1. This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4. one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
   1. According to these verses does one have to be a male to be a Bishop or overseer? Support your answer.
   2. If one’s children are unruly is one disqualified to be a bishop or overseer?  Support your answer.
   3. What impact, if any, does the world’s opinion of church members have on their eligibility for being a bishop or overseer?
   4. In these verses is a new member eligible for the office of overseer or bishop?

1 Tim 3:8-13

8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13. for they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1. Compare the qualifications for eligibility to the office of deacon to those of the office of overseer or bishop.

1 Tim 3:14-16

14. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;
15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1.  What is the function of the written instruction in verses 1-13?
2. What is the content of the mystery of Godliness according to verse 16?

Assignment Answers

1 Tim 3:1-7

1. Yes, in these verses one has to be a male to be an overseer or bishop.

   Supporting evidence:

   1. The message of 2:1-15, which immediately precedes 3:1-7.
   2. The word “man” which appears in the KJV is supplied by the translators, the greek reading “if anyone. . . “, but the qualification set forth makes the KJV reading of “man” a correct one; note the qualification –
      

      A husband of one wife.  The word translated husband is andra – meaning man in contrast to a woman (Arndt & Gingrich, p. 65).

      May the Lord impress upon the minds and hearts of all connected with the sacred work of God, the importance of ascertaining whether whose who are to minister as deacons and elders are suitable men to be entrusted with the flock of God.  Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd.”  He does this in contrast with those who occupy positions of trust in connection with the church, but who have no right to these places, because they put a wrong mold upon the work.  What is natural will appear.

      Compare the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for His sheep, with those who are filled with self-esteem, puffed up, dictatorial, loving to rule in the church.  The prophets have specified Christ’s attributes.  They foretold Him as a gentle Shepherd, who would carry the lambs in His bosom.  There are others pointed out by prophecy, who have accepted the position of leaders and religious instructors, whom the Word of God rebukes for their neglect, in their ignorance, to do the work which they should have been doing in their places of responsibility (MS 176, 1898) (SDABC, vol. 7, pp. 914, 915).

2. Yes; 1 Tim 2:4.  Subjection is here again hypotaga. This word occurs in this form 6 times in the NT: 2 Cor 9:3; Gal 2:5; 1 Tim 2:11; 1 Tim 3:4; Rom 8:20; and 1 Cor 15:28.

   In Rom 8:20 it is translated “was made subject” ; in 1 Cor 15:28, “be subject unto”’ and in the other 4 occurrences, “subjection” (Stegenga, The Greek-English analytical concordance of the Greek-English New Testament, pp. 732, 733).

3. The opinion of the world cannot serve to qualify a man for the office of bishop or overseer – – he must meet the requirements of 1 Tim 3:1-5; but the opinion of the world, if negative, disqualifies him for office (1 Tim 3:7).
4. New members are not eligible (1 Tim 3:6a).  the KJV “novice” is from neophuton, “newly planted” or “newly converted”  (Arndt & Gingrich, p. 538).

1 Tim 3:8-13

1. The basic qualifications are the same.  Note that verses 8-10 describing the deacons qualifications start with “likewise” – greek hosautos, “(in) the same (way), similarly, likewise”  (Arndt & Gingrich, p. 907).

1 Tim 3:14, 15

1.  The function of verses 1-13 is to set before the people how it is necessary (greek – dei) for them to behave in the house of God, and how to act as members of God’s family.

   Note:  The word translated “house” in the KJV is from the greek oiko, which is the dative singular of oikos, and which means, house or household or family (Arndt & Gingrich, p. 563).

2. Jesus of Nazareth and His role in the plan of salvation for fallen man, and the method of attaining that salvation.
   

   There are mysteries in the life of Christ that are to be believed, even though they cannot be explained. The finite mind cannot fathom the mystery of godliness (letter 65, 1905).

   The work of redemption is called a mystery, and it is indeed the mystery by which everlasting righteousness is brought to all who believe. The race in consequence of sin was at enmity with God. Christ, at an infinite cost, by a painful process, mysterious to angels as well as to men, assumed humanity. Hiding his divinity, laying aside His glory. He was born a babe in Bethlehem. In human flesh He lived the law of God, that He might condemn sin in the flesh, and bear witness to heavenly intelligences that the law was ordained to life and to ensure the happiness, peace and eternal good of all who obey. But the same infinite sacrifice that is life to those who believe is a testimony of condemnation to the disobedient, speaking death and not life (MS 29, 1899) (E.G. White in the SDABC, vol. 7, p. 915).

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