1 Timothy 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
• New International Version (NIV)Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
• New Living Translation (NLT)This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”

Context of 1 Timothy 3:1

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

1 Timothy 3:1 word by word

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος· εἴ τις ἐπισκοπῆς ὀρέγεται, καλοῦ ἔργου ἐπιθυμεῖ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a trueπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• sayingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• a manτιςtis · oneG5100
• desireὀρέγωoregomai · to aspireG3713
• the office of a bishopἐπισκοπήepiskopē · oversightG1984
• he desirethἐπιθυμέωepithumeō · to long forG1937
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• workἔργονergon · workG2041

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:1

• 1 Timothy 1:15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
• 1 Timothy 4:9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.
• 2 Timothy 2:11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
• 1 Timothy 3:2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• Acts 1:20"For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'
• Philippians 1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
• 1 Peter 2:25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
• Acts 20:28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
• Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
• 1 Peter 4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
• 1 Peter 5:2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
• Luke 15:10Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
• Romans 11:13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
• Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1This is a true saying - ̔ · This is a true doctrine. These words are joined to the last verse of the preceding chapter by several of the Greek fathers, and by them referred to the doctrine there stated. The office of a bishop - · The episcopacy, overseership or superintendency. The word , which we translate desire, signifies earnest, eager, passionate desire; and , which we translate desire, also signifies earnestly to desire or covet. It is strange that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This is a trite saying - Greek, “Faithful is the word” - the very phrase which is used in 1 Timothy 1:15; see the notes on that verse. The idea here is, that it was worthy of credence; it was not to be doubted. If a man desire - Implying that there would be those who would wish to be put into the ministry. The Lord, undoubtedly, by his Spirit, often excites an earnest and irrepressible desire to preach the gospel - a desire so strong, that he in whom it…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The qualifications and behaviour of gospel bishops. (1-7) And of deacons and their wives. (8-13) The reason of writing about these, and other church affairs. (14-16) Verses 1-7 If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed in a good work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1trustworthy saying: See study note on 1:15. an overseer: Some translations assume that overseer and church leader refer to the same role (see study note on 5:17–18; see Titus 1:5–7). In the Greek and Roman world, an overseer was a supervisor in religious, civic, or military contexts. The traditional translation of this term is "bishop" (see King James Version).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-161Ti 3:1-16. Rules as to Bishops (Overseers) AND Deacons. The Church, and the Gospel Mystery Now Revealed to It, Are the End of All Such Rules. 1. Translate as Greek, "Faithful is the saying." A needful preface to what follows: for the office of a bishop or overseer in Paul's day, attended as it was with hardship and often persecution, would not seem to the world generally a desirable and "good work." desire--literally, "stretch one's self forward to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:1

• Ambition
• Church
• Minister, Christian

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