Comments on 1 Timothy 3 This chapter deals with what manner of men ought to be Bishops and Deacons in the ecclesia, as well as what manner of women ought to be their wives. v2 "husband of one wife", the JFB entry for this phrase states: confuting the celibacy of Rome's priesthood. Though the Jews practiced polygamy, yet as he is writing as to a Gentile Church, and as polygamy was never allowed among even laymen in the Church, the ancient interpretation that the prohibition here is against polygamy in a candidate bishop is not correct. It must, therefore, mean that, though laymen might lawfully marry again, candidates for the episcopate or presbytery were better to have been married only once. As in 1Ti 5:9, "wife of one man," implies a woman married but once; so "husband of one wife" here must mean the same. The feeling which prevailed among the Gentiles, as well as the Jews (compare as to Anna, Lu 2:36, 37), against a second marriage would, on the ground of expediency and conciliation in matters indifferent and not involving compromise of principle, account for Paul's prohibition here in the case of one in so prominent a sphere as a bishop or a deacon. Hence the stress that is laid in the context on the repute in which the candidate for orders is held among those over whom he is to preside (Tit 1:16). The Council of Laodicea and the apostolic canons discountenanced second marriages, especially in the case of candidates for ordination. Of course second marriage being lawful, the undesirableness of it holds good only under special circumstances. It is implied here also, that he who has a wife and virtuous family, is to be preferred to a bachelor; for he who is himself bound to discharge the domestic duties mentioned here, is likely to be more attractive to those who have similar ties, for he teaches them not only by precept, but also by example (1Ti 3:4, 5). The Jews teach, a priest should be neither unmarried nor childless, lest he be unmerciful [BENGEL]. So in the synagogue, "no one shall offer up prayer in public, unless he be married" [in Colbo, ch. 65; VITRINGA, Synagogue and Temple]. Conybeare and Hoswon in _The Life and Epistles of St. Paul_ make a similar statement: Compare 3:12, 5:9, and Titus 1:6. Many different interpretations have been given to this precept. It has been supposed (1) to prescribe marriage, (2) to forbid polygamy, (3) to forbid second marriages. The true interpretation seems to be as follows: -In the corrupt facility of divorce allowed by both by the Greek and Roman law, it was very common for man and wife to separate, and marry other parties, during the life of one another. Thus a man might have three or four living wives; or, rather, women who had all successively been his wives.... We believe it is this kind of successive polygamy, rather than simultaneous polygamy, which is here spoken of as disqualifying for the Presbyterate. The readings forwarded by both of these is substantiated by the similar injunction on widows appearing in 5:9. As polyandry clearly was never endorsed and not in practice the matter must be one of divorce and remarriage. v11 is addressing the wives of the Elders and Deacons. v14-16 make it clear the preceding statments in ch. 2-3 are about matters of Church policy. v15-16 The IV/JST differs from the KJV, as follows: KJV IV --- -- 15 But if I tarry long, 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know that thou mayest know how thou oughtest how thou oughtest to behave thyself to behave thyself in the house of God, in the house of God, which is the church which is the church of the living God, of the living God. the pillar and ground 16 The pillar and ground of the truth. of the truth is, 16 And without controversy (and without controversy, great is the mystery great is the mystery of godliness: of godliness,) God was manifest in the flesh, God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, believed on in the world, received up into glory. received up into glory. The IV/JST makes it clear the "pillar and ground of the truth" is Jesus Christ, and not the Church as the KJV suggests. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.