1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:1-7

In this chapter our apostle trusts of church-officers. And, 1. He gives us the qualifications of a person to be admitted to the office of a bishop, ver. 1—8. 2. Of the qualifications of doctors, ver. 1—10. And of their wives, ver. 11. And again of the doctors, ver. 12, 13. 3. Of the regions of his writing to Timothy, whereupon he speaks of the church and the foundation truth professed therein, ver. 14, to the end.

1. THIS is a true saying, If a man desires * the office of a bishop, he desires * a good work. 2. * A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, * apt to teach; 3. * Not given to wine, * no thicker, * not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, * not a brawler, not covetous; 4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6. Not a novice, left being lifted up with pride, he fall into * the condemnation of the devil. 7. Moreover, * must have a good report of them * which are without, * left he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil.

Timothy being left to preside over and regulate the affairs of the Ephesus church, the apostle gives him directions concerning those who should be ordained to ministerial offices among them.

This is a true saying, If a man, inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, desires the office of a bishop, or overseer of the church of Christ, he desires a good work: the post is most honourable and important, yet withal most laborious, and requires singular qualifications for the right discharge thereof. A bishop then must, (1.) Be blameless; his morals irreproachable, and his character able to bear the nicest scrutiny. (2.) If he be not single, let him be the husband of an wife, that hath never given a divorce, in order to marry again, nor lives in polygamy. (3.) He must be vigilant over the souls committed to his care, and habitually resident among them. (4.) Sake, moderate in the use of every creature-confort, and temperate in all things. (5.) Of good behaviour; courteous, engaging, prudent, edifying. (6.) Given to hospitality; ready to relieve strangers, and assist the necessities. (7.) Aye to teach; furnished with Christian knowledge and experience, and polishing the faculty of communicating his sentiments with ease and propriety for the improvement of others. (8.) Not given to wine; not merely no drunkard, but never fisting long at the cups, or loving the glass. (9.) No thicker; not passionate or quarrelsome. (10.) Not greedy of filthy lucre, and suspected of attachment to earthly gains and advantage; but, (11.) Patient; a pattern of mechanics and long-suffering. (12.) Not a brawler; clamorous, contentious, and talkative; nor, (13.) Covetous; seeking the fleece more than to feed the flock, and serving for him, rather than for the love of men’s souls. (14.) One that ruleth well his own house, with due discipline and authority; having his children in subjection with all gravity; for if a man knew not how to rule his own house, and so to behave there as to preserve order and decorum, how shall he take care of the church of God, where so much more difficulty may be expected, and so much more prudence is necessary! (15.) Not a novice, and but lately acquainted with, and converted to, the faith of Christ; left being lifted up with pride, thrusting himself arrogantly into an office for which he is not qualified, and ambitious of human honour, or popular applause, he falls into the condemnation of the devil, and sink the deeper from the height whereunto he affected to fear. (16.) Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; his conduct unfeigned with any thing which would be an obstruction to his ministry; left he fall into reproach, and grow contemptible, and into the favor of the devil.

Ere any man appears a candidate for the ministry, let him solemnly consider these things. If is not safe, or honour, or gain, or a genteel employment, that should lead us into the service: these are motives dishonourable, unhallowed, impious. Zeal for God, dishonourable love of God, must wean our holiness, and unreserved devoutness of ourselves to Christ must mark each step. And Who is sufficient for these things, may we well say? The best qualified will be most conscious how short they come, and

and be looting constantly up in him who hath promised, but I am with you always, must be the end of the world, Man. xxviii. 20.

(1.) They must be grave, men of venerable department. (2.) Not double-tangued; warping the truth to pleade in different companies, and speaking with things or disbursements. (3.) Not given to much wines, but persons of exemplary temperament. (4.) Not gross of fifty luces, left they be tempted to embrace the church’s flock. (5.) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure unghione; cleaving deadly to the simplicity of the gospel doctrines, and adorning them by a becoming conversation. (6.) And let these also fly to be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blamishly; having undergone a proper examination, and being approved, let them be inscribed with their office. (7.) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, avoiding all divorce and polygamy; ruling their children and their own houses well; letting them a good example, and maintaining due order and regularity. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, with fidelity and diligence, true to the truth committed unto them, parchays to themselves a good degree of honour and respect in the church, and great haddings in the faith which is in Christ Jesus; God blessing such fidelity with an increase of grace, and greater openness and freedom in the profession of the gospel before men.

2. The character of the deacons wives. Even so must their wives be grave, in manners, dress, speech, and department: not plunderers; speaking evil of persons behind their backs, and fowning discord in the church: joker, and free from excels: faithful in all things, that they may be a credit to their husbands, and adorn their fission.

3. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. 15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh; justified in the Spirit, if seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 Timothy 3:14-16

Though he hoped to be with him at Epheles shortly, yet, left the Lord should call him elsewhere, he had sent the above directions. They always write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, and arrive not to soon as I purpose, I have sent this epistle, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth, which left words some refer to the church, where the truth is held forth as an inscription written on a pillar, and maintained with all theatres: others to Timothy himself, who was a firm pillar in that church: but, best of all, they may be referred to Christ himself, the living God abiding in his own temple, and its true foundation and support. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, especially in the following particulars: God was manifest in the flesh, and took our nature upon him. Justified in the Spirit, when by his resurrection he was declared free from every charge, and God’s justice fully satisfied: sum of angels, when triumphant he ascended to the throne of majesty on high amidst their exclamations: preached to the Gentiles, as a Saviour to the unremost, and freely reviving them to partake of all the blessings of his gospel: believed on in the world, both by Jews and Christians, notwithstanding the ignominy of his creek: received up into glory, to possess the reward of his sufferings; or generally received, his gospel in the most astonishing manner operating through the earth, and bringing vast multitudes of converts to the obedience of the faith. Note, (1.) The all-sufficiency of the monument of Jesus depends upon the deacon glory of his person. He who fursed on a cross was very God as well as very man. (2.) This is among the mysteries of godliness, where reason must bear down, and faith alone.