3:1a

This is a trustworthy saying: This is an expression that Paul used often in his letters to Timothy and Titus. See 1 Timothy 1:15, 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 1:9, 3:8. You should try to use the same expression of introduction in all these places. Paul used this expression to introduce a saying that was well-known among believers at that time.

trustworthy: Paul said that what he was about to say was trustworthy. That means that it was true and reliable. Other ways to say this could be: “This saying really is true,” or “people should believe this.”

saying: A saying is an expression that is well known to people. In some languages it may be possible to use a word like “proverb.”

3:1b

If anyone aspires to be an overseer: This was a saying that was often repeated among the believers at that time. Timothy probably knew it well.

If: This saying begins with If, which often means that the speaker is not sure whether something will really happen or not. However, in Greek and English, it can also be used when the speaker knows that the event happens sometimes. Here Paul was not wondering whether someone was going to wish to become an overseer or not. He was telling Timothy what to do when it happened. In some languages it may be better to say something like:

The person who sets his heart on being an overseer [desires a noble task].

anyone: The Greek pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anyone here can include men and women. But it is clear from the list of requirements to be an overseer (3:2–7) that only men were overseers. So it is acceptable to translate this as “any man.”

aspires to: This Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as aspires to literally means “stretches toward.” It means that a person strongly desires something.

be an overseer: The Greek word episkopō that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be an overseer refers to the position of being an overseer.

overseer: In the New Testament, the Greek word episkopos was one of the names used for the leader of a group of believers. Another name that the New Testament used for this kind of leader is the Greek word translated as “elder.” Paul used the word translated “elder” in 4:14c, 5:17a, and 5:19a. If you can use two different words, it is recommended that you do so. However, in some languages, using two terms may cause readers to think Paul was talking about two different groups of people. If this is so in your area, use the same term for both Greek words.

English versions sometimes translate overseer by the word “bishop,” but this may be confused with the role of a bishop in the modern church. You should consider carefully what is the most appropriate term in your language. If there is already a church in your area, it may be best to choose the term already used for a church leader who teaches.

In the rest of this paragraph, Paul explained some of the responsibilities of an overseer. For example:

(a) he was responsible for teaching the believers (3:2)

(b) he was responsible for caring for them (3:5)

(c) he was responsible for leading them (3:5)

3:1c

he desires: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as desires is a different word than the one translated as “aspires to” earlier in the verse. However they both mean that the person wants something strongly. In some languages it may not be possible to say that someone desires a job or a “task.” In such languages, it may be necessary to say “he desires to do [a noble task].”

a noble task: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as noble literally means “good,” “fine.” Paul meant that it was a worthwhile thing to lead and teach believers.

task: That is, “job,” “work,” “activity.”

General Comment on 3:1a–c

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder this verse so that Paul’s comment about the truthfulness of the saying comes after the saying itself. For example:

There is a saying among believers: “If anyone longs to become an overseer, he desires to do something noble.” This saying can be trusted.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.