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 trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. 4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.

1 Timothy 3:2 word by word

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

• Anὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• overseerἐπίσκοποςepiskopos · overseerG1985
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• above reproachἀνεπίληπτοςanepilēptos · irreproachableG423
• husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• of but oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• temperateνηφαλέοςnēphaleos nēphalios · soberG3524
• self-controlledσώφρωνsōphrōn · self-controlledG4998
• respectableκόσμιοςkosmios · respectableG2887
• hospitableφιλόξενοςphiloxenos · hospitableG5382
• able to teachδιδακτικόςdidaktikos · able to teachG1317

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:2

• 1 Timothy 3:10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
• Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
• 1 Timothy 4:3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Timothy 5:9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,
• Hebrews 3:14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
• Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
• 1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• Romans 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
• 1 Peter 4:9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
• 2 Timothy 2:24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

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