1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for elders and deacons

This is a true saying: If a man desires the position of overseer in the church, he desires a good work. 2 An overseer must be blameless, the husband of only one wife, temperate, sound in thinking, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, 4 one who rules his own home well, keeping his children obedient with full respect 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own home, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 not a new convert, or he may get puffed up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good testimony among outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

3:1-7 The Greek word translated “overseer” (episkopos, translated “bishop” in the KJV) is used only five times in the New Testament – Acts 20:28; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet 2:25. Actually it is a combination of two Greek words meaning “one who watches over”. The word was used to indicate the elders of local churches (compare Acts 20:17; with 20:28; Phil 1:1). The work of an overseer is a “noble” one, one of the noblest works on earth and it will bring great reward to those who do it well – 1 Pet 5:1-4. Because the office of overseer or elder is so important the qualifications are high. If churches ignore these qualifications and choose their overseers on other grounds they will be failing in a very important area of church life and will bring trouble on themselves.⚜

8 Likewise, the deacons must be honorable, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for sordid gain, 9 but holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these men also first be tested, and when found blameless, let them serve as deacons.

11 Also their wives must be honorable, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

3:11 The wives of deacons or any women in the church who serve in any way (Rom 16:1) must also have a good reputation among the people.⚜

12 Let the deacons each be the husband of only one wife, ruling their children and their own homes well.

3:12 Verses 2,4.⚜

13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

3:13 A strong and assured faith will come to those who serve Christ faithfully, who received the power needed for that service from Him, and who are devoted to His work. Compare Heb 6:10-11.⚜

14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly. 15 But in case I am delayed, I am writing so that you may know how you should behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

God’s mystery in a human body

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God appeared in the flesh,

was declared righteous

by the Spirit,

seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles,

believed on in the world,

and received up into glory.