1 Timothy 3:4

Contextual Overview

¹ Here is a statement you can trust: anyone aspiring to be a congregation leader is seeking worthwhile work. ¹ The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work. ¹ This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. ¹ This saying is trustworthy:[fn]Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:15;">[xr] The one who would an elder be, A noble task desires he. ¹ 1 This saying is faithful, that if a man desire the presbyterate, [fn] a good work he desireth. ¹ It is a faithful saying, that if a man desireth the eldership, he desireth a good work. ¹ Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ¹ This is a true saying, A man desiring the position of a Bishop has a desire for a good work. ¹ The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ¹ This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

ruleth 12; Genesis 18:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalms 101:2-8; Acts 10:2; Titus 1:6

with

Philippians 4:8; *Gr:; Titus 2:2,7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:9 - the daughter;  Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow;  Malachi 2:15 - That he;  Mark 10:45 - and to;  Romans 12:8 - ruleth;  Ephesians 5:21 - submitting;  1 Timothy 3:8 - be;  1 Timothy 3:11 - be;  Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
And Jehovah Elohim said to the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."

Genesis 3:13
The LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Genesis 3:13
And the LORD God said unto the woman: 'What is this thou hast done?' And the woman said: 'The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.'

Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God said to the woman, What have you done? And the woman said, I was tricked by the deceit of the snake and I took it.

Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.

Genesis 3:13
And the Lorde God saide to the woman, Why hast thou done this? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eate.

Genesis 3:13
And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:13
The Lord God asked the woman, "Why did you do this?" She replied, "The snake tricked me into eating it."

Genesis 3:13
And Adam said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me—she gave me of the tree and I ate.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

One that ruleth well his own house,.... His family, wife, children, and servants; and is not to be understood of his body, and of keeping of that under, and of preserving it chaste and temperate, as appears from what follows:

having his children in subjection with all gravity; keeping a good decorum in his family; obliging his children to observe his orders, and especially the rules of God's word; and not as Eli, who did not use his authority, or lay his commands upon his sons, nor restrain them from evil, or severely reprove them for their sins, but neglected them, and was too mild and gentle with them;

1Sa 2:23 3:13 but like Abraham, who not only taught, but commanded his children and his household, to keep the way of the Lord; Genesis 18:19 and so should those act who are in such an office as is here treated of; and should not only rule well in their families, preside over them, go before them, and set an example to them, and keep their children in obedience and subjection; but this should be "with all gravity": not only in the master of the family, but in the children; who as their father is, or should be, should be brought up in, and used to gravity in words and in dress; and in the whole of their deportment and conversation. This may he observed against the Papists, who forbid marriage to the ministers of the Gospel.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

One that ruleth well his own house - This implies that a minister of the gospel would be, and ought to be, a married man. It is everywhere in the New Testament supposed that he would be a man who could be an example in all the relations of life. The position which he occupies in the church has a strong resemblance to the relation which a father sustains to his household; and a qualification to govern a family well, would be an evidence of a qualification to preside properly in the church. It is probable that, in the early Christian church, ministers were not unfrequently taken from those of mature life, and who were, at the time, at the head of families; and, of course, such would be men who had had an opportunity of showing that they had this qualification for the office. Though, however, this cannot be insisted on now as a “previous” qualification for the office, yet it is still true that, if he has a family, it is a necessary qualification, and that a man in the ministry “should be” one who governs his own house well. A want of this will always be a hindrance to extensive usefulness.

Having his children in subjection with all gravity - This does not mean that his “children” should evince gravity, whatever may be true on that point; but it refers “to the father.” He should be a grave or serious man in his family; a man free from levity of character, and from frivolity and fickleness, in his conversation with his children. It does not mean that he should be severe, stern, morose - which are traits that are often mistaken for gravity, and which are as inconsistent with the proper spirit of a father as frivolity of manner - but that he should be a serious and sober-minded man. He should maintain proper “dignity” ( σεμνότης semnotēs); he should maintain self-respect, and his deportment should be such as to inspire others with respect for him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

The fourteenth qualification of a Christian bishop is, that he ruleth well his own house; του ιδιου οικου καλως προΐσταμενον, one who properly presides over and governs his own family. One who has the command, of his own house, not by sternness, severity, and tyranny, but with all gravity; governing his household by rule, every one knowing his own place, and each doing his own work, and each work having the proper time assigned for its beginning and end. This is a maxim of common sense; no family can be prosperous that is not under subjection, and no person can govern a family but the head of it, the husband, who is, both by nature and the appointment of God, the head or governor of his own house. See the note on Ephesians 5:22.