1 Timothy

3:1-7

3. Qualifications for church leaders, 3:1-13

i] Bishops / Overseers

What we have in this passage is a list of qualities which should be present in a person seeking to perform the task of a bishop / leader / overseer in the church. Interestingly, it serves as a list of qualities, not duties. The list is virtually repeated for deacons, bishop's wives and also for presbyters in Titus 1:6-9. The only extras listed for a bishop is that he should not be a recent convert and that he should be well-thought-of within the secular community. The episkopoV, "bishop", unlike the presbuteroV, "elder", Tit.1:5, is referred to in the singular which may imply that he is the chief elder within a congregation. At any rate, as the father of his flock his ministry, at this time in church history, is limited to the local congregation and for this reason the listed qualities apply today to the minister / priest / paster of a local parish / congregation rather than the head of a denomination. It has been stuggested that the list is sourced from a list of qualities required of senior militery appointments to the Roman legions, but this is a rather speculative view.

In this passage Paul continues to deal with organizational matters in the church. As already noted, Quinn/Wacker suggest that this passage forms part of a series of exhortations running through to 3:13, although in general terms from 2:1 to the end of the letter may simply be described as "the ordering of Christian life", Barrett.

Paul now sets out to define the qualities of a church overseer.

pistoV oJ logoV "trustworthy saying" - trustworthy the word, the saying [is] faithful. Note variant anqrwpinoV oJ logoV, "it is a human / common / popular saying", cf. Metzger. Usually taken as referencing what follows, but possibly referencing backwards. "Word" can mean "saying". The "faithful sayings" in the Pastoral Epistles are formula-like. There are five of them, most likely quoted by Paul from some other source. There is debate over this one, but it is most likely a saying/proverb related to administrators and used by Paul to introduce his list of qualifications for a bishop/elder. "Here is a saying you may trust", REB; "there is a popular saying", NEB.

ei + ind. "if" - Introducing a conditional sentence, 1st class, where the condition is assumed to be true; "if, as is the case .... then ...." The presence of tiV makes the condition general; in the Pastorals "either to be fulfilled or to be avoided", Marshall. "If anyone aspires to high office, they aspire to a good occupation."

oregetai (oregw) ind. "sets his heart on being" - aspire to, desire, strive for. Striving in a positive way, although the point being made is that seeking high office is worth striving for.

episkophV (h) gen. "overseer" - care, charge. Genitive after a verb of desire. This word, meaning "leadership", is obviously crafted by the early church to mean "position/office of bishop/chief-minister/elder."

kalou ergou "noble task" - good work. Better "task", as NIV.

In a single sentence, covering v2-6, Paul lists the qualities of an overseer.

oun "now" - therefore. Possibly drawing a logical conclusion, but see above. Given that the task of overseer is a noble one, "therefore" the overseer/bishop must.....

ton episkopon (oV) sing. "the overseer" - elder, bishop, overseer, guardian. In secular society the word is used of a civil functionary. The singular use here may indicate a class of administrators/overseers, but see above.

dei "must" - is necessary. This verb controls the Gk. sentence through to v6, with v5 usually treated as a parenthesis. A necessary consequence flowing from v1, "must of necessity be .....", although the intention of the verb may not be as strong as say divine necessity, but rather what is fitting.

ei\nai (eimi) inf. "be" - The infinitive of the verb to-be serves as the subject of the verb "is necessary", "to be ........ is necessary." The subject/s of the infinitive, "without reproach", etc, take the accusative case.

anepilhmpton adj. "above reproach" - blameless, irreproachable. Not open to criticism. Marshall suggests that this is a general requirement "which is then followed by a set of detailed qualification which give shape to it." Probably referring to a past history that would offend. Possessing a bit of history does not bar a person from the Christian fellowship, nor even the exercise of some particular ministry, but it does bar someone from a "headship" role in the church.

miaV gunaikoV andra "the husband of one wife" - a man of one woman. Numerous possible meanings are proposed: he must be married, not a polygamist, not divorced, or remarried, or as Theodore of Mopseustia said "a man who having contracted a monogamous marriage is faithful to his marriage vows." Given the high ethical standard demanded of the office, the last option is probably Paul's intention. There is a question as to the commencement of these high expectations and most commentators assume they apply from conversion onward. This does seem rather arbitrary, given that stupidity is not unilaterally excised by the Holy Spirit at conversion, or that God does not make a distinction between the forgiveness of sins pre or post conversion. Anyway, if a persecutor of the church can become an apostle, then there is hope for all of us.

nhfalion adj. "temperate" - Normally used of temperate in the use of alcohol, but here probably in a figurative sense, "self-controlled."

swfrona adj. "self-controlled" - An aspect of "self-controlled", so possibly "thoughtful".

kosmion adj. "respectable" - respectable, modest, well-behaved, virtuous.

didaktikon adj. "able to teach" - Obviously an important ability for an overseer, cf. Tit.2:24, 2Tim.2:24.

mh paroinon (oV) "not given to drunkenness" - Probably "not given to too much wine" rather than drunkenness, but also possibly figurative, eg. "abrasive". An old minister friend of mine said his downfall came when he was appointed to a parish which was situated in Australia's premium wine growing region. A taste for the grape can become addictive!!!

amacon adj. "not quarrelsome" - peaceable, uncontentious. "He must be gentle and not pugnacious", Barclay.

afilarguron adj. "not a lover of money" - not greedy, covetous. "Nor must he be fond of money-grabbing", Phillips.

At this point there is a move from personal qualities to qualities of personal behavior.

proistamenon (proisthmi) pres. part. "he must manage" - managing, ruling, directing, applying oneself to / being concerned about, taking care of, protecting. This participle, as with "having", functions in place of the infinitival phrases found in v2-3 and so serves as the subject of the main verb "is necessary", ie. "to be ...... is necessary" = "managing ..... is necessary / having ..... is necessary" = "he must be able to manage his own household properly and to keep his children submissive and perfectly respectful", Moffatt, or simply translated as an imperative, as NIV. The word takes two meanings, "direct/lead" and "care". Both meanings may be present here. Some argue that pastoral care is more likely the sense here than administration.

oikou (oV) gen. "[his own] family" - household, house = family. The genitive "one's own house" is adjectival, possessive, "his own house."

kalwV adv. "well" - The overseer must be able to show that he can manage/care for his family "well", that he does a good job of it. When done well, his children respect him. If he can handle his family, then he can handle the church.

econta (ecw) pres. part. "see that his" - having [children in subjection]. See "he must manage" above.

tekna (on) "children" - The presence of children is presumed, here young children still under the authority of their parents, but their presence is surely not a requirement.

en uJpotogh/ (h) "obey" - in subjection, subordination, obedience. The actual sense of the word is conveyed in the following phrase, lit. "with all respect" - the dignity, seriousness, respectfulness, probity... the children show their father (although the phrase can refer to the two-way aspect of the relationship).

This verse is best treated as a parentheses referencing v4. The verse establishes an important principle for Christian ministry. All believers slip and fall and given the extent of divine forgiveness the church family must accept a fallen brother or sister. Yet, when it comes to leadership in the church, forgiveness does not override the simple principle that if a believer can't manage their own family life then they can't expect to manage the life of a church. The application of this principle is by no means straightforward.

de "-" - but, and. Mounce translates this particle as "for" since this parenthetical clause seeks to justify the requirement outlined in v4; "for if someone does not know how to manage his own household ..."

ei + ind. "if" - Introducing a conditional sentence, 1st. class, where the condition is assumed to be true, "if, as is the case, .... then ....." The apodosis is in the form of a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, cf. BDF#428(1) for the use of the negation ou in a 1st. class condition, rather than the classical mh. "If a person is unable to manage/care for their own family, how could they expect to be allowed to care for the church family?"

prosthnai (proiJsthmi) aor. inf. "[does not know how] to manage" - to manage, lead. The infinitive is complementary, completing the sense of the negated verb "does not know how".

epimelhsetai (epimeleomai) fut. "[how] can he take care of" - will he care for? The only other use of this verb in the New Testament is found in the parable of the Good Samaritan and is used of the care given by the Good Samaritan. This rather powerful linkage gives weight to the sense of "care", rather than "leadership", as the quality required of the overseer/bishop.

ekklhsiaV (a) "[God's] church" - the church, assembly [of God]. Paul could be referring to either the local assembly or the heavenly assembly. Probably the local assembly is in his mind.

mh neofuton adj. "he must not be a recent convert" - not newly planted. Not a new convert to the faith. Although treated as a new sentence, this negated adjective is still controlled by dei ... ton episkopon .... einai, v2, "to be not newly converted is necessary for the overseer."

iJna mh + subj. "or" - lest. Introducing a purpose clause with a negative intention, "in order that he may not ...."

tufwqeiV (tufow) pas. part. "he may become conceited" - having become conceited, puffed up. The participle is adverbial, probably causal, "in case he gets conceited", Moffatt - don't appoint young people to positions of authority because they will become conceited (advice abandoned by modern society!). Referring to the danger of power going to the head of a young person.

eiV "and" - to, into. This purpose clause, expressing negative intent, identifies the purpose of not appointing a young person to a position of authority, namely the avoidence of two related dangers. First, the growth of pride/conceit and that to which it leads to, condemnation.

empesh/ (empiptw) aor. subj. "fall under" - he might fall. Figuratively used of coming under the influence of sin, falling into temptation.

tou diabolou (oV) gen. "[the same judgment] as the devil" - [judgment, condemnation, judicial verdict] of the devil. It is likely that "of the devil" is a subjective genitive, ie. the judgment administered by the devil, it is the devil's judgment, probably better, the condemnation he calls for rather than administers, so in the sense of "slander", but even something more general, "lest he be filled with selfish pride and come under the influence of Satan", Junkins, so Marshall, Kelly, Ridderbos, Towner. None-the-less, it is also possibly an objective genitive; the judgment that has already been received by the devil, so Mounce, Hendriksen, Knight. As with most translations, the NIV follows this sense, given that the word "judgment" does not carry a definite article, yet, given the active role of Satan in v7, an active role seems likely here. If objective, the timing of the devils judgment carries the typical "now / not yet" eschatology of the New Testament. The devil is judged, condemned and defeated, but we still experience his death-throws.

Having listed the qualities of being "above reproach", v2-6, Paul, in a new sentence, adds another important quality.

de kai "also" - and also. "Moreover", NRSV.

ecein (ecw) pres. inf. "[he must also] have" - to have [is also necessary]. As in v2, the infinitive functions as a the subject of the verb "is necessary."

marturian kalhn "a good reputation" - a testimony good. "Beyond reproach." The meaning of "testimony" here is that which is said of a person on the basis of an evaluation of their conduct*.

apo twn exwqen "with outsiders" - from the ones outside. The overseer must be regarded highly by non Christians. "He must have a good reputation among those who are not members of the church", Barclay.

iJna mh + subj. "so that" - lest. The use again of a negated purpose clause, or hypothetical result. The overseer is to be of "good reputation" lest so and so happens.

oneidismon (oV) "disgrace" - reproach, disgrace, insult. If the overseer is not of the highest moral standing in the eyes of the wider community, then that community will inevitably judge everything he does harshly. Grammatically, the "reproach" could be "of the devil", but is more likely from the secular community.

pagida tou diabolou "the devil's trap" - the snare of the evil one. The unfavorable onslaught of a secular community will inevitably tempt an overseer to handle the truth lightly, lose his head, and so follow the devil's lead. "Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the Devil", CEV.

1 Timothy Introduction

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