1 Timothy 3

The apostle declares the property of a teacher 2 describes the virtues and qualification which are required in him ,and the success from which he must be free 8. the like he doth also concerning deacons 11 and concerning their wives 12 with all how their families must be ordered 13 shows the end why he wants this to timothy15 and declares the dignity of Gods church as being a pillar and foundation of the truth 16 afterwards comprehends in one sum the principal mysteries of faith concerning the person and office of Christ.

1. This is a faithful word or certain credible sure if any have a desire[or desirous he speaks not of any lust or desire of ambition but of an inclination of the mind which by means shows itself ready and willing thereunto nevertheless always submitting themselves to the judgment of the church and expecting a lawful call]to the office of an overseer [Gr episcopes from whence the word episcopes bishop cometh whereby are all understood all over seers and teachers of the church without difference as hereafter from the following description appears as also by comparing of other places see Acts 2017,28 Philippians 1:1 Titus 1verse 5,7&c]he desireth an excellent [Gr good fair honourable]work that is labor and laborious work it consists not then only in any titles of honor but is joined with labor and palms wherefore Christ also calls them workmen or laborers Matthew 9:37,38 and chapter 10.10]

2. An overseer then must be blameless [namely in respect of his dealing and walking amongst men]the husband of one wife [not that he must necessarily be married seeing Paul himself was not married 1Corinthians 7.7 but because he might not have many wives together or one after another by divorce as was a long time usually with the Jews and Greeks and especially in those oriental countries which seemeth indeed for a while to have tolerated in others but might not been tolerated in other but might not be tolerated in teachers see the like phrase 1Timothy 5.9]vigilant or sober temperate honest [the Greek word kosmios properly signifies one that in his carriage and whole conversation is fair and doth nothing but what is fitting and comely see chapter 2.9] given to hospitality apt to teach

3. Not inclined to wine [or sitting of the wine that is not given himself much wine as he speaks afterwards verse 8] no slicker no seeker of filthy but moderate [that is who can yield to others and bear with them in reason as the Greek word imports]no fighter not covetous of money

4. Who governs his own house well [that is household namely wife children servants or who well orders his house keeping his children in subjection with all gravity [or civility setledness, sacredness honesty see chapter 2.2]

5. For if one knoweth not how to govern his church how shall he take care of the church of God?

6. No novice [Gr neophytes which signifies newly planted that is who hath newly betaken himself to the faith or to the church]lest he be puffed up [namely by opinion of great wisdom which he might think he had already when should so speedily be promoted to the office of teaching] and fall into the judgment of the devil [that is into such judgment as the Devil fell into when being newly created he would lift up himself against God for his own wisdom others here take the Greek word diabulos for a slanderer as it properly signifies and is taken in this same chapter verse 11 and 2 timothy 3.3 expound it thus lest lifting up himself he fall into the judgment of accusation of the slander to the reproach and scandal of the church of Christ as is also spoken in the following verse]

7. And he must also have a good testimony of those that are without [that is are yet strangers from the church as 1 Corinthians 5:12] that he might no fall into reproach [or contempt namely of those amongst whom he might formerly conversed vainly or unjustly if he have not for good while amended and covered it with a following good life being now become a believer and into the share of the devil [or share of the slanderer as verse 6 whereby some understands some dejections of spirit which might come upon him for it is as a snare upon his soul other such reproach whereby as with a snare he might be hindered by the devil from duly edifying church in this his calling]

8. The deacons [of the institution of the special office of the deacons in taking care for the poor see Acts 6 verse 1,2] in like manner must be fair carriage [or grave as before verse 4]not double tongued [Gr double-warded that is vain and in stead fast in words] not such as give themselves to much wine no seekers of filthy lucre

9. Holding [Gr that is preserving or keeping]the mystery of the faith [that is the doctrine of the profession of the doctrine of the gospel which is everywhere called a mystery because the same known to man not by the nature but by divine revelation see 1 Corinthians 2:6,7]in a pure conscience [that is good or upright conscience or of which see before chapter 1.19 for though the office of deacons was not to teach publicly in the assemblies nevertheless their office put them upon conversing with many sorts of men whom they ought also to instruct and comfort and sometimes also gainsay as there is an example in Stephen Acts 7that Philip instructed and baptized the Ethiopian was done by an extraordinary call when he was now made an evangelist see Acts 8:29 and 21.8]

10. And let these also first be proved [this some take also as if there had been yet some lower degree in this ministry which they call sub-deacon wherein they must first be proved for a while but that is not necessary seeing this word must be fitly taken for the trying of such person by the rules here propounded which was done by the governors of the church] and afterwards let them minister if they be unblameable [Gr unaccusable namely being judged are found so in their dealing and walking]

11. The wives in like manner [this must be applied as well to the wives of the elders as of the deacons for of the widows which were deaconesses shall be treated hereafter chapter 5.9 and so forward]must be grave ,no slanderers vigilant or sober see verse 2 faithful in all things [this the apostle seems hereto require in the wives of elders and deacons not only because they must be faithful to their husbands but also because they are sometimes privy to some things concerning the government of the of the church and the keeping and the distributing of the alms wherein faithfulness is necessary]

12. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife ruling their children and their houses well

13. For they that have well ministered obtain to themselves a good ascent [or degree whereby is understood either a good esteem and respect in the church of God are else an excess to greater and higher charges namely of the eldership or office of a teacher as was very usual also with the ancients]and much boldness in the faith namely as well in their faith because it is accompanied with a good conscience as also in their action and speeches before the church of God because they deal faithfully therein which the apostle seems here to oppose to the slanders and snares of Satan whereof he spoke verse 6,7] which is in Christ Jesus

14. These things I write unto thee hoping very speedily to come unto thee

15. But if I tarry that thou mast know how men ought to converse in the house of God [so the church is called because God dwells therein by his spirit and word see 1 Corinthians 3:16 Hebrews 3:4,5,6] which is the church of the living God a pillar and foundation of the living truth [so the church of god is called because God confirms the truth in his church and by it makes publicly known to others as magistrates use to stick and fasten their edicts and laws to pillar or other strong places that they may be known to all men and consequently here is declared that it is the duty of the office or the church to promulgate the same truth and confirm it as the install errors which when she doth she falls not she falls easily into schisms and errors see Malachi 2:5 &c as Paul also warns the same church of Ephesus where Timothy then was as appears chapter 1.3against this Acts 20:28 &c and Christ himself Revelations 21 &c others join these words to the following verse]

16. And without doubt the mystery of all godliness[so the apostle calls the doctrine of the gospel as heretofore verse 9 the mystery of faith whereof he propounds a short sum in the following words]is great God [that is the eternal son of God as this word God is also taken for God the son Job 1:1 Acts 20:28 Romans 9:5 1john5.20 1John 5.24 and in divers other places]hath been manifested [that is became men and by words and deeds made known his Godhead see Luke 24.91 John 1:12] in the flesh[that is in the human nature which was assumed by him into the unity of his person as John 1:14 Romans 1:3 Hebrews 2:14]hath been justified [acknowledged to be innocent and righteous as Matthew 11:19 Luke 7:27 Romans 3:4]in the spirit or by the spirit which is to be understood of divine nature of Christ by which he raised himself from the dead and consequently also proved himself to be just and innocent although he was condemned as guilty by the Jews and gentiles some take it for the gifts of the holy ghost which after his resurrection he poured out upon his disciples and other believers but this agrees not with Paul’s scope seeing these gifts of the holy ghost were not given till after Christ’s glorification whereof he speaks in the last member and the first is confirmed also by the like phrase Romans 1:4 1 peter 3.18] hath been seen of the angels [namely of his ministers and messengers as well at birth Luke 2:14 as in his resurrection Matthew 4:11 and in his passion Luke 22:43 and in his resurrection and ascension Luke 24:4 Acts 1:10 hath been preached among the gentiles was believed in the world [that is among all nations of the world as well as gentiles as Jews Romans 10:18 Colossians 1:6]hath been taken up into glory [namely to the right hand of his father from whence he hath poured out the gifts of the spirit upon his church and by mighty deeds and miracles showed his glory Mark 16.91,20 Acts 1:2 ,8 and 2.33&c]