1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy · Chapter 3

1 Timothy 3:2

1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul has just called the desire to be a bishop, or overseer, a good work (3:1). This verse begins his list of what such a leader must be like, and the list continues through 3:7. A similar list for deacons follows in 3:8-13. 1 Timothy 3:11 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:31 Timothy 3:71 Timothy 3:81 Timothy overview

SpeakingPaul the apostle, writing to his co-worker Timothy. Many critical scholars think a follower wrote in Paul's name, while others defend Paul's authorship. 1 Timothy overview

ToTimothy, whom Paul had left to lead the church at Ephesus. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 3:14

Also involvedMen being considered for the office of overseer in the church, and the church they would care for. 1 Timothy 3:11 Timothy 3:5

The verse lists qualities an overseer must have. He must be above reproach, "the husband of one wife," sober, self-controlled, orderly, welcoming to strangers, and able to teach. 1 Timothy 3:2Strong's G0423Strong's G3524Strong's G4998Strong's G2887Strong's G5382Strong's G1317

The instructions are for the church in Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. Where Paul wrote from is not stated, though it may have been Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsThe verse describes no event. It gives standing instructions for choosing church leaders. 1 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:14

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, between Paul's two Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul wanted Timothy to know how people ought to behave in the household of God, the church. Choosing leaders of proven character was part of that. 1 Timothy 3:141 Timothy 3:151 Timothy overview

In the whole of ScriptureThe letter teaches that sound belief and godly living belong together. Leaders must show this in their own homes and in their reputation with outsiders. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 3:41 Timothy 3:51 Timothy 3:7

For readersThe verse shows that the church judges leaders mainly by character. Some of the same qualities, such as hospitality, are asked of all believers elsewhere. 1 Timothy 3:2Romans 12:131 Peter 4:9

Christians read this differently

Christians read "the husband of one wife" in different ways. The Greek is literally "a man of one woman," and 5:9 uses the mirror phrase for widows. Main views include ruling out polygamy, requiring present faithfulness in marriage, or barring men who have remarried. Traditions also differ on whether "bishop" here names a separate office or the same role as an elder. 1 Timothy 3:2Strong's G1520Strong's G0435HStrong's G1135H1 Timothy 5:9Titus 1:6Strong's G1985

  • bishop (overseer)ἐπίσκοπος
    Greek · episkopos · G1985

    The word literally means a watcher or overseer, a guardian of others. In Paul's later letters it came to name the head of a church. Strong's G19851 Timothy 3:5

  • blameless (above reproach)ἀνεπίληπτος
    Greek · anepilēptos · G0423

    The word is stronger than similar terms. It means a man has a good reputation and truly deserves it. Strong's G0423

  • oneεἷς
    Greek · ehis · G1520

    Together with the words for man and woman, it forms the phrase "a man of one woman." The same phrase, reversed, describes widows in 5:9. Strong's G15201 Timothy 5:9

  • vigilant (sober)νηφαλέος
    Greek · nēphaleos · G3524

    The KJV says "vigilant," but the word means sober or temperate. It first described drink not mixed with wine. Strong's G35241 Timothy 3:3

  • apt to teachδιδακτικός
    Greek · didaktikos · G1317

    The word means apt at teaching. Paul asks the same of "the servant of the Lord" in 2 Timothy 2:24, and Titus 1:9 links it to holding fast sound doctrine. Strong's G13172 Timothy 2:24Titus 1:9

Takeaway

This verse is part of a list for choosing church overseers. It puts proven character, faithful family life, self-control, hospitality, and the ability to teach at the center of leadership. 1 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:41 Timothy 3:51 Timothy overview

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-22.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Hospitality
Christians travelling between cities depended on believers who would take them in, and the New Testament repeatedly urges it. Romans 12:13Hebrews 13:23 John 1:5-8

About AD 62-64. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Timothy was when Paul wrote. A port city on the west coast of today's Turkey and the greatest market of the province of Asia.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over the whole Roman world, including Ephesus, Macedonia and Judea. When Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, the Caesar was Nero. Paul tells Timothy to have prayers made "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:161 Timothy 2:1-2Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Ephesus stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul, a former consul appointed by the Senate for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. During the riot in Ephesus the town clerk reminded the crowd that "the law is open, and there are deputies" (proconsuls). Acts 19:38-39Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s

    Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome and had the right to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. He heard Paul's defense with Festus and told him, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 25:13Acts 26:28Josephus, Antiquities 20.179, 20.203

  • Roman governors of JudeaFestus, Albinus and Florusc. AD 59-66

    Porcius Festus sent Paul to Rome and died in office around AD 62. Lucceius Albinus (62-64) and Gessius Florus (64-66) followed; Josephus blames Florus's greed and brutality for pushing Judea into revolt. Acts 24:27Acts 25:12Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203, 20.252-258Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308

  • King of ParthiaVologases Ic. AD 51-78

    Ruler of the Parthian empire east of the Euphrates, Rome's one great rival. He fought Rome over Armenia until a settlement in AD 63 let his brother Tiridates rule Armenia as Rome's client. Tacitus, Annals 15.1-17, 15.24-31Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.19-23

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 68
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo took the Armenian capitals Artaxata and Tigranocerta. In AD 62 a second Roman army under Paetus surrendered at Rhandeia, and in AD 63 the two empires made peace. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake destroys Laodicea

    Laodicea, about 150 km (95 miles) east of Ephesus in the same province, was ruined by an earthquake and rebuilt from its own wealth without help from Rome. Paul's letters mention the church there, and Revelation later quotes the city's boast, "I am rich." Tacitus, Annals 14.27Colossians 4:13-16Revelation 3:17

  3. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium before the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  4. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in Rome under house arrest, receiving visitors and preaching openly. The traditional date for 1 Timothy places it soon after his release. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31

  5. c. AD 61-63
    DiscoveryNero's expedition up the Nile

    Nero sent a party of soldiers to find the source of the Nile. They travelled far beyond Egypt and reached vast marshes they could not cross, likely the Sudd in today's South Sudan. The date is approximate. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.8.3-4Pliny, Natural History 6.181

  6. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed in Jerusalem

    Festus died in office. Before the next governor arrived, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" and others stoned. Ananus was removed after three months. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19Acts 15:13

  7. AD 62 or 63
    DisasterEarthquake hits Pompeii

    An earthquake badly damaged Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, seventeen years before Vesuvius buried them. Seneca dates it to AD 62; Tacitus to AD 63. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.1Tacitus, Annals 15.22

  8. c. AD 62
    DiscoveryHero of Alexandria's machines

    The engineer Hero of Alexandria, whose work is dated by an eclipse of AD 62 he describes, wrote up a steam-spun sphere (the aeolipile) and a coin-operated machine that dispensed water in temples. Hero, Pneumatics 1.21, 2.11Hero, Dioptra 35

  9. c. AD 63-64
    BuildingJerusalem's temple is finished

    Work on the temple Herod began around 20 BC was completed under Albinus, leaving some 18,000 workers without jobs. Six years later Roman armies destroyed it, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Antiquities 20.219-222John 2:20Luke 21:5-6

  10. July AD 64
    DisasterThe Great Fire of Rome

    Fire burned for days. Of Rome's fourteen districts, three were destroyed and seven badly damaged. Nero then built his vast Golden House on the cleared land. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-43Suetonius, Nero 31, 38

  11. AD 64
    The churchNero blames and kills Christians

    To end rumours that he had started the fire, Nero blamed the Christians of Rome. Tacitus records a "vast multitude" put to death, some torn by dogs and some burned as torches. Tacitus, Annals 15.44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

  12. AD 65
    RulersA plot against Nero fails

    The Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero was betrayed. Among those forced to take their own lives was Seneca, Nero's former tutor and the brother of Gallio, the governor who dismissed the case against Paul in Corinth. Tacitus, Annals 15.48-74Acts 18:12-17

  13. AD 66
    WarThe Jewish revolt begins

    After Florus seized money from the temple treasury, Jerusalem rose against Rome and the daily sacrifice offered for the emperor was stopped. The war ended with Jerusalem and its temple destroyed in AD 70. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410Luke 21:20-24

  14. AD 66-67
    BuildingNero tours Greece and starts a canal at Corinth

    Nero competed in the Greek games and broke ground for a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. The work stopped after his death; the canal was finally cut in 1893. Suetonius, Nero 19, 22-24

  15. c. AD 67
    The churchPaul's death in Rome

    In his last letter Paul writes from prison that "the time of my departure is at hand." Early Christian tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Nero. 2 Timothy 4:6-8Eusebius, Church History 2.25

  16. June AD 68
    RulersNero dies

    Facing revolt in the provinces and declared an enemy by the Senate, Nero took his own life. Four emperors ruled in turn during the following year before Vespasian took power. Suetonius, Nero 47-49Tacitus, Histories 1.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then the ancient historians who wrote about these years (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Cassius Dio). Dates are as those writers give them; approximate dates say so. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
It behoovesδεῖdeiG1163
be necessary

δεῖ (dei) δεῖ impersonal (δέω), [in LXX chiefly for infin. with לְ ;] one must, it is necessary: with inf., Mat.26:54, Mrk.13:7, Act.5:29, al.; with accusative and inf., Mat.16:21, Mrk.8:31, Jhn.3:7, Act.25:10, al.; with ellipse of accusative, Mat.23:23; of accusative, and inf., Mrk.13:14, Rom.1:27 8:26; οὐ (μὴ) δεῖ (non licet), ought not, must not: Act.25:24, 2Ti.2:24; impf., ἔδει, of necessity or obligation in past time regarding a past event (Bl., § 63, 4), Mat.18:33, Luk.15:32, Jhn.4:4, Act.27:21, al.; periphr., δέον ἐστίν (as in Attic, χρεών ἐστι = χρή, see: δέον), Act.19:36; id., with ellipse of …

thereforeοὖνounG3767
therefore/then

οὖν (oun) οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), …

overseerἐπίσκοπονepiskoponG1985
overseer

ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos) ἐπί-σκοπος, -ου, ὁ (σκοπός, a watcher), [in LXX for פָּקַד, its parts and derivatives, Num.4:16 31:14, Jdg.9:28, 4Ki.11:15 11:18, 2Ch.34:12 34:17, Neh.11:9, 14 11:22; אֵל, Job.20:29; נָגַשׂ:, Isa.60:17; Wis.1:6, 1Ma.1:51 * ;] a superintendent, guardian, overseer (cl.; for exx. see LS, see word): Act.20:28, 1Pe.2:25 (ICC, in l); as technical term for a religious office (Deiss., BS, 230 f.), in later Paul. epp. of the head of a church (Vg. episcopus), a bishop: Php.1:1, 1Ti.3:2, Tit.1:7 (see reff. see word ἐπισκοπή).† (AS)

above reproachἀνεπίλημπτονanepilēmptonG0423
irreproachable

ἀνεπίληπτος (anepilēptos) ἀν-επί-λημπτος (Rec. -λμπτος; Bl., § 6, 8), -ον (ἀ- ἐπιλαμβάνω) without reproach: 1Ti.3:2 5:7 6:14.† SYN.: ἀμεμπτος, ἀνέγκλητος. It is stronger than these, for it implies not only that the man is of good report, but that he is deservedly so (cf. MM, VGT, see word). (AS)

to be,εἶναι,einaiG1511
to exist

εἶναι (einai) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

of oneμιᾶςmiasG1520
one

εἷς (ehis) εἷς ιά, ἕν, genitive ἑνός, μιᾶς, ἑνός, cardinal numeral, one; 1. one, as opposite to many: Mat.25:15, Rom.5:12, 1Co.10:8, al.; as subst., Rom.5:15, Eph.2:14; id. with genitive partit., Mat.5:19, al.; before ἐκ (ἐξ), Mrk.14:18, Jhn.6:8, al.; metaphorically, of union and concord, Jhn.10:30 17:11, Rom.12:4-5, Php.1:27; ἀπὸ μιᾶς (B1., § 44, 1), Luk.14:18; with neg., εἷς. . . οὐ (μή), more emphatic than οὐδείς, no one, none (cl.), Mat.5:18 10:29, Luk.11:46 12:6. 2. Emphatically, to the exclusion of others; …

wifeγυναικὸςgunaikosG1135H
woman

γυνή (gunē) γυνή, -αικός, ἡ, [in LXX for אִשָּׁה ;] 1. a woman, married or unmarried: Mat.11:11 14:21, al.; ὕπανδρος γ., Rom.7:2; γ. χήρα, Luk.4:26; in vocat., γύναι implies neither reproof nor severity, but is used frequently as a term of respect and endearment, Mat.15:28, Jhn.2:4, 4:21 19:26. 2. a wife: Mat.1:20, 1Co.7:3, 4 al.; γ. ἀπολύειν, Mrk.10:2, al.; γ. ἔχειν Mrk.6:18; γ. λαβεῖν, Mrk.12:19; γ. γαμεῖν, Luk.14:20. 3. a deaconess, 1Ti.3:11 (CGT, in l.). (AS)

[the] husband,ἄνδρα,andraG0435H
man

ἀνήρ (anēr) ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ, frequently אֱנוֹשׁ, also אָדָם, etc. ;] a man, Lat. vir. 1. As opposite to a woman, Act.8:12, 1Ti.2:12; as a husband, Mat.1:16, Jhn.4:16, Rom.7:2, Tit.1:6. 2. As opposite to a boy or infant, 1Co.13:11, Eph.4:13, Jas.3:2. 3. In appos. with a noun or adj., as ἀ. ἁμαρτωλός, Luk.5:8; ἀ. προφήτης, 24:19; frequently in terms of address, as ἀ. ἀδελφοί, Act.1:16; and esp. with gentilic names, as ἀ. Ἰουδαῖος, Act.22:3; ἀ. Ἐφέσιοι, 19:35. 4. In general, a man, a male person: = τις, Luk.8:41, Act.6:11. …

sober,νηφάλιον,nēphalionG3524
sober

νηφαλέος (nēphaleos) νηφάλιος (-λεος, Rec., in 1Ti, ll. with), -ον (in cl., -α, -ον), (νήφω), 1. in cl., of drink, not mixed with wine. 2. In later writers (Plut., al.), of persons, sober, temperate: 1Ti.3:2 3:11, Tit.2:2.† (AS)

self-controlled,σώφρονα,sōphronaG4998
self-controlled

σώφρων (sōphrōn) σώφρων, -ον [in LXX: 4Ma.9:1-32 * ;] (a) of sound mind, sane, sensible; (b) self-controlled, sober-minded: 1Ti.3:2, Tit.1:8 2:2, 5 (Arist.).† (AS)

respectable,κόσμιον,kosmionG2887
respectable

κόσμιος (kosmios) κόσμιος, -ον (in cl. -α, -ον), (κόσμος), [in LXX: Ecc.12:9 (תָּקַן)* ;] orderly, decent, modest: 1Ti.2:9 (WH, mg., -ίως, which see) 1Ti.3:2.† (AS)

hospitable,φιλόξενον,philoxenonG5382
hospitable

φιλόξενος (philoxenos) φιλό-ξενος, -ον loving strangers, hospitable: 1Ti.3:2, Tit.1:8, 1Pe.4:9.† (AS)

able to teach,διδακτικόν,didaktikonG1317
able to teach

διδακτικός (didaktikos) διδακτικός, -ή, -όν (= cl. διδασκαλικός) apt at teaching: 1Ti.3:2, 2Ti.2:24.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.