The Letters · New Testament
1 Timothy 3
1 Timothy 3: qualifications for bishops and deacons
General context
The chapter opens with a true saying, that desiring the office of a bishop is desiring a good work, and then lists what such a man must be: blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, patient, not a brawler, not covetous. He must rule well his own house and keep his children in subjection, and a parenthesis gives the reason, that a man who cannot rule his own house cannot take care of the church of God. He must not be a novice, in case pride brings him into the condemnation of the devil, and he must have a good report of them which are without. A second list follows for deacons: grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, first proved and then serving, being found blameless. Their wives must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things, and the deacons are to be husbands of one wife who rule their children and houses well, since those who serve well gain a good degree and great boldness in the faith. The writer then states why he is writing: he hopes to come shortly, but writes in case he tarries long, so that Timothy may know how to behave in the house of God, which he calls the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The chapter ends with six short clauses about the mystery of godliness, from manifest in the flesh to received up into glory.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Timothy 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:7, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:11, 1 Timothy 3:12, 1 Timothy 3:13, 1 Timothy 3:14, 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Timothy 3:16
1 Timothy 3 (KJV)
1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One 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?)
6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15But 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.
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.
Historical context
Two positions in the congregation are named here, bishop and deacon, with a further line about their wives, and the letter describes them almost entirely by character rather than by duty. The only tasks stated are teaching, since a bishop must be apt to teach, and ruling a household well. Selection is described in one word for deacons, let these also first be proved, with no procedure, no term of service and no list of anyone holding either position. The stated occasion for the letter appears in this chapter, hoping to come unto thee shortly and But if I tarry long, which establishes that the writer expects to travel to Timothy but does not say from where, when, or whether he arrived. Requirements such as the husband of one wife are given without explanation of the cases they are meant to settle.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:11, 1 Timothy 3:14, 1 Timothy 3:15
Literary context
The chapter is two lists set in parallel, and the second is tied to the first by one word, Likewise must the deacons be grave. Both are built more from negatives than from positives, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, not a brawler, not covetous, so the picture forms by exclusion. A parenthesis supplies the reasoning that the list itself does not state, comparing a household with the church of God. The register changes completely in the last verse: after clauses of requirement, six short passive statements run in sequence, God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, ending at received up into glory, and nothing is said about who preached or received him. The lists are anchored to the letter's purpose by These things write I unto thee.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:14, 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Timothy 3:16
Key moments
- A good work desired (1 Timothy 3:1). Wanting the office of a bishop is called desiring a good work.
- Blameless and apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). The first list of requirements for a bishop is given.
- His own house first (1 Timothy 3:5). A parenthesis compares ruling a household with caring for the church.
- Deacons must be proved (1 Timothy 3:10). Deacons are to be tested before they serve.
- Why the letter is written (1 Timothy 3:14). The writer says he hopes to come but writes in case he is delayed.
- The church described (1 Timothy 3:15). The house of God is called the pillar and ground of the truth.
- The mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). Six short clauses close the chapter.
For reflection
Almost every requirement in this chapter concerns character and household rather than skill or knowledge. What does that ordering suggest about what the letter expects of leaders?
