CHAPTER 3
On the Virtue of Bishops.
1 Timothy 3:1-4 If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach; not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money; one who manages his own household well, with children in submission with all reverence.
Writing to Timothy, Paul shows in general what kind of person a bishop must be. " he desires a noble task ." He says, "I do not accuse him." An honest man is needed, certainly for service and leadership; provided that he desires it for helping many, and not for glory. For a bishop is said to be one who oversees all. Even Moses desired it, but not for glory, rather for the benefit of many.
be blameless . So that he is aware of no evil in himself. For if he is aware, he acts badly desiring oversight, from which through his actions he has alienated himself.
A bishop must be the husband of one wife . This does not legislate that a bishop must necessarily have a wife, but rather, if he is married, he says, he must not be a second husband. Or that he should know only one lawful wife for marriage; but, when called to the office of bishop, he must fulfill that condition. "So that those who have wives may be as though they had none." (1 Cor. 7:29) And, "I wish that all were as I am," says Paul. (1 Cor. 7:7) And, "He who is married cares about worldly things." (1 Cor. 7:33) How then can a bishop rightly care for worldly matters? Some say that he said this concerning the Church, so that he would not transfer from one to another; for the matter is adultery.
Sober-minded . Awake, discerning, fervent in spirit.
self-controlled . For one ought to have restraint, good manners, and hospitality according to those who lead. Therefore, Paul added the teacher's own characteristic, saying self-controlled :
not a drunkard . Paul says this, not meaning the intoxicated (for that was often the case), but the brazen and arrogant.
Again, not violent , not one who strikes with hands, but one who strikes the conscience of the brothers.
one who manages his own household well . For he who does not know how to rule a single household, or who could not properly govern two or three children by nature, how will he be able to suitably preside over the Church and so great a people? For he must bear examples from his own household.
1 Timothy 3:5-7 If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert, lest, being arrogant, he fall into the judgment of the Devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony from those outside, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil .
Whatever the bishops commanded in these strict matters, not drunkenness, not being violent, but moderation and the like, he who commanded the disciples, "Put to death the members of your body on the earth;" (Col. 3:5) and, "Are some who crucified the flesh of Christ?" (Gal. 5:24) And Christ commanded to take up the cross and follow Him for all. (Matt. 16:24) For why did he not rather command those to be angels, as if according to the measure of mortals? And we say that the highest virtue is of few: but it was necessary to have many bishops, one for each church. Therefore, lest he make the office of bishops, which was necessary, rare or impossible, Paul commands moderate virtue, making the matter itself easy to approach:
how will he care for the church of God . Where there are greater and more numerous affairs.
He must not be a recent convert . It does not mean the younger person, but one recently instructed in the faith. 1 For Timothy himself was also younger. “For no one should despise your youth," (1 Timothy 4:12) he says as he goes on. For he who is still a student ought, if anyone makes him a teacher, to be proud and confident.
he fall into the judgment of the Devil . To the same, Paul says, to the Devil, a judgment, into which he fell out of madness.
from those outside . Outside, says the Greeks. Observe the precision. What then if he is bad, but has a good testimony? This is impossible. For it is beloved for the most upright to be testified to by enemies. But this, along with other things, requires good qualities; for he also shows a bond. But what if, being good, he is despised concerning his life? Difficult indeed, but such a one must not become a bishop. And if from those outside, much more from the brothers.
so that he may not fall into reproach . It is fitting for one who is bad to be reproached and insulted.
and the snare of the Devil . For if he is, he says, evil in some way, he easily sets another trap for him. For if he turns from being insulted and abused to sins, he falls into another passion of anger and resentment; for no one can endure insult without anger.
1 Timothy 3:8-10 Deacons likewise must be honorable, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being blameless .
For what reason did Paul pass over the elders [πρεσβυτέρους]? Because he mingled them with the bishops themselves. For what he said about the bishops, he also applies to the elders: since they too are similarly priests, and have been entrusted with the duty of teaching.
not double-tongued . That is, deceitful and traitorous.
not given to much wine . Paul did not say: "Do not get drunk" (for this was very common), but rather, "Do not drink excessively." For even if, he says, they do not get drunk, yet the tone of the heart slackens.
with a pure conscience . He demands faith and life.
And let these also first be tested . Just as, Paul says, the bishops, so that they may not be beginners.
1 Timothy 3:11-13 Women likewise must be honorable, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well gain for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. These things I write to you, hoping to come to you soon; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth .
Women, not just any women, but deaconesses. For what did Paul wish to mention among the clergy, women of any kind?
not slanderous . What was said above: not to be double-tongued.
but sober-minded . For the female sex is not to be trusted. Therefore, one must be sober and watchful. For as much as they are more susceptible to deceits, so much so do they need sobriety.
faithful in all things . In faith and life.
husbands of one wife . You see how the same things are required from deacons as from bishops? These things must also be accepted concerning deaconesses.
managing their children and their own households well . He places this everywhere, wishing to bring the reproof upon them from home.
For those who serve well . Those who have entrusted themselves to the lesser things will quickly come to progress and boldness in Christ.
and great confidence . But who would have confidence in the faith of Christ, except the one who lives with faith and a righteous life?
These things I write to you . In order that the arrangement concerning these matters may not throw Timothy into gloom because Paul is no longer present, see what Paul says: " But if I am delayed ." Since he was led by the Spirit, and did not know where the Spirit was ordering him to go, therefore he always hesitates.
which is the Church of the living God . Whoever is a house, is the Church of the living God; not like the Jewish temple, but a pillar and foundation , that is, a confirmation of the truth. For the temple, he says, was a foundation of the types of truth. And rightly so, " of the living God ." For do you not notice, he said, that it is filled with men: for it excels through God, and is built by Him, and has Him as its inhabitant.
1 Timothy 3:16 And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory .
confessedly . For no one doubts this. And faith which is in us is both great and a mystery, and a mystery of devotion, and it has no hesitation. Do you see the steps?
God was revealed in the flesh , etc. Then Paul speaks of the mystery. For He who was revealed to men in the flesh was not judged righteous by human eyes, but by the eyes of the Spirit, who also searches the depths of God. (1 Cor. 2:10)
But he says: He was justified because of the flesh . For since God is God, he is not justified but justifies. This is also what the prophet said: "He who has not committed sin, nor deceit found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:22) Saint Cyril in the twelfth chapter of the Scholia 2 says: "’He who was revealed in the flesh was justified in the Spirit .’ For in no way was he subjected to our weaknesses.”
seen by angels . For they did not disregard His birth according to the flesh.
— [OECUMENIUS] He was justified in spirit . And by what justification is he justified who is righteousness itself and redemption, the Sun of righteousness according to Malachi? Which indicates the most pure and perfect righteousness, the fulfillment evidently of the legal rights; concerning which John said: "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." (Matt. 3:15) For since the law also commanded concerning baptisms, He came to the Jordan to fulfill this as well, just as He fulfilled circumcision and the offerings for the firstborn. But what does He mean by " In spirit "? Israel was bound in the spirit of slavery through the punishing law. For it did not have the spirit of adoption; this has been granted to Christians, as Paul also says: "What is above is Jerusalem the free, which is the mother of us all." (Gal. 4:26) He says therefore, Even if he fulfilled the legal righteous requirements, but not with the spirit of slavery (for how, he who also frees others?), but with the Holy Spirit of adoption, which the genuine Son received according to the human nature, bestowing the gift upon us, and consubstantial with the Spirit, and not for Himself. Just as He cared for and prayed, making our prayers acceptable, and called His own body a temple, causing us to become temples of God. [ end of the excerpt by Oecumenius ] —
For indeed, the righteous according to the Gospel, truly spiritual, have long surpassed many of those who are justified by the law.
— [PHOTIUS] Instead of being justified legally, he was justified spiritually. For he fulfilled the legal commandments not legally, but spiritually. The fact that he was not considered justified by the fleshly and hard-hearted (for they said, "Glutton and drunkard") but was justified by those who are established in the Spirit of God. "For we have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten," and so on. (Jn. 1:14) [ end of the excerpt by Photius ] —
seen by angels . (O the mystery! The angels saw Christ with us, when before they had not seen.) Not as by men. Thus Clement in book seven of the Hypotyposes 3 . "He was believed in the world." Truly great is the mystery. For everywhere in the inhabited world he was believed.
received up in glory . For the angels ministered to him as he was taken up on the clouds. Therefore he says, " in glory ," because even the ascension itself is glorious.
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Translator notes for 1 Timothy 3
1. one recently instructed in the faith [νεοκατήχητον]. Literally means “newly catechized.”
2. Cyril of Alexandria, Scholia On The Incarnation Of The Only-Begotten 12. https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_scholia_incarnation_01_text.htm#C12
3. Clement of Alexandria, Hypotyposes book 7, Source. Translated by William Wilson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.) https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0211.htm