This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”
Parallel translations
- WEB This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.
- KJV This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
- BSB This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
- NKJV This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
- NASB It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Aspiring to be an overseer is a noble desire for a good work. It affirms the value of church leadership while setting high standards to follow.
Overview
Paul calls it a 'faithful saying' that seeking the overseer's office is a worthy aspiration. The office is described as 'a good work,' emphasizing service over status. This introduces the qualifications that guard the church's leadership.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Titus 1:7For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
- Acts 20:28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- 1 Pet 5:2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
- 1 Pet 2:25For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
- 1 Tim 1:15The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- Jas 5:19–20Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
- Luke 15:10Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
- 2 Tim 2:11This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him.
- Phil 1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:
- Heb 12:15looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
- 1 Tim 4:9This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.
- 1 Tim 3:2–7The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
- Titus 3:8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
- Acts 1:20For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
- Eph 4:12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
- 1 Pet 4:15For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.
- Rom 11:13For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
- Prov 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
- 1 Th 5:14We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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