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 3:13

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 ↗