1 Timothy 3:2

1 Timothy 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
• New International Version (NIV)Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• New King James Version (NKJV)A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

Context of 1 Timothy 3:2

1This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: if any man [eagerly] seeks the office of overseer (bishop, superintendent), he desires an excellent task. Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not addicted to wine, not a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, free from the love of money [not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical]. 4He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity [keeping them respectful and well-behaved]

1 Timothy 3:2 word by word

δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A bishopὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• A bishopἐπίσκοποςepiskopos · overseerG1985
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• blamelessἀνεπίληπτοςanepilēptos · irreproachableG423
• the husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• of oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• vigilantνηφαλέοςnēphaleos nēphalios · soberG3524
• soberσώφρωνsōphrōn · self-controlledG4998
• of good behaviourκόσμιοςkosmios · respectableG2887
• given to hospitalityφιλόξενοςphiloxenos · hospitableG5382
• apt to teachδιδακτικόςdidaktikos · able to teachG1317

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:2

• 1 Timothy 3:10These men must first be tested; then if they are found to be blameless and beyond reproach [in their Christian lives], let them serve as deacons.
• Luke 1:6They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],
• 1 Timothy 4:3who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from [certain kinds of] foods which God has created to be gratefully shared by those who believe and have [a clear] knowledge of the truth.
• 1 Timothy 5:9A widow is to be put on the list [to receive regular assistance] only if she is over sixty years of age, [having been] the wife of one man,
• Hebrews 3:14For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end,
• Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; Panting, lying down, they love to slumber.
• 1 Peter 4:7The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
• Romans 12:13contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
• 2 Timothy 2:24The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2A bishop then must be blameless - Our term bishop comes from the Anglo-Saxon, which is a mere corruption of the Greek , and the Latin episcopus; the former being compounded of , over, and , to look or inspect, signifies one who has the inspection or oversight of a place, persons, or business; what we commonly term a superintendent. The New Testament writers have borrowed the term from the Septuagint, it being the word by which they translate the פקיד…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A bishop - A minister of religion, according to the foregoing remarks, who has the charge or oversight of any Christian church. The reference here is doubtless to one who had the government of the church entrusted to him 1 Timothy 3:4-5, and who was also a preacher of the gospel. Must be blameless - This is a different word ( ̓́ anepilēmpton) from that rendered “blameless” in Luke 1:6; Philemon 2:15; Philemon 3:6 ( ̓́ amemptos); compare however, Luke 1:6…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2must be above reproach: This is a key requirement for a church leader and public representative (see 3:7, 10; 5:7; 6:14; Titus 1:6–7; 2:8). the husband of but one wife (or be married only once; literally be the husband of one wife; also in 1 Timothy 3:12): This suggests, but does not require, a married man. It focuses on pure character and loyalty in marriage. This was not always assumed in the surrounding culture. It probably does not forbid marrying…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. The existence of Church organization and presbyters at Ephesus is presupposed (1Ti 5:17, 19). The institution of Church widows (1Ti 5:3-25) accords with this. The directions here to Timothy, the president or apostolic delegate, are as to filling up vacancies among the bishops and deacons, or adding to their number. New churches in the neighborhood also would require presbyters and deacons. Episcopacy was adopted in apostolic times as the most expedient…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:2

• Avarice
• Bishop
• Church
• Commandments
• Family
• Hospitality
• Marriage
• Meekness
• Minister, Christian
• Patience
• Polygamy
• Sobriety
• Strife
• Temperance

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice
• Rule
• Wife

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings