This epistle is written by St. Paul as an example to all bishops, what they 1) should teach and how they should govern Christianity in all ranks, so that there is no need to govern Christians out of their own human conceit.
In the first chapter, he commands that a bishop keep the right faith and love, and resist the false preachers of the law, who besides Christ and the gospel also want to practice the works of the law. And summarize the whole Christian doctrine, what the law is for and what the gospel is. He sets himself as a comforting example to all sinners and afflicted consciences.
3 In the second he commands to pray for all classes, and commands that the women should not preach, nor wear exquisite jewelry, but should be obedient to the men.
4. in the third, he describes what kind of people the bishops or priests and their wives are.
1) In the original: the.
item, the church servants and their wives, and praise it if anyone desires to be a bishop of such a manner.
In the fourth, he proclaims the false episcopal and ecclesiastical state, which is contrary to the foregoing, since such persons shall not be, but shall forbid marriage and food, and shall wholly do the contradiction with doctrines of men of the image which he hath signified.
In the fifth, he commands how widows and young women are to be appointed, and which widows are to be fed from the common tax. Also, how pious and criminal bishops or priests are to be held in honor, or punished.
In the sixth, he exhorts the bishops to adhere to the true gospel, to practice it with preaching and life, and to refrain from the useless, rash questions that are raised only to seek worldly glory and wealth.