1 Timothy 3:2 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Ver. 2. A bishop then must be blameless] That is, every faithful pastor must be such as against whom no just exception can be laid, no gross fault objected. Involuntary failings and unavoidable infirmities have a pardon, of course, both with God and all good men.

The husband of one wife] sc. At once. The Egyptian priests were forbidden also polygamy.

Vigilant] νηφαλιον, pale and wan with watching, ου χρη παννυχιον ευδειν βουληφορον ανδρα (Homer): a public person should not sleep a whole night together.

Sober] σωφρονα, that can contain his passions and keep a mean.

Of good behaviour] κοσμιον. a Compositus, modestus. Neat and handsome in his outward habit, venerable in all his behaviour.

Given to hospitality] Quicquid habent clerici, pauperum est: the minister's chest is the poor man's box.

Apt to teach] Not able only, as Dr Taylor, martyr, who preached not only every Lord's day and holy day, but whensoever else he could get the people together. (Acts and Mon.) Praedicationis officium suscipit, quisquis ad sacerdotium accedit, saith Gregory. (Greg. Pastor.) He is no minister that is no preacher.

a Bene moratum. Hieron. ad Damasum.

1 Timothy 3:2

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;