Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 3:2

"The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" — 1 Timothy 3:2 (ASV)

For the church organization that we know in the NT, it is apparent that churches had several overseers . The older translation of “overseer” (GK 2176) as “bishop” has led to misunderstanding, for the NT knows nothing of a single diocesan bishop, such as some contemporary churches have.

Paul lists fifteen specific qualifications of an “overseer” in vv.2–7.

The first is that he must be “above reproach” (GK 455). This word describes someone against whom no charge of wrong doing can be brought. Because it stands at the head of his list, Paul suggests that an overseer should not be subject to criticism in any of the listed characteristics.

The second qualification is that he must be “the husband of but one wife” (cf. also v.12). While some have interpreted this as meaning “married only once,” most commentators agree that it means monogamy—only one wife at one time—and that the overseer must be completely faithful to his wife.

The third qualification is “temperate” (GK 3767). In classical Greek this word meant “not mixed with wine”; in later writers it came to have the broader sense of “temperate” or “sober.”

The fourth qualification of an overseer is “self-controlled” (GK 5409), a word that originally means “of sound mind.” Thus it carried the sense of “selfcontrolled” or “sober-minded.”

The fifth is “respectable” (GK 3177)—the same word as is translated “modestly” in 2:9. The basic meaning of the word is “orderly,” but Greek writers used it in the sense of “respectable” or “honorable.” That fits well here.

The sixth qualification is “hospitable” (GK 5811); this word means literally “loving strangers.” Christians traveling in the first century avoided the public inns with their pagan atmosphere and food that had already been offered to idols (cf. 1 Corinthians 8). They would therefore seek out a Christian home in which to stop for the night. A valuable by-product was that believers from widely scattered areas would get to know each other, thus cementing lines of fellowship. So hospitality was an important Christian virtue in that day. Even in our modern hotel-motel age, it can have its place.

The seventh item is “able to teach” (GK 1434). This implies not only a readiness to teach, but also having the spiritual power to do so, after the overseer has prayerfully reflected on God’s Word and its practical application.