1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

◄ 1 Timothy 3:12 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

English Standard Version
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

New American Standard Bible
Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

King James Bible
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

International Standard Version
Ministers must be husbands of one wife and must manage their children and their families well.

American Standard Version
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children, and their own houses.

Darby Bible Translation
Let the ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting their children and their own houses well:

Young's Literal Translation
Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

Cross References

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:4
One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1 Timothy 3:8
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. husbands of one wife—(See on [2470]1Ti 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 (1Ti 3:4; Tit 1:6).

their own houses—as distinguished from "the Church of God" (see on [2471]1Ti 3:5). 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 Christianity is the one most dwelt on in the Pastoral Epistles, in opposition to the heretical teachers; moreover, as the miraculous gifts began to be withdrawn, the safest criterion of efficiency would be the previous moral character of the candidate, the disposition and talent for the office being presupposed. So in Ac 6:3, a similar criterion was applied, "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report." Less stress is laid on personal dignity in the case of the deacon than in that of the bishop (compare Notes, see on [2472]1Ti 3:2,3).