1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Original Language Analysis
δεῖ
must
G1163
δεῖ
must
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
1 of 14
also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπίσκοπον
A bishop
G1985
ἐπίσκοπον
A bishop
Strong's:
G1985
Word #:
4 of 14
a superintendent, i.e., christian officer in genitive case charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively)
ἀνεπίληπτον
blameless
G423
ἀνεπίληπτον
blameless
Strong's:
G423
Word #:
5 of 14
not arrested, i.e., (by implication) inculpable
σώφρονα
sober
G4998
σώφρονα
sober
Strong's:
G4998
Word #:
11 of 14
safe (sound) in mind, i.e., self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion)
Cross References
2 Timothy 2:24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,Romans 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.1 Timothy 5:9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:1 Peter 4:9Use hospitality one to another without grudging.Hebrews 13:2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.Hebrews 3:14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;1 Timothy 4:3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.Titus 2:2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Historical Context
Paul wrote 1 Timothy circa AD 62-64 to his protégé Timothy, who was overseeing the church in Ephesus—a major city plagued by false teachers mixing Judaism, Greek philosophy, and proto-Gnosticism. The qualifications for episkopos (overseer/bishop) and diakonos (deacon) were essential to establish credible leadership in a morally corrupt, pagan environment where the church's reputation was constantly under scrutiny.
Questions for Reflection
- Which of these elder qualifications challenges you most in your own character development?
- Why does Paul emphasize 'blameless' and 'good report' rather than mere doctrinal knowledge?
- How does 'one-woman man' (marital fidelity) relate to broader integrity in ministry?
Analysis & Commentary
A bishop then must be blameless (ἀνεπίλημπτον, anepilēmpton)—the overseer must be 'above reproach,' giving opponents no basis for accusation. Husband of one wife (μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, mias gynaikos andra) literally 'a one-woman man'—emphasizing marital faithfulness, not necessarily excluding singles or widowers, but prohibiting polygamy and serial divorces.
Vigilant, sober, of good behaviour—Greek nēphalion (clear-headed, temperate), sōphrona (self-controlled, prudent), kosmion (orderly, respectable). The elder must demonstrate both internal discipline and external propriety.
Apt to teach (didaktikon) distinguishes the elder/overseer from the deacon—teaching ability is essential for shepherding God's flock in sound doctrine. This comprehensive list shows that character precedes competence in church leadership.