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 3:4

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." If then "he who is married cares for the things of the world," and a Bishop ought not to care for the things of the world, why does he say the husband of one wife? Some indeed think that he says this with reference to one who remains free from a wife. But if otherwise, he that hath a wife may be as though he had none. For that liberty was then properly granted, as suited to the nature of the circumstances then existing. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 10 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

One who manages his own household well can quickly become a good ruler of the state — this is something even secular writers affirm. In his own house he must show an example, for who will believe that a man who could not keep his own son in submission will subdue a stranger to himself? How will he make strangers honorable, when he has allowed his own kin to live dishonorably? "With all dignity" means both in word, and in deed, and in dress — and moreover before all people and at all times.

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

One who manages his own household well, with children in submission with all reverence. one who manages his own household well. For he who does not know how to rule a single household, or who could not properly govern two or three children by nature, how will he be able to suitably preside over the Church and so great a people? For he must bear examples from his own household.

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Above, the Apostle outlined the qualities of a bishop in himself; now he describes the qualities he should have in view of his relationships to the multitude: first, to the multitude of the domestic family; second, to the multitude in the Church, at not a neophyte; third, to the multitude of unbelievers, at he must have a good testimony. In regard to the first, he shows what he should be in relation to his own family; second, the reason for this, at but if a man. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗