Fathers

1 Timothy 3

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This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work. The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule one’s own house take care of God’s assembly?) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil. Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things. Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 3:12

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Let the Deacons be husbands of one wife." This must be understood therefore to relate to Deaconesses. For that order is necessary and useful and honorable in the Church. Observe how he requires the same virtue from the Deacons, as from the Bishops, for though they were not of equal rank, they must equally be blameless; equally pure. "Ruling their children and their own houses well." Everywhere they are required to rule their children well, that others may not be scandalized by their misconduct.

Homily on 1 Timothy 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Do you see that the apostle requires from deacons the very same virtue that he required from bishops? For they too must equally be pure and blameless. He speaks everywhere about the management of children, so that others may not have occasion for scandal.

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well gain for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. husbands of one wife. You see how the same things are required from deacons as from bishops? These things must also be accepted concerning deaconesses. managing their children and their own households well. He places this everywhere, wishing to bring the reproof upon them from home. For those who serve well. …

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Above, the Apostle showed what should be the character of deacons and their wives; here he shows how deacons should behave toward their wives and children and family: first, he gives the advice; second, the reason, at for they who have ministered well. He says, therefore: I have said that the wives of deacons should be chaste: and if chastity must be possessed by their wives for the good of the deacons, it is double necessary in the deacons, that they may be entirely free of contact with women. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗