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1 Timothy 1:15
Thisis a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1 Timothy 4:9
Thisis a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

2 Timothy 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead withhim, we shall also live withhim:

the office.

1 Timothy 3:2-7
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; …

Acts 1:20
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

bishop.

Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Hebrews 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up troubleyou, and thereby many be defiled;

1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, oras a thief, oras an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

desireth.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteousis a tree of life; and he that winneth soulsis wise.

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Romans 11:13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

If anyone aspires to be an overseer:
The term "overseer" (Greek: episkopos) refers to a leadership role within the early church, often synonymous with "elder" or "bishop." This role involves spiritual oversight and guidance of the congregation. The aspiration to this position suggests a voluntary and earnest desire, not merely a pursuit of status or power. The early church structure was developing, and this role was crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity and community order (Acts 20:28,Titus 1:7).

he desires a noble task:
The role of an overseer is described as a "noble task," highlighting its honorable and virtuous nature. This task involves shepherding the flock, teaching, and protecting the church from false teachings (1 Peter 5:2-3,Titus 1:9). The nobility of the task is rooted in its alignment with God's purposes and the example set by Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). The emphasis on the task's nobility serves as a reminder of the high calling and responsibility associated with church leadership.

• Paul flags the statement that follows as entirely dependable. He uses the same formula in1 Timothy 1:15, 4:9;2 Timothy 2:11; andTitus 3:8, each time placing special weight on a core gospel truth or ministry principle.

• By calling it “trustworthy,” the Spirit underscores that what follows is not opinion or cultural suggestion but divinely anchored fact (Psalm 119:160;Proverbs 30:5).

• “Anyone” keeps the door open to every qualified believer—male or female—yet the rest of the chapter immediately adds character requirements that will narrow the field (1 Timothy 3:2-7).

• “Aspires” speaks of a God-given inner pull, not a grasping ambition (Romans 12:3-8). When the Spirit stirs that longing, it will be accompanied by humility (1 Peter 5:2-3) and an eagerness to serve, never to dominate (Mark 10:42-45).

• “Overseer” is interchangeable in the New Testament with elder and shepherd/pastor (compareActs 20:17 with 20:28;Titus 1:5-7). The role involves guarding doctrine (Titus 1:9), caring for souls (Hebrews 13:17), and modeling Christlikeness (1 Peter 5:3).

• Scripture calls the work “noble” or “excellent” because it mirrors the heart of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus, who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

• The task centers on:

– Teaching truth faithfully (2 Timothy 4:2)

– Praying for the flock (Acts 6:4)

– Leading by example (Philippians 3:17)

– Protecting from error (Acts 20:29-31)

• Noble does not mean glamorous. Paul’s own ministry involved hardship, tears, and sacrifice (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), yet he still called it a “good work” because of its eternal impact (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

God Himself vouches for the statement: pursuing oversight in Christ’s church—when motivated by the Spirit and measured by biblical qualifications—is a pursuit of something deeply honorable. The verse simultaneously invites qualified believers to consider the call and reminds the whole body that shepherding is precious, demanding, and worthy of respect (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

(1)This is a true saying.--There is no reason why the rendering of this formula adopted in1Timothy 1:15, "faithful is this saying," should be altered here. The "faithful saying" here refers to the wish for high and arduous work in the Church of Christ, and declares such a wish to be a noble one; for the office in question was a beautiful one, and honourable, and in those days meant stern and ceaseless work, grave and constant danger. It was no doubt one of the well-known sayings among the brethren of the first days, and not improbably, with the other "faithful sayings" of this group of Epistles, formed a part of their liturgy, and was woven into some of their special prayers offered in public. Perhaps this "faithful saying" was a portion of a prayer offered not unfrequently in the public assembly, asking that volunteers might be moved by the Holy Ghost to present themselves for the then dangerous office of ordained ministers of the Word.

"Well might a man desire the office of chief pastor; it was indeed a good work;" but, in the first place, such a dignity could only be held by one possessing many qualities, then and there enumerated.

If a man desire the office of a bishop.--More accurately rendered,If a man seeketh. In the . . Pastoral Epistles the Greek words rendered "bishop" and "presbyter" or elder (episcopos, presbuteros),are applied indifferently to the same person, for up to this period (A.D. 65-6) no necessity had arisen in the constitution of the Church for the appointment of aspecial order of superintending presbyters. The numbers of the members of the brotherhood, though every year showing a vast increase, were still, comparatively speaking, small. St. Peter, St. Paul, St. James and St. John, and certainly the majority of the apostolic college, were still living; while, till A.D. 70, the Jerusalem congregation still acted as the central authority of the Church, and grave questions continued to be referred to the Fathers resident there.

Early in the second century, however, there is not a shadow of doubt that the episcopal office, as we understand it, was widely established. During the last thirty years, then, of the first century, this great change in Church organisation must have been effected--that is,during the life-time of St. John. How this was brought about is admirably stated by Professor Rothe, of Heidelberg, as quoted by Canon Lightfoot in his dissertation on the Christian ministry (Commentaryon the Epistle to the Philippians),who, without accepting all the details suggested, still in the main agrees with the famous Heidelberg professor in his theory respecting the very early establishment of episcopacy in the Catholic Church. After painting the distractions and growing dissensions of the Church, occasioned by the jealousies between the Jewish and Gentile brethren, and the menacing apparition of the Gnostic heresy, Rothe states how, in the face of this great emergency, St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. James were carried away by death almost at the same time; while, with the overthrow of Jerusalem very shortly after, the visible centre of the Church was removed, the keystone of the fabric was withdrawn, and the whole edifice was threatened with ruin. There was a crying need for some organisation which should cement together the diverse elements of Christian society, and preserve it from disintegration. Out of this need the Catholic Church in its episcopal character arose. From notices in Eusebius, Irenaeus, and Clement of Rome, Rothe (quoted by Lightfoot) concludes "that, immediately after the fall of Jerusalem, a council of the surviving Apostles and first teachers of the gospel was held to deliberate on the crisis, and to frame measures for the well-being of the Church. The centre of the system thus organised was episcopacy, which at once secured the compact and harmonious working of each individual congregation, and, as the link of communication between the separate brotherhoods, formed the whole into one undivided Catholic Church. Recommended by this high authority, the new constitution was immediately and generally adopted."

He desireth a good work.--The office of a presbyter of the Church in the days of St. Paul was a difficult and dangerous post. It involved much labour; it was full of risk; it meant a hard and severe life; yet, from the Christian's standpoint, it was a work, if faithfully performed, of all toils the most beautiful, the most honourable, the most noble. "Negotium non otium" comments Bengel, in his usual pithy, untranslatable way.