1 Timothy 3:13 Komentář

In this chapter our apostle treats of church-officers. He specifies, I. The qualifications of a person to be admitted to the office of a bishop (Ti1 3:1-7). II. The qualifications of deacons (Ti1 3:8-10), and of their wives (Ti1 3:11), again of the deacons (Ti1 3:12, Ti1 3:13). III. The reasons of his writing to Timothy, whereupon he speaks of the church and the foundation-truth professed therein (Ti1 3:14 to the end).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY 3 In this chapter the apostle treats of the qualifications of officers of churches, bishops and deacons, and of their wives; and points at the principal reason of writing this epistle to Timothy: and first, he commends the office of a bishop, as a good and desirable one; and asserts it to be such in the strongest manner, Ti1 3:1 and then follow the qualifications for it, some of which are of the economical or domestic kind, and regard him as an husband and parent, and the head of the family; others of a moral nature, and relate to sobriety, hospitality, temperance, patience, and liberality; and others of the ecclesiastical sort, as aptness to teach, and that he should not be a novice in religion; and in general, that he should be a man of a blameless life, and of good report in the world, Ti1 3:2, next an account is given of the qualifications of deacons; some which concern their moral character; others their soundness in the faith; and others their domestic affairs, and their conduct in their families; about which they should be first examined, before they were put into their office; the characters of their wives are also given; and for their encouragement in the faithful performance of their office, it is observed, that they hereby obtain a good degree of honour and boldness in the faith of Christ, Ti1 3:8. And the end of the apostle's writing this epistle, and particularly of giving Timothy this account of the qualifications of the officers of the church of God, is, that he might know whom to appoint over it, and how to conduct himself in it; which he commends from its being the house of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and ground of truth, Ti1 3:14. Of which truth he gives a summary, in several particulars of it, which open the great mystery of godliness, Ti1 3:16.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well,.... With diligence and faithfulness, with simplicity and cheerfulness; taking good care of the minister and poor, and of the discipline of God's house: purchase to themselves a good degree; not an higher office, as that of presbytery or episcopacy, which is a sense calculated to serve a hierarchy; nor a degree in glory and happiness hereafter; but rather an increase of gifts and grace; or a degree of respect and honour in the church: or the sense is, they possess and enjoy, which is the meaning of the word rendered "purchase", a very honourable office in the church; and which is so to them, they using it well, and discharging it in an honourable manner; unless the apostle should design what the Jews called , "a degree of faith": (b) but that is expressed in the next clause: and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus: either in the exercise of the grace of faith at the throne of grace; or in asserting the doctrine of faith before men; and in reproving either for error or immorality: all which may be boldly done by those who use this office well. (b) Zohar in Exod. fol. 36. 3.

"For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." "They that use the office of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree," that is, advancement, "and much boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ"; as if he would say, that those who have been found vigilant in the lower degree will soon ascend to the higher.

Woe to him who, when he has received a talent, has bound it in a napkin; and while others make profits, only preserves what he has received. His angry Lord shall rebuke him in a moment. “You wicked servant,” he will say. “Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I could have collected it with interest?” That is to say you should have laid before the altar what you were not able to bear. For while you, a slothful trader, keep a penny in your hands, you occupy the place of another who might double the money. Thus as one who ministers well purchases to himself a good degree, so one who approaches the cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

A “good reward” refers to a future, heavenly good, since earthly promotion would have required the idea of “better reward.”

The keeper of the wine cellar for the community shall be chosen out of the community, discreet, mature in his behavior and sober. If a brother chance to demand anything unreasonable of him, he is not to be contemptuous in his refusal but to refuse reasonably and humbly. He is to be careful of his own soul and remember that St. Paul says: “He that has done his duty well, gains for himself a good degree.” He is to show a particular concern for the sick, children, strangers and the poor, as being accountable for them at the day of judgment.

Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well gain for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. husbands of one wife. You see how the same things are required from deacons as from bishops? These things must also be accepted concerning deaconesses. managing their children and their own households well. He places this everywhere, wishing to bring the reproof upon them from home. For those who serve well. Those who have entrusted themselves to the lesser things will quickly come to progress and boldness in Christ. and great confidence. But who would have confidence in the faith of Christ, except the one who lives with faith and a righteous life?

"Degree," that is, advancement. For those who showed themselves sober-minded in the lower offices soon attain the higher ones as well, so as to have great boldness in the faith; that is, to be more glorious not in worldly dignities, not in wealth, but in the faith, that is, in all words and deeds according to the faith. Thus those who served well as deacons were afterward glorious also in the degrees of the presbyterate and the episcopate.

Then he exhorts them to rule their whole house well, i.e., their family, namely, with gentleness: be not as a lion in your house, terrifying them of your household and oppressing those who are under you (Sir 4:35). And he gives the reason for this when he says, for they who have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree. As if to say: what you expect of bishops is reasonable, because they are prelates. But why from a deacon, who is a minister? He answers this when he says, they who have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree: first, he shows that the good use of this ministry is a path to a higher dignity; second, and a road to eternal life. In regard to the first he says, they who have ministered well in exercising the office of deacon, shall purchase to themselves a good degree, i.e., deserve to be promoted to a higher dignity: because you have been faithful over a few things, I will place you over many things (Matt 25:21). And he says, good, because, as said above: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires good work (1 Tim 3:1). But they do not put their end in this, but along with it they are rewarded by God: where I am, there also shall my minister be (John 12:26). And so he says, and much confidence, namely, in the help of grace in the present life and of glory in the future; and this in the faith which is in Christ Jesus, i.e., through the faith of Christ: and such confidence we have through Christ towards God (2 Cor 3:4); I will deal confidently and will not fear (Isa 12:2).

Concerning bishops, their qualifications and work, Ti1 3:1-7. Of deacons, and how they should be proved, Ti1 3:8-10. Of their wives and children, and how they should be governed, Ti1 3:11-13. How Timothy should behave himself in the Church, Ti1 3:14, Ti1 3:15. The great mystery of godliness, Ti1 3:16.

That have used the office of a deacon well - They who, having been tried or proved, Ti1 3:10, have shown by their steadiness, activity, and zeal, that they might be raised to a higher office, are here said to have purchased to themselves a good degree, βαθμον καλον· for, instead of having to administer to the bodies and bodily wants of the poor, the faithful deacons were raised to minister in holy things; and, instead of ministering the bread that perisheth, they were raised to the presbyterate or episcopate, to minister the bread of life to immortal souls. And hence the apostle adds; And great boldness in the faith; πολλην παρῥησιαν, great liberty of speech; i.e. in teaching the doctrines of Christianity, and in expounding the Scriptures, and preaching. It seems to have been a practice dictated by common sense, that the most grave and steady of the believers should be employed as deacons; the most experienced and zealous of the deacons should be raised to the rank of elders; and the most able and pious of the elders be consecrated bishops. As to a bishop of bishops, that age did not know such. The pope of Rome was the first who took this title. The same office, but not with the same powers nor abuse, is found in the patriarch of the Greek Church, and the archbishop of the Protestant Church. As the deacon had many private members under his care, so the presbyter or elder had several deacons under his care; the bishop, several presbyters; and the archbishop, several bishops. But I speak now more of the modern than of the ancient Church. The distinction in some of these offices is not so apparent in ancient times; and some of the offices themselves are modern, or comparatively so. But deacon, presbyter, and bishop, existed in the apostolic Church, and may therefore be considered of Divine origin.

RULES AS TO BISHOPS (OVERSEERS) AND DEACONS. THE CHURCH, AND THE GOSPEL MYSTERY NOW REVEALED TO IT, ARE THE END OF ALL SUCH RULES. (1Ti. 3:1-16) 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 grasp"; "aim at": a distinct Greek verb from that for "desireth." What one does voluntarily is more esteemed than what he does when asked (Co1 16:15). This is utterly distinct from ambitious desires after office in the Church. (Jam 3:1). bishop--overseer: as yet identical with "presbyter" (Act 20:17, Act 20:28; Tit 1:5-7). good work--literally, "honorable work." Not the honor associated with it, but the work, is the prominent thought (Act 15:38; Phi 2:30; compare Ti2 4:5). He who aims at the office must remember the high qualifications needed for the due discharge of its functions.

purchase to themselves a good degree--literally, "are acquiring . . . a . . . step." Understood by many as "a higher step," that is, promotion to the higher office of presbyter. But ambition of rising seems hardly the motive to faithfulness which the apostle would urge; besides, it would require the comparative, "a better degree." Then the past aorist participle, "they that used the office of deacon well," implies that the present verb, "are acquiring to themselves boldness," is the result of the completed action of using the diaconate well. Also, Paul would not probably hold out to every deacon the prospect of promotion to the presbytery in reward of his service. The idea of moving upwards in Church offices was as yet unknown (compare Rom 12:7, &c.; Co1 12:4-11). Moreover, there seems little connection between reference to a higher Church rank and the words "great boldness." Therefore, what those who have faithfully discharged the diaconate acquire for themselves is "a good standing-place" [ALFORD] (a well-grounded hope of salvation) against the day of judgment, Ti1 6:19; Co1 3:13-14 (the figurative meaning of "degree" or "step," being the degree of worth which one has obtained in the eye of God [WIESINGER]); and boldness (resting on that standing-place"), as well for preaching and admonishing others now (Eph 6:19; a firm standing forth for the truth against error), as also especially in relation to God their coming Judge, before whom they may be boldly confident (Act 24:16; Jo1 2:28; Jo1 3:21; Jo1 4:17; Heb 4:16). in the faith--rather as Greek, "in faith," that is, boldness resting on their own faith. which is in Christ Jesus--resting in Christ Jesus.