Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
Chapter
1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 Timothy 3:1-7 1. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1. Certus sermo, si quis episcopatum appetit, praeclarum opus desiderat. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
2. Oportet ergo Episcopum irreprehensibilem esse, unius uxoris maritum, sobrium, temperantem, compositum, (vel, honestum,) hospitalem, aptum ad docendum.
3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
3. Non vinolentum, (vel, ferocem,) non percussorem, non turpiter lucri cupidum, sed aequum, alienum a pugnis, alienum ab avaritia.
4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
4. Qui domui suae bene praesit, qui filios habeat in subjectione, cum omni reverentia.
5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
5. Quodsi quis propriae domui praeesse non novit, ecclesiam Dei quomodo curabit?
6. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
6. Non novicium, ne inflatus in condemnationem incidat diaboli. 7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
7. Oportet autem illum et bonum testimonium habere ab extraneis, ne in probum incidat et laqueum diaboli.
1 It is a true saying Chrysostom thinks, that this is the conclusion of the preceding doctrine. But I do not approve of the opinion; for Paul commonly makes use of this form of expression as a prelude to what he is about to introduce, Besides, in the former discourse there was no need of so strong an affirmation; but what he is now about to say, is somewhat more weighty. Let these words, therefore, be received as a preface intended to point out the importance of