Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Timothy 3:4

ἰδίου. Repeated again in 1 Timothy 3:5, in contrast to θεοῦ.

καλῶς. A characteristic word of the Pastorals (see on 1 Timothy 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:10 above).

προϊστάμενον. We find this verb applied to the officers of the Church also in Romans 12:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:12, and to πρεσβύτεροι in ch. 1 Timothy 5:17 (see Introd. p. lxix.).

τέκνα κ.τ.λ. The parallel clause in Titus 1:6 is: τέκνα ἔχων πιστά, μὴ ἐν κατηγορίᾳ�.

ἔχοντα. This is to be taken in subordination to προϊστάμενον: having his children in subjection. For ἐν ὑποταγῇ see 1 Timothy 2:11. This verse, like 1 Timothy 3:2, certainly seems to contemplate as the normal, and not merely a permissible, state of things that the ἐπίσκοπος should be a married man whose wife has borne him children.

μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος. For the form of the phrase see note on 1 Timothy 2:11. Both the order of the words and the natural sense lead us to connect this clause with ἔχοντα, rather than with τὰ τέκνα. σεμνότης (see note on 1 Timothy 2:2) is hardly a grace of childhood; we approve it in the προϊστάμενος, but its presence in those over whom his rule is exercised does not afford any convincing proof of his fitness for rule; see on Titus 1:7.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Timothy 3:4

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