SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:1
¶ La palabra es fiel: Si alguno desea obispado (oficio de pastor o anciano en la Iglesia) , ministerio difícil desea.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1
Verse 1. This is a true saying] pistov o logov? This is a true doctrine. These words are joined to the last verse of the preceding chapter by several of the Greek fathers, and by them referred to the doctrine there stated.
The office of a bishop] episkophv? The episcopacy, overseership or superintendency. The word oregetai, which we translate desire, signifies earnest, eager, passionate desire; and epiqumei, which we translate desire, also signifies earnestly to desire or covet. It is strange that the episcopacy, in those times, should have been an object of intense desire to any man; when it was a place of danger, awl exposure to severe labour, want, persecution, and death, without any secular emolument whatsoever. On this ground I am led to think that the Spirit of God designed these words more for the ages that were to come, than for those which were then; and in reference to after ages the whole of what follows is chiefly to be understood.
A good work.] A work it then was; heavy, incessant, and painful. There were no unpreaching prelates in those days, and should be none now.
Episcopacy in the Church of God is of Divine appointment, and should be maintained and respected. Under God, there should be supreme governors in the Church as well as in the state. The state has its monarch, the Church has its bishop; one should govern according to the laws of the land, the other according to the word of God.
What a constitutional king should be, the principles of the constitution declare; what a bishop should be, the following verses particularly show.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. This is a true saying , etc.] Some think this clause belongs to the last verse of the preceding chapter; and then the sense is, this is a doctrine that is true, and to be believed, that there is salvation through the birth of a Son, or through the incarnate Son of God, for men and women that believe in him, and continue in the faith of him, and love to him, joined with works of righteousness and holiness. And so the same phrase seems to belong to what goes before in ( 1 Timothy 4:8,9 2 Timothy 2:10,11). Though it regards what follows in ( 1 Timothy 1:15) and so it seems that it should be considered here; and is used to excite attention, and suggests that what was about to be said was of moment and importance, and what was without controversy, and unquestionably true. The apostle, having denied to women the work and office of teaching, proceeds to observe, that though this belonged to men, yet not to every man; and therefore he gives the qualifications of such; which might serve as a direction to churches, in the choice of them; as well as be a means of stirring up persons in such an office, to a proper regard to themselves and their work: if a man desire the office of a bishop ; which is the same with that of a pastor or elder; and so here the Syriac version renders it, if a man desires presbytery, or eldership; and it lies in preaching the word, administering the ordinances of the Gospel, and taking care of the discipline of the church, and in the visiting, inspection, and oversight of it; as the word episkoph , episcopacy, here used, signifies; and this work and office may be lawfully and laudably desired, with a view to the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls. Nor should any undertake it, but such who find in themselves an hearty desire, and inclination to it, on such principles, and a real delight and pleasure in it; and such an one he desireth a good work : the office of a bishop, elder, or pastor of a church, is a work, and a very laborious one; wherefore such are called labourers in the word and doctrine: it is not a mere title of honour, and a place of profit, but it is a business of labour and care; yet a good one, a famous and excellent one; it being an employment in things of the greatest excellency in themselves, and of the greatest usefulness for the good of men, and the honour of God; as the doctrines, ordinances, and discipline of the Gospel; and so must be excellently, honestly, pleasantly, and profitably a good work.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed in a goo work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He must be sober temperate, moderate in all his actions, and in the use of all creature-comforts. Sobriety and watchfulness are put together i Scripture, they assist one the other. The families of ministers ough to be examples of good to all other families. We should take heed of pride; it is a sin that turned angels into devils. He must be of goo repute among his neighbours, and under no reproach from his forme life. To encourage all faithful ministers, we have Christ's graciou word of promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Mt 28:20. And he will fit his ministers for their work, an carry them through difficulties with comfort, and reward their faithfulness.
Greek Textus Receptus
πιστος 4103 ο 3588 λογος 3056 ει 1487 τις 5100 επισκοπης 1984 ορεγεται 3713 5731 καλου 2570 εργου 2041 επιθυμει 1937 5719
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. This is a true saying (pistov o logov). Better,faithful is the saying. See on ch. i. 15.
Desire (oregetai). Better, seeketh. Only here, ch. vi. 10, and Hebrews xi. 16. Originally to stretchv forth, to reach after. Here it implies not only desiring but seeking after. Desire is expressed by ejpiqumei immediately following. The word implies eagerness, but not of an immoderate or unchristian character. Comp. the kindred word orexiv with its terrible meaning in Rom. i. 27.
The office of a bishop (episkophv). o P. Episkopov superintendent, overseer, by Paul only in Philip. i. 1. The fundamental idea of the sword is overseeing. The term ejpiskopov was not furnished by the gospel tradition: it did not come from the Jewish synagogue, and it does not appear in Paul's lists of those whom God has set in the church (1 Corinthians xii. 28; Eph. iv. 11). Its adoption came about in a natural way. Just as senatus, gerousia and presbuterov passed into official designations through the natural association of authority with age, so ejpiskopov would be, almost inevitably, the designation of a superintendent. This process of natural selection was probably aided by the familiar use of the title In the clubs and guilds to designate functions analogous to those of the ecclesiastical administrator. The title can hardly be traced to the O.T. There are but two passages in LXX where the word has any connection with religious worship, Num. iv. 16; 2 Kings xi. 18. It is applied to God (Job xx. 29), and in N.T. to Christ (1 Pet. ii. 25). It is used of officers in the army and of overseers of workmen. The prevailing O.T. sense of ejpiskoph is visitation for punishment, inquisition, or numbering. 101 He desireth (epiqumei). See on 1 Pet. i. 12.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:1 {Faithful is the saying} (pistos ho logos). Here the phrase points to the preceding words (not like #1:15) and should close the preceding paragraph. {If a man seeketh} (ei tis oregetai). Condition of first class, assumed as true. Present middle indicative of oregw, old verb to reach out after something, governing the genitive. In N.T. only here, #6:10; Heb 11:16. {The office of a bishop} (episkopes). Genitive case after oregetai. Late and rare word outside of LXX and N.T. (in a Lycaonian inscription). From episkopew and means "over-seership" as in #Ac 1:20.
