Bible/1 Timothy/3

1 Timothy 3:2

3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; of good: or, modest

KJV

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The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; given: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine

What does 1 Timothy 3:2 mean?

1 Timothy 3:2 is a verse in the book of 1 Timothy, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos), οὖν (oun), δεῖ (dei). It connects to 34 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

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A
bishopἐπίσκοποςepiskopos/ep-is'-kop-os/G1985from 1909 and 4649 (in the sense of 1983); a superintendent, i.e. Christian officer in genitive case charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively):--bishop, overseer.
thenοὖνoun/oon/G3767apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
mustδεῖdei/die/G11633d person singular active present of 1210; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding):--behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should.
beεἰμί ἐιμίeinai/i'-nahee/G1511present infinitive from 1510; to exist:--am, was. come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was.
blameless,ἀνεπίλημπτοςanepileptos/an-ep-eel'-ape-tos/G423from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 1949; not arrested, i.e. (by implication) inculpable:--blameless, unrebukeable.
the
husbandἀνήρaner/an'-ayr/G435a primary word (compare 444); a man (properly as an individual male):--fellow, husband, man, sir.
of
oneεἷςmia/mee'-ah/G3391irregular feminine of 1520; one or first:--a (certain), + agree, first, one, X other.
wife,γυνήgune/goo-nay'/G1135probably from the base of 1096; a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman.
vigilant,νηφάλιοςnephaleosG3524nephalios nay-fal'-ee-os from 3525; sober, i.e. (figuratively) circumspect:--sober.
sober,σώφρωνsophron/so'-frone/G4998from the base of 4982 and that of 5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion):--discreet, sober, temperate.
of
good
behaviour,κόσμιοςkosmios/kos'-mee-os/G2887from 2889 (in its primary sense); orderly, i.e. decorous:--of good behaviour, modest.
given
to
hospitality,φιλόξενοςphiloxenos/fil-ox'-en-os/G5382from 5384 and 3581; fond of guests, i.e. hospitable:--given to (lover of, use) hospitality.
apt
to
teach;διδακτικόςdidaktikos/did-ak-tik-os'/G1317from 1318; instructive ("didactic"):--apt to teach.
of
good:
or,
modest

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 43:3

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isaiah 43:11

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isaiah 45:15

Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

Isaiah 45:21

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Hosea 13:4

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

Luke 1:47

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Acts 26:16

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Romans 1:1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Romans 15:12

And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 1:1

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Galatians 1:1

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Galatians 1:11

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: in: or, among

2 Thessalonians 2:16

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

1 Timothy 2:3

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1 Timothy 2:7

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

1 Timothy 4:10

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2 Timothy 1:10

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Titus 1:3Titus 2:10Titus 2:13Titus 3:4Titus 3:61 Peter 1:31 Peter 1:212 Peter 1:11 John 4:14Jude 1:25

Topics

AvariceBishopCommandmentsMeeknessMinister (1)MinistersPatiencePolygamySobrietyStrifeTemperance

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Timothy 3:2.

Luke 5:12

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Acts 4:32

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Luke 2:49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Luke 8:38

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Luke 9:33

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

Mark 10:12

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Mark 10:2

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

Mark 9:5

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Timothy 3:2 say?

1 Timothy 3:2 (King James Version) reads: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; of good: or, modest"

Is 1 Timothy 3:2 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Timothy 3:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Timothy.

Reflect

As you read 1 Timothy 3:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on 1 Timothy 3:2
3:1Read all of 1 Timothy 33:3