1 Timothy 3:4

1 Timothy 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
• New International Version (NIV)He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
• New King James Version (NKJV)one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

Context of 1 Timothy 3:4

2An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.

1 Timothy 3:4 word by word

τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου καλῶς προϊστάμενον, τέκνα ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• One that rulethπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
• wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• houseοἶκοςoikos · house: householdG3624
• havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• his childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• subjectionὑποταγήhupotagē · submissionG5292
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• gravityσεμνότηςsemnotēs · dignityG4587

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:4

• 1 Timothy 3:12Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
• Genesis 18:19For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.”
• Joshua 24:15But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship — the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
• Psalms 101:2I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.
• Acts 10:2He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
• Philippians 4:8Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The fourteenth qualification of a Christian bishop is, that he ruleth well his own house; ̈́, 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4One 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…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. 44. ruleth--Greek, "presiding over." his own house--children and servants, as contrasted with "the church" (house) of God (1Ti 3:5, 15) which he may be called on to preside over. having his children--rather as Greek, "having children (who are) in subjection" (Tit 1:6). gravity--propriety: reverent modesty on the part of the children [Alford]. The fact that he has children who are in subjection to him in all gravity, is the recommendation in his favor as…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:4

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

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice
• Rule
• Wife

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