1 Timothy 3

(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 behaviour, 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.
(8)  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, 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.
(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.

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Study Questions

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1. What is the faithful saying and why is it called that? Verse 1.

2. Is a bishop the same thing as an elder? How do we know that? Verse 1. (See Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28, and Titus 1:5)

3. What is the meaning of “blameless”? Could any single man be an elder? Verse 2.

4. Give another definition for the following words in three words or less. Verse 2.
Vigilant __________________________________________________________
Sober ___________________________________________________________
Of good behavior _________________________________________________
Given to hospitality _______________________________________________

5. Does the phrase “apt to teach” mean “as liable to as not”? If not what is the meaning? Verse 2.

6. Give another definition for the following words in three words or less. Verse 3.
Not given to wine _____________________________________________
No striker ___________________________________________________
Not greedy of filthy lucre ________________________________________
Patient _____________________________________________________
Not a brawler ________________________________________________
Not covetous _______________________________________________

7. How could we tell if a man knows how to rule his own house? Verse 4.

8. Would it disqualify a man for the office of elder if his children did not respect him and if they did not honor God? Verse 4.

9. What is the evidence of a man’s ability to rule the church? Verse 5.

10. What is a novice? Verse 6.

11. Why would a “novice” be likely to fall into the devil’s traps? Verse 6.

12. Who is it that must have respect for a man, besides the members of the church and his family, if a man would be an elder? Verse 7.

13. Why couldn’t a man who once lived a dishonest, untruthful, and sinful life make a good elder if he truly has repented? Verse 7.

14. What is another term for deacons? What do you see as the work of a deacon? Verse 8.

15. What is another word for “grave”? Why would a deacon be tempted to be “double-tongued”? Verse 8.

16. Is the use of alcohol as a beverage consistent with Christian character? How could we tell if someone is “greedy of filthy lucre”? Verse 8.

17. What is the “mystery of the faith” and what is the vessel in which to keep it? Verse 9.

18. Before appointing men as deacons, what should the congregation observe, and what should their observation reveal? Verse 10.

19. What are the four qualifications listed for deacons’ wives and also the elders’ wives for that matter? Verse 11.

20. What other qualifications are given for deacons? Verse 12.

21. What type of service would be necessary to “purchase to themselves a good degree” or to obtain a good standing in the sight of God and man? Verse 13.

22. What “things” did Paul regard as so important that he wrote them before he got to Ephesus? Verse 14.

23. Does the expression “house of God” refer to the building? What is the meaning of “the pillar and ground of the truth”? Verse 15.

24. Explain in your own words the meaning and relation of the six phrases in this verse. Verse 16.