1 Timothy 3:12

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:12

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.Let deacons be husbands of one wife ... This disqualifies any woman from serving as an official deacon. The notion that Paul laid down hard and fast regulations regarding the marital status of both elders and (male) deacons, and he then authorized a whole new echelon of (female) deacons without specifying any marital qualifications whatever, is too unreasonable to believe. No! The people who are determined to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:12

12. husbands of one wife—(See on 1 Timothy 3:2). ruling their children—There is no article in the Greek, "ruling children"; implying that he regarded the having children to rule as a qualification (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6). their own houses—as distinguished from "the Church of God" (see on Titus 1:6- :). In the case of the deacons, as in that of the bishops, he mentions the first condition of receiving office, rather than the special qualifications for its discharge. The practical side of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Timothy 3:1-13

C. The qualifications for church leaders 3:1-13Paul proceeded from his instructions concerning worship in the church to lay out qualifications for leaders of the church. He did so to give Timothy guidance in selecting these important individuals. He discussed women and leadership in 1 Timothy 2:11-15, and now he turned to men and leadership, specifically, the personal qualities necessary for effective church leaders."The PE do not give institutional authority to the overseers and deacons. They... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Timothy 3:8-13

2. Qualifications for deacons 3:8-13Paul continued his instructions concerning order in the life of the local church by setting forth qualifications for the deacons. He did this to insure Spirit-controlled assistants for the elders.". . . this passage does not spell out the functions of a deacon but simply clarifies the type of person who qualifies to be a deacon. Overseers and deacons are distinct in function but similar in character." [Note: Mounce, p. 196.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Timothy 3:12

Returning to the male deacons, Paul added two more qualifications.11. They must be the "husbands of one wife" (Gr. mias gunaikos andres) elder qualification #2, 1 Timothy 3:2). 12. They must also be "good managers of their children and their own households" (Gr. teknon kalos proistamenoi kai ton idion oikon; cf. elder qualification #13, 1 Timothy 3:4-5). read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 1 Timothy 3:12

3:12 ministers (i-3) Diakonos , 'servants' or 'deacons.' see Romans 16:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:1 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Concerning the Officers of the Church1-7. The fourth charge to Timothy, in respect to presbyters.1. Desireth a good work] i.e. a noble occupation.2. A bishop] RV ’the bishop,’ RM ’overseer.’ Some think (see General Intro.) that the terms ’bishop’ and ’elder’ are used interchangeably in these Epistles, as they seem to have been at an earlier date (Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1). Others, however, think that, at the close of the apostolic age, to which these Epistles belong, the term ’bishop’ was... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Timothy 3:12

(12) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife.—Here the exact same qualification is to be sought for as in the higher grade of presbyter. The same orderly and decorous household is required now in the case of the deacon, as was to be looked for as qualification for the presiding elder. St. Paul knew well that in the wise yet tender father, Timothy would find the firm yet generous distributor of the Church’s alms, the loving and devoted friend of the poor sick. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Modern Snares 1 Timothy 3:7 I. The snares are always about our feet. They vary in their guise, but their purpose remains unchanged. I want to look at a few of the perils which thus beset the youth of our modern life. (1) There is the snare of materialism. I speak of it not as a theory, but as a life. In Watts' 'Mammon' there is a great pompous figure in heavy scarlet and gold. His face is fat and sightless. Brutal hands and feet are resting carelessly on the Godlike figures of the young. The... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

III. CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF GOD CHAPTER 3 1. The overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7 ) 2. The deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13 ) 3. The house of God and the mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14-16 ) 1 Timothy 3:1-7 As stated before, the Church is viewed in these pastoral Epistles as the house of God. The holiness which becomes this house is to be maintained and expressed in a practical way. The different directions given as to overseers and deacons demonstrate what God esteems highly, and what He expects... read more

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