou e grave, not double tongued.

how to graft temptations upon that circumstance, to draw him aside one way or another, from that strictness and correctness of behaviour which suits his distinguished station.

This may suffice concerning the principal order of ministers in the church of Christ, bishops, pastors, or elders. In like manner, [let] me now say something relating to the other order, I mean that of deacons, who are more immediately appointed to serve tables, and especially to take care of the poor. (Acts vi. 2.) Concerning these I would observe, that it is of importance, that they likewise [be] grave in their deportment, that they may avoid that contempt which the excesses of levity are ready to produce. They should not by any means be double tongued, deceitful, or inconstant in their words, as they may chance to come into different companies; nor addicted to much wine, which will render them utterly unfit for their office; nor greedy of dishonourable gain, which may tempt them to violate their engagements to the church, and appropriate its stock lodged in their hands to private uses, rather than those charitable purposes for which it was collected. In one word, let them be persons well instructed in the doctrines of Christianity, and retaining the sublime and long concealed mystery of our holy faith, not merely as a point of speculation, but practice; and let it ever be held in a pure and undefiled conscience, and those only chosen into this office who seem conscientious men in the judgment of charity, And let even these be first proved and tried for a while, and then, if they be upon trial found to be blameless, let them use the office of a deacon.

In like manner, [let] the wives of the deacons, and therefore much more of the bishops, [be] grave and sober in their deportment, not according to the example of the great enemy, that malignant spirit, who has his very name from thence, false accusers of the brethren and others. Let them also be watchful for occasions of doing good, and guard against every temptation to evil, and let them be faithful in all things which are committed to their care, lest

Reflections on the

their imprudent and unfaithful conduct should iv. bring the character of their husbands under suspicion.

Tim. ii. 12 Let the deacons, as well as the bishops, be the husbands of only one wife, and let them be men of prudence and resolution, governing their children and other members of their own houses well; that no irregularity at home may dis- 13 grace the society they belong to. It is necessary to be thus cautious, though their ministry be but of an inferior rank, for they who have discharged the office of a deacon well, procure to themselves, not only a fair report in the general, but very often a good degreeh of farther advancement in a higher office; and they lay a foundation for great boldness in professing the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Their acquaintance with the affairs of the church will render them more capable of defending it, than many others can. And the honourable testimony borne to their character, by advancing them to this trust, and continuing them in it, will also embolden them to plead more freely, and engage the more respectful attention.

IMPROVEMENT.

THE teachers of others, and those who preside in the highest offices which Christ has founded in his church, may learn from this passage their duty as well as their dignity and honour. Let them remember, the work they have desired and engaged in is a good work. Let them think and speak, not arrogantly and ty- 1 rannically, but respectfully and solemnly of their office, and let them cultivate all these excellent qualities, which may fit them 2,3 to discharge it aright; sobriety and vigilance, gravity and hospitality, the strictest temperance, the most diffusive benevolence. Let them rise far above those low views which are to worldly minded ministers the occasion of so many scandalous contentions, which so often establish a separate interest, and produce a secret and mutual aversion between them and their people.

Let the churches of Christ attend to this charge, to direct them in the choice of their pastors; and let ministers of standing and

h A good degree.] As a learned education was not, in this age of extraordinary gifts, so necessary in the superior officers of the church, as it has since been; and as it is highly rubable deacons might frequently officiate as occasional teachers in public assemblies: it might be matter of prudence, to choose their elders or pastors out of the deacons, to which the apostle here evidently refers.

characters of ministers and deacons.

reputation, under whose guidance the matter may in part fall, be very careful that they do not encourage any to undertake the work, who are deficient in these things: things of such importance, that it is certain no genius and learning can make up for the want of them. If deacons, in their inferior stations, are to be free from such stains, and to be remarkable for such virtues as are here described, how much more should the pastors themselves be so, to whom the inspection of the deacons is also committed?

Let the ministers of Christ therefore study to excel in them more and more. And let such as are but lately entered on their work, though not novices in the language of the apostle, yet be on their guard, lest they be lifted up with pride, and so fall into the condemnation of the devil. But from this lurking and insinuating evil who is secure! Let all ministers learn to draw an occasion of exercising humility, from what might in another view seem a temptation to vanity, a survey of the dignity and excellency of their office. For how justly may this humble them, when they reflect on the many imperfections which attend their discharge of it!

To conclude, let all, who are in any degree distinguished in the church, be excited to a care of presiding in a proper manner over their own families: and since it is evident that the apostolic rule allows of marriage, and supposes that, by whatever doctrine of devils it might be forbidden, it would generally be practised by the ministers of Christ, let them however take care to make choice of companions in conjugal life, who may adorn and bless the houses to which they belong, and lessen, rather than increase, the difficulties inseparable from their own station and office.

1 Timothy 3:14

Though he hoped quickly to have an interview with Timothy, the apostle recommends the care of the church to him; in which view he raises his idea of the charge he received, and represents the difficulties attending the faithful execution of it, in consequence of those pernicious doctrines, which false teachers would endeavour to introduce. 1 Tim. III. 14, to the end. Chap. IV. 1—5.

TIM. III. 14. THESE things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

TIMOTHY III. 14. THESE things which thou hast now been reading concerning the character of persons who are to be intrusted with the office of bishops and deacons, I write to thee, hoping to come

Paul recommends to Timothy the care of the church.

to thee shortly. But if I delay, I give thee these instructions, that thou mayest know how it becomes thee to converse in the house of God, in which thou hast the honour to bear so high an office; even in that house, which is the church of the living God. But I will not inculcate the matter farther, contenting myself with reminding thee, that the very pillar and ground of the whole system of gospel truth, upon which the support of the entire edifice depends, And which is confessedly great, beyond all controversy and contradiction, is the mystery of godliness, that wonderful and sublime doctrine, which it is our great business to assert and enforce, and which has so evident a tendency to promote true godliness in all its branches: God was manifested in the flesh of our blessed Redeemer, in whose human nature the incarnate Deity dwelt; and thus he was justified in and by the Spirit, whose extraordinary communication, in the midst of all the meanness of human nature in its suffering state, vindicated his high claim, and marked him out, in the most illustrious manner, for the Divine Person he professed himself to be. He was seen of angels, and gazed at by them in various circumstances of his life and death, as a most astonishing and instructive spectacle. He was preached among the Gentiles, who were invited to embrace his religion, upon assurance of

oping to come to thee shortly.] It seems that from hence, that Paul intended to come back to Timothy at Ephesus in the time, but was providentially called for way; but it can by no means be added from hence, (as has been shewn into introduction,) that Paul wrote this to Timothy after his first imprisonment at Rome.

the pillar and ground of truth.] Though as Dr. Lightfoot has observed, very that this title is sometimes given by bibles to the members of the great firm, at least when assembled to, yet no interpretation of this text more precarious than that which it to the church. That had just been called a house, and therefore

cannot naturally be called. Yet, if it would only prove, the support Christianity from it has certainly done, the regular church is infallible known, that many good descriptive clause to to that figure by which pillar, Gal. ii. 9. Co But, I think, had this tion, the accusative caused to agree with or fore choose to end the word for, and he was, as in the verse and then the whole truth is considered as and basis, as shewn

In the last times some wou apostatize from the faith :

being received to equal privileges with the Jews. He was also believed on in the world, many of the most distant nations already coming in to the Christian profession, and pressing for a share in the benefit of it. And at length, when his ministry on earth was completed, he was received up into glory, and seated on a throne in the heavens, where he presides over all things for the good of his church, and answers nobler purposes with regard to it than his corporeal presence here could have done.

These great doctrines of our holy faith are worthy of being recollected by every Christian, and of being insisted upon by every minister. But the Spirit of Divine inspiration, in the scriptures of truth, and in evangelical prophets, particularly in me, expressly saith and testifies, that in the last times, in ages yet to come, some, who are under the dispensation of the gospel, and make great pretences to zeal in its interests, shall apostatize from the purity of the original faith; giving heed to deceitful spirits, who shall endeavour to impose upon them by false, though specious appearances, and to various doctrines of demons, and particularly such doctrines relating to the spirits of dead men, as the devil, the great author and abettor of lies, shall suggest to them for the most pernicious purposes. For they will come to be worshippers of dead idols, and departed spirits: as in Israel also they worshipped them; through the hypocrisy of the most abandoned and shameless liars, spreading their errors

In the scriptures of truth, &c.] I have paraphrased this clause in its greatest extent, because, as there are some passages in the Old Testament which have been supposed, though I think not very expressly, to look this way, it is highly probable that others, who had the gift of prophecy, (as we are sure many at that time had,) might predict so memorable and important an event as Paul certainly had done before. See 2 Thes. ii. 1, &c. But the inspiration of the New Testament in general rests on much stronger evidence than what arises from this clause.

In the last times.] Though it is certain, that (as Dr. Whitby here proves at large) the phrase of the last days does of-

ten signify the concluding period of the Jewish church, and the first age of Christianity yet I cannot perceive, that it is so confined to this, but that the whole period, the time under the reign of the Messiah, may be spoke of in this language.

Doctrines of demons.] Archbishop Tillotson follows Mr. Joseph Mede in explaining this, as expressing worship paid to the spirits of the dead. Tillotson’s Works, Vol. II. p. 53. But, though this be undoubtedly one branch of that diabolica, doctrine which the church of Rome hath followed, I see no sufficient reason for limiting the phrase to that detestable tenet

Through the hypocrisy of liars, &c.] A very ingenious critic (many of whose

Requiring abstinence from marriage and from meats.

under pretence of sanctity; whose own conscience is so seared and cauterized, that they feel no manner of remorse for the grossest frauds, by which they impose on the weak and credulous with impious pretences to a Divine revelation. They will indeed endeavour to gain the good opinion of men, as persons of extraordinary sanctity and mortification; in this view requiring, especially from the ministers of Christ, abstinence from marriage, as if it were an impure state, [and] less pleasing to God than that of celibacy. They will also urge men to refrain from various kinds of meats, which God, the bountiful Former of all things, hath created for our nourishment and entertainment, to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by those who know the truth, and so are instructed to place religion, not in such indifferent things as these, but in things more truly excellent and worthy of God. For, whatever these deceivers may suggest, and however they may misrepresent the matter, every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected under a colour of scrupling the lawfulness of it, [provided it be] received with thanksgiving; For it is in that case sanctified by the word of God, which allows the use, and by prayer, which draws down a blessing upon it.

remarks on scripture deserve attention) has urged the authority of Epiphanius, for inserting into the former part of this verse the following words, as spoken by the apostle, Εσυλία γης νικησις λησενις, ως και εν τω Ισρανλ ισενις. Epiph. Har. 78, p. 1055. Ed. Col. But the credit of one copy cannot be so considerable, as to warrant such an addition to the sacred text, especially considering how late that citation was made, and how absolutely impossible it would have been, after the time of Epiphanius, to have corrected all the copies, by erasing from them these words, of which no trace is any where else to be found. I rather think that this father, very far, to be sure, from being a correct writer, has confounded two quotations together, and in these words referred to 2 Cor. x. 7, illustrated by Ps. cvi. 28, of which he had an imperfect remembrance; or that by φησις, (with which the passage is introduced,) we are to understand the meats, and then it will be only the

gloss of Epiphanius. In this sense Mr. Mede took it, in his discourse on the apostasy of the latter times. Yet, as this seems a remarkable comment of so ancient a writer, I was willing to insert it in my paraphrase, though I could not mark it as any part of the text. The construction of the original in these two verses, συγενεσθαις συναυμασις εν υποκρισαις ψωδενουσις, makes it necessary to vary from our translation in the manner I have here done. See Crit. Not. on Scrip. p. 9—103.

Abstinence from marriage and various kinds of meats] The original words κωλυνιδων γαμειν, απεχισθαι βεωμαιδων, contain, as Mr. Blackwall well observes, one of the boldest ellipses in the whole New Testament, where a word is to be understood, contrary to that which is before expressed. But he shews, that some of the most celebrated classical writers, and particularly Horace and Cicero, take the same liberty. Blackw. Sacr. Class. Vol. I. p. 72, 73

Reflections on the apostasy of the latter days.

And when persons attend to the instructions of God’s word, and maintain converse with him by prayer, seeking thereby in particular his blessing upon their food, they may indifferently use on any days all kinds of wholesome nourishment, not excepting those which were most strictly forbidden by the Mosaic law, for reasons peculiar to that dispensation, and therefore to expire when the authority of that law was to cease.

IMPROVEMENT.

WHAT the Spirit of God expressly spake has been so expressly accomplished, as plainly to prove the Divine original of this oracle, and of all that are connected with it. The grand apostasy of the latter days is made manifest, the seducing spirits have effectually done their part, the world has given heed to them, and wandered after them; so that doctrines of devils have almost cast out from his own church the doctrine of Christ. No testimony of hypocritical liars hath been wanting to confirm the fraud to the utmost of their power, and the whole conduct of it seems to declare to how dreadful a degree it is possible for conscience to be seared. Marriage has been forbidden, while the pardon of fornication, adultery, and incest, have been rated at a certain price by that grand merchant of the souls of men, who hath ventured to call himself the vicar of Christ upon earth. By him men have been taught to place the greater part of religion in abstaining from meats, in attending unintelligible jargon, instead of the service of God’s sanctuary, and in transforming the high solemnities of the simplest and most rational worship that ever was instituted, into a ceremonious farce. Adored be Divine Providence and grace, that any parts of the once dark domains of this man of sin have been awakened to assert the purity of the Christian faith and worship, and to seek to purge away the reproach and infamy which such adulterations had brought upon the name! Blessed be God that our attention is diverted from these trifles and monsters, these mysteries of folly, and mysteries of iniquity, to the great mystery of godliness! Let it be familiar to our thoughts. The manifestation of God in the flesh! A sight which the angels beheld with wonder, while the blessed Spirit sealed the authority of God’s incarnate Son, and attested his gospel among the Gentiles, till the world was brought to believe in him; so that he looked down from the throne of glory, to which he was received, and saw his own oracle fulfilled, If I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. (John xii. 32.) May this mysterious, yet resplendent truth be strenuously maintained, and practically preached, by all the ministers of the gospel;

Paul cautions Timothy against Jewish

may they shew, in every other respect, that the behave themselves aright in the house of the living many by these means be brought to believe and in its vital energy. Then will the common en have an additional relish, being received with sanctified by the word of God and prayer.