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1 Tim 3 V1 V2 V3 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16
In this section, Paul described the qualifications for Christian leaders, those who lead a group of believers.
This section can be divided into three paragraphs:
Paragraph 3:1–7: The sort of people who should be overseers
Paragraph 3:8–13: The sort of people who should be deacons
Paragraph 3:14–16: The reason Paul wrote this letter to Timothy
In this paragraph Paul told Timothy the qualities that a person needed to have in order to become an “overseer.” An overseer was someone who led and taught a group of believers.
An overseer must manage his own household well
He must lead his own family well,
He must be in control of his own family,
manage his own household well: The Greek word that the BSB translates as manage means to influence the way people behave.Louw and Nida (36.1) say that the word in the Greek (proistēmi) means “to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action,” and it implies “a minimum of control on the part of the one guiding or leading.” An overseer should train his family to behave in ways that please God. In some languages, it is possible to use a word meaning “guide” or “lead.” In other languages it may be possible to say “be in control of his family.”
and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
and he must teach his children to respectfully obey him in everything.
keep his children under control, with complete dignity: This is part of managing a family well. An overseer was to train his children and make sure they obeyed him respectfully.
with complete dignity: The Greek word semnotēs that the BSB translates as dignity means “esteem,” “reverence,” “honor.”
In this context, Paul was saying that the children were to obey their father to show that they respected him. That is, they were to esteem him and honor him by the way they behaved. See the NIV, RSV, GNT, NJB, GW, NLT, CEV, and NCV.
complete: The Greek word that the BSB translates as complete is literally “all.” Paul used this word to say that an overseer’s children should respectfully obey him in every way.
προϊστάμενον
leading
Alternate translation: [managing] or [taking care of]
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐν ὑποταγῇ, μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος
in submission (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου καλῶς προϊστάμενον τέκνα ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετά πάσης σεμνότητος)
Here, the phrase with all dignity could describe: (1) another characteristic of the children. Alternate translation: [in submission, children with all dignity] (2) another way the children treat their parent, the overseer. Alternate translation: [in submission who treat him with dignity] (3) how the overseer should treat his children. Alternate translation: [in submission as he treats them with all dignity]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐν ὑποταγῇ, μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος
in submission (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου καλῶς προϊστάμενον τέκνα ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετά πάσης σεμνότητος)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of submission and dignity, you could express the same ideas in another way. Make sure that your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: [who submit and are very dignified]
3:1-13 The topic shifts to church leadership by elders (3:1-7) and deacons (3:8-13). Timothy’s role in the appointments is less clear than that of Titus (see 5:17-22; Titus 1:5), possibly because the church in Ephesus was more mature and thus better able to manage the process (cp. Acts 6:2-6). The criteria listed here pertain to character rather than function and are partly a response to the local heretics. Reading this letter in the churches would make the criteria public and demonstrate the unfitness of the heretics for leadership.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.