1 Timothy 3

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bishop, desire, desireth. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;” Naming Not keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Naming Not keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” Naming Holding keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blameless, deacon, first. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:” The line’s distinctive content terms include hoping, shortly, write. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit…” Naming Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.