1 Timothy 3
16 verses
Paul delineates the qualifications for the overseer (episkopos)—above reproach, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach—establishing character as prior to function, virtues that ensure fitness for spiritual leadership. The overseer must manage his own household well, making domestic leadership a probationary arena for church leadership, the logic being that one cannot govern God's household without first governing one's own. The deacon's (diakonos) qualifications similarly emphasize character—serious, not double-tongued, not greedy—with the addition that deacons must hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience, suggesting that diaconal service requires not merely behavioral propriety but theological soundness. The mystery of godliness hymn—manifested in flesh, vindicated by Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among nations, taken up in glory—presents Christ as the center of Christian revelation and the pattern for church order, making Christological truth foundational to ecclesiastical structure. The hymn's six lines (or eight, depending on punctuation) trace the incarnate Christ's vindication by resurrection (vindicated by Spirit), cosmic significance (seen by angels), missionary proclamation (nations), and exaltation, positioning Christ's person and work as the watershed of Christian existence. The institutional attention to overseers and deacons emerges from Paul's conviction that proper leadership manifesting Christ's character ensures doctrinal and moral stability in the church.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
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2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
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3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
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4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
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5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
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6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
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8
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
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9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
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10
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
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11
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
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12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
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13
For 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.
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14
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
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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.
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16
And 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.
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