Fathers

1 Timothy 3

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This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 3:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." "They that use the office of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree," that is, advancement, "and much boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ"; as if he would say, that those who have been found vigilant in the lower degree will soon ascend to the higher.

Homily on 1 Timothy 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"Degree," that is, advancement. For those who showed themselves sober-minded in the lower offices soon attain the higher ones as well, so as to have great boldness in the faith; that is, to be more glorious not in worldly dignities, not in wealth, but in the faith, that is, in all words and deeds according to the faith. Thus those who served well as deacons were afterward glorious also in the degrees of the presbyterate and the episcopate.

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Woe to him who, when he has received a talent, has bound it in a napkin; and while others make profits, only preserves what he has received. His angry Lord shall rebuke him in a moment. "You wicked servant," he will say. "Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I could have collected it with interest?" That is to say you should have laid before the altar what you were not able to bear. For while you, a slothful trader, keep a penny in your hands, you occupy the place of another who might double the money. …

Letters 14.8 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he exhorts them to rule their whole house well, i.e., their family, namely, with gentleness: be not as a lion in your house, terrifying them of your household and oppressing those who are under you (Sir 4:35). And he gives the reason for this when he says, for they who have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree. As if to say: what you expect of bishops is reasonable, because they are prelates. But why from a deacon, who is a minister? …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗