My God and My Country

1 Timothy 3:1-5 - 1599 Geneva Bible

1 This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthy work.
2 A Bishop therefore must be unreproveable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harborous, apt to teach,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not covetous.
4 One that can rule his own house honestly, having children under obedience with all honesty.
5 For if any cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the Church of God?


Heavenly Father, thank you for this morning and allowing your servant to have yet another day. I am greatfull and come with humble adoration to your throne-room this morning. Help me my Lord to understand your word. Open my mind and my heart. - Amen


Brethren:


The Apostle Paul starts now in this chapter to outline the hierarchy of the church and positions of authority. Thus he writes that a bishop in all things must be beyond reproach or any condemnation. They basically need to be advisers in all aspects to the congregation without spot, blemish or wrinkle. Should the fall into sin, they are to be removed immediately to avoid any form of impropriety. This today is a major flaw in the church. They are now involved in various scandals and are moved along. My friends, this should NOT be so. Can they be redeemed and return as a brother in good standing? Yes, but can no longer hold any position of authority in the church. (Read Titus 2:6)
R.P. Woitowitz


“Let us consider the qualifications of a Christian bishop, and then we shall soon discover who is fit for the office.

First – [the] Christian bishop must be blameless; ανεπιληπτον, a person against whom no evil can be proved; one who is everywhere invulnerable; for the word is a metaphor, taken from the case of an expert and skillful pugilist, who so defends every part of his body that it is impossible for his antagonist to give one hit. So this Christian bishop is one that has so conducted himself, as to put it out of the reach of any person to prove that he is either unsound in a single article of the Christian faith, or deficient in the fulfillment of any duty incumbent on a Christian. He must be irreprehensible; for how can he reprove that in others which they can reprove in him?

Second - must be the husband of one wife. He should be a married man, but he should be no polygamist; and have only one wife, i.e. one at a time. It does not mean that, if he has been married, and his wife die, he should never marry another. Some have most foolishly spiritualized this, and say, that by one wife the Church is intended! This silly quibbling needs no refutation. The apostle's meaning appears to be this: that he should not be a man who has divorced his wife and married another; nor one that has two wives at a time. It does not appear to have been any part of the apostle's design to prohibit second marriages, of which some have made such a serious business. But it is natural for some men to tithe mint and cummin in religion, while they neglect the weightier matters of the law.

Third - must be vigilant; νηφαλεον, from νη, not and πιω, to drink. Watchful; for as one who drinks is apt to sleep, so he who abstains from it is more likely to keep awake, and attend to his work and charge. A bishop has to watch over the Church, and watch for it; and this will require all his care and circumspection. Instead of νηφαλεον, many MSS. read νηφαλιον· this may be the better orthography, but makes no alteration in the sense.

Fourth - must be sober; σωφρονα, prudent or, according to the etymology of the word, from σως, sound, and φρην, mind, a man of a sound mind; having a good understanding, and the complete government of all his passions. A bishop should be a man of learning, of an extensive and well cultivated mind, dispassionate, prudent, and sedate.

Fifth - must be of good behavior; κοσμιον, orderly, decent, grave, and correct in the whole of his appearance, carriage, and conduct. The preceding term, σωφρονα, refers to the mind; this latter, κοσμιον, to the external manners. A clownish, rude, or boorish man should never have the rule of the Church of God; the sour, the sullen, and the boisterous should never be invested with a dignity which they would most infallibly disgrace.” - Adam Clarke