1 Timothy 3:5

1 Timothy 3:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
• New International Version (NIV)(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
• English Standard Version (ESV)for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
• New King James Version (NKJV)(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

Context of 1 Timothy 3:5

3not addicted to wine, not a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, free from the love of money [not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical]. 4He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity [keeping them respectful and well-behaved] (for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?). 6and He must not be a new convert, so that he will not [behave stupidly and] become conceited [by appointment to this high office] and fall into the [same] condemnation incurred by the devil [for his arrogance and pride]. 7And he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside the church, so that he will not be discredited and fall into the devil’s trap.

1 Timothy 3:5 word by word

Εἰ δέ τις τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου προστῆναι οὐκ οἶδεν, πῶς ἐκκλησίας θεοῦ ἐπιμελήσεται;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• a manτιςtis · oneG5100
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• to ruleπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
• his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• houseοἶκοςoikos · house: householdG3624
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• shall he take careἐπιμελέομαιepimeleomai · to careG1959
• of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:5

• 1 Samuel 2:29Why then do you kick at (despise) My sacrifice and My offering which I commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, by fattening yourselves with the choicest part of every offering of My people Israel?’
• 1 Samuel 3:13Now I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the sinful behavior which he knew [was happening], because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves [dishonoring and blaspheming God] and he did not rebuke them.
• 1 Timothy 3:15in case I am delayed, so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
• Acts 20:28Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.
• Ephesians 1:22And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church,
• Ephesians 5:24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5For if a man know not - Method is a matter of great importance in all the affairs of life. It is a true saying, He that does little with his head must do much with his hands; and even then the business is not half done for want of method. Now, he who has a proper method of doing business will show it in every affair of life, even the least. He who has a disorderly family has no government of that family; he probably has none because he has no method, no…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5For if a man know not how to rule - This is a beautiful and striking argument. A church resembles a family. It is, indeed, larger, and there is a greater variety of dispositions in it than there is in a family. The authority of a minister of the gospel in a church is also less absolute than that of a father. But still there is a striking resemblance. The church is made up of an assemblage of brothers and sisters. They are banded together for the same…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5The church, seen as a household, shared similarities with a family household (3:15). An overseer's ability to manage one area showed his skill in the other (see also 3:12; 5:17; Romans 12:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). Greek and Roman households were united by family bonds with shared responsibilities, roles, and management. The household included relatives by blood living together and other dependents, such as household servants.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. For--Greek, "But." the church--rather, "a church" or congregation. How shall he who cannot perform the lesser function, perform the greater and more difficult?Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:5

• Bishop
• Church
• Commandments
• Family
• Minister, Christian
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings