1 Timothy 3:5

3 not¹ given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not³ covetous;

4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

6 not a¹ novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the ^asnare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, ^anot given to much wine, not greedy for money,

9 holding the¹ mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not¹ slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

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

13 For those who have served well as deacons ^aobtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and¹ ground of the truth.

16 And without controversy great is the¹ mystery of god¹liness:
^aGod was manifested in the flesh,
^bJustified in the Spirit,
^cSeen by angels,
^dPreached among the Gentiles,
^eBelieved on in the world,
^fReceived up in glory.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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1 Timothy 3:6 >>

1 Timothy 3:5

For 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 plan, of presiding. It was natural for the apostle to say, If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God? Look at a man' s domestic arrangements; if they be not good, he should not be trusted with any branch of government, whether ecclesiastical or civil.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing 1 Timothy 3:5:**

1 Timothy 3:12
Titus 1:6

<< 1 Timothy 3:4

1 Timothy 3:6 >>

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