Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy
1 Timothy 3
Concise Complete
The qualifications and behaviour of gospel bishops.
(1-7) And of deacons and their wives. (8-13) The reason of writing about these,
and other church affairs. (14-16)
Verses 1-7 If a
man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men,
was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that
service, he sought to be employed in a good work, and his desire should be
approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as
little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He
must be sober, temperate, moderate in all his actions, and in the use of all
creature-comforts. Sobriety and watchfulness are put together in Scripture, they
assist one the other. The families of ministers ought to be examples of good to
all other families. We should take heed of pride; it is a sin that turned angels
into devils. He must be of good repute among his neighbours, and under no
reproach from his former life. To encourage all faithful ministers, we have
Christ's gracious word of promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world,
matthew
28:20 . And he will fit his ministers for their work, and carry them through
difficulties with comfort, and reward their faithfulness.
Verses 8-13 The
deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to
manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons
had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It
is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they
are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are
related to ministers, must take great care to walk as becomes the gospel of
Christ.
Verses 14-16
The church is the house of God; he dwells there. The church holds forth the
Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation.
When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to
forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery
of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the
flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by his own Son taking the
nature of man. Though reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor,
Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false
charges with which he was loaded. Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord
of angels. The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Let us
remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us
from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our
lives.
Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
