1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3
1-7 Qualifications of Bishops

• Desiring to be a bishop is a noble thing.
• And this is what you're aspiring to: being above reproach, one wife (NRSV - "married only once"), temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drinker, gentle, peaceable, not a lover of money, managing your household well, having submissive and respectful children, not a recent convert, with a good reputation. Is there any characteristic here that all men should not seek? Yet because of his example and power of his influence, a bishop must be recognized for these characteristics. An humble seeker of God would have developed these characteristics naturally, over time.

NOTE re the NRSV: When I first read their rendering of what most other versions translate as "husband of one wife," I thought, "Wow – how narrow of them; they've eliminated men who have been widowed and remarried. Then it occurred to me that it's part of their attempt to be gender-neutral in this translation. They're leaving this open for women who might want to serve as bishops, even though the footnote reads "Gk be husbands of one wife." It's interesting, though. In practice, many "ordained" female "bishops," or "pastors," are single women.

8-13 Qualifications of Deacons

• Serious, truthful, not a drinker, not greedy, faithful, with a good conscience, tested, married once, managing well their children and households.
• Women (deacons' wives, or "deaconesses" - it's hard to tell here) must be serious, not slanderers, temperate, faithful. It's always been curious to me that Paul would list qualifications of deacons' wive and not elders' wives. That's why – as radical as this may seem to some – I think this also applies to women in the church who have been given certain responsibilities, whether it's teaching a Bible class, preparing the communion, doing secretarial work, or serving those in need. If they're not characterized by the attributes listed here, it reflects on them, the church, and the service they're providing.

14-16 The Mystery of Our Religion

• Paul is hoping to come see Timothy soon, but he's writing now because he wants to be sure Timothy is aware of proper behavior in the household of God. Because of the context, Paul could be referring to church organization, which is more than just an organization. It's the household of God, the "pillar and bulwark of the truth," which proclaims a great mystery: that Christ was

revealed in the flesh,
vindicated in spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.