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 saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.” The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, 3not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. 4He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his 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

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 3:10And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.
• Luke 1:6They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world
• 1 Timothy 4:3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Timothy 5:9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,
• Hebrews 3:14For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end.
• Isaiah 56:10All their watchmen are blind, they are unaware. All of them are like mute dogs, unable to bark. They pant, lie down, and love to snooze.
• 1 Peter 4:7For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
• Romans 12:13Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.
• 1 Peter 4:9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
• 2 Timothy 2:24And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

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