The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

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- Chapter 3 -

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

It is a faithful saying: if a man desires the episcopate, he desires a good work.

Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher,(a)

(b)

not a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetous;(c)

but a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastity.

For if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God?

He must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devil.(d)

And it is necessary for him also to have good testimony from those who are outside, so that he may not fall into disrepute and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Similarly, deacons must be chaste, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not pursuing tainted profit,

holding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

And these things should be proven first, and then they may minister, being without offense.

Similarly, the women must be chaste, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Deacons should be the husband of one wife, men who lead their own children and their own houses well.

For those who have ministered well will acquire for themselves a good position, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

I am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soon.

But, if I am delayed, you should know the manner in which it is necessary to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of truth.(e)

And it is clearly great, this mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh, which was justified in the Spirit, which has appeared to Angels, which has been preached to the Gentiles, which is believed in the world, which has been taken up in glory.

Footnotes

(a)3:2 The expression ‘husband of one wife’ has an idiomatic meaning, that he be a devoted husband; the literal meaning also applies, he should not be a man who has married more than once. In the early Church, many Church leaders had converted during their adult life, so many were already married; thus, it was necessary to permit a married man to be a Bishop. Very soon in the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit wisely guided the faithful to prefer celibate men for the Episcopate.(Conte)

(b)3:2 Of one wife:The meaning is not that every bishop should have a wife (for St. Paul himself had none), but that no one should be admitted to the holy orders of bishop, priest, or deacon, who had been married more than once.(Challoner)

(c)3:3 The word ‘modestum’ in Latin has a broader range of meaning than the word ‘modesty’ in English. Often, the word ‘modestum’ does mean modesty, but in the context of this phrase (‘non percussorem, sed modestum’), it has the broader meaning of self-restraint in general.(Conte)

(d)3:6 A neophyte:That is, one lately baptized, a young convert.(Challoner)

(e)3:15 The pillar and ground of the truth:Therefore the church of the living God can never uphold error, nor bring in corruptions, superstition, or idolatry.(Challoner)

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer

(a)

desires a good work.

The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Servants,(b) in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve

(c)

if they are blameless.

Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

Let servants

(d)

be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

For those who have served well

(e)

gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God

(f)

was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

Footnotes

(a)3:1 or, superintendent, or bishop

(b)3:8 or, Deacons.

(d)3:12 or, deacons

(e)3:13 or, served well as deacons

(f)3:16 NU replaces “God” with “who”