Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 3:4

τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου : Although ἴδιος commonly retains in the N.T. the emphatic sense own, yet there can be no doubt that examples occur of the later weakened sense in which it means simply αὐτοῦ, e.g., 1 Corinthians 7:2. We are not therefore justified in insisting on the emphatic sense, own, here or in 1 Timothy 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5; Titus 2:9. See J. H. Moulton Grammar, vol. i. p. 87 sqq., and Expositor, vi., iii. 277, and Deissmann, Bible Studies, trans. p. 123 sq. οἶκος also means household, 1 Corinthians 1:16 and in the Pastorals.

προϊστάμενον : προΐστασθαι is perhaps used, here and in 1 Timothy 3:12, because it would naturally suggest church government. See reff., and Hermas, Vis. ii. 4; Justin Martyr, Apol. i. 65. A different use is found in Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14, καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι, where see note. The domestic qualification, as we may call it, of the episcopus, also applies to deacons (1 Timothy 3:12) and to the Cretan episcopus (Titus 1:6).

τέκνα ἔχοντα : Alford cannot be right in supposing that τέκνα is emphatic. It would be absurd to suppose that a man otherwise suited to the office of an episcopus would be disqualified because of childlessness. The clause is parallel to μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα : if the episcopus be a married man, he must not be a digamist; if he have children, they must be ἐν ὑποταγῇ.

ἐν ὑποταγῇ σεμνότητος : with the strictest regard to propriety, see note on chap. 1 Timothy 2:2. Most commentators join these words closely together. The σεμνότης of the children in their extra-family relations being the outward and visible expression of the ὑποταγή to which they are subject in domestic life. This is a more natural reference of σεμνότ. than to the general household arrangements, “ ut absit luxuria ” (Bengel). On the other hand there is much force in Dean Bernard's remark that “ σεμνότης is hardly a grace of childhood.” He connects ἔχοντα μετὰ πασ. σεμν. This seems to be supported by 1 Timothy 3:8, διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς and 1 Timothy 3:11. Von Soden takes a similar view.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 3:4

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