1 Timothy 3 · Verse 12

1 Timothy 3:12

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1 Timothy 3:12, King James Version

1 Timothy 3:12 in other translations

BSBA deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.
WEBLet servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
ASVLet deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
YLTMinistrants--let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,
DARBYLet the ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting their children and their own houses well:
BBELet Deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their houses well.
WebsterLet the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children, and their own houses well.

What does 1 Timothy 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. husbands of one wife--(See on 1Ti 3:2). ruling their children--There is no article in the Greek, "ruling children"; implying that he regarded the having children to rule as a qualification (1Ti 3:4; Tit 1:6). their own houses--as distinguished from "the Church of God" (see on 1Ti 3:5). In the case of the deacons, as in that of the bishops, he mentions the first condition of receiving office, rather than the special qualifications for its discharge. The practical side of Christianity is the one most dwelt on in the Pastoral Epistles, in opposition to the heretical teachers; moreover, as the miraculous gifts began to be withdrawn, the safest criterion of efficiency would be the previous moral character of the candidate, the disposition and talent for the office being presupposed. So in Ac 6:3, a similar criterion was applied, "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report." Less stress is laid on personal dignity in the case of the deacon than in that of the bishop (compare Notes, see on 1Ti 3:2,3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife. 1Timm 3:2.

Ruling their children and their own houses well. 1Timm 3:4; 1Timm 3:5.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife - This is the same that is required of the bishops. See on 1Tim 3:2 (note) 1Tim 3:4 (note), and 1Tim 3:5 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:8-13

The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 3:8-13 →

1 Timothy 3:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διάκονοιdiakonoiDeaconsG1249
ἔστωσανestōsanshould beG1510
μιᾶςmiasof oneG1520
γυναικὸςgunaikoswifeG1135
ἄνδρες,andreshusbands,G435
τέκνωνteknōn[their] childrenG5043
καλῶςkalōswellG2573
προϊστάμενοιproistamenoimanagingG4291
καὶkaiandG2532
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἰδίωνidiōn[their] ownG2398
οἴκων.oikōnhouseholds.G3624

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 3:12

  • 1 Timothy 3:2

    A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

  • 1 Timothy 3:4-5

    One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

  • Philippians 1:1

    Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

  • 1 Timothy 3:8

    Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2,4,5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 3:11

    Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

  • 1 Timothy 3:12

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

  • 1 Timothy 3:13

    For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Read all of 1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los diáconos sean maridos de una mujer, que gobiernen bien sus hijos y sus casas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que les serviteurs soient maris d’une seule femme, conduisant bien leurs enfants et leurs propres maisons;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Diener seien eines Weibes Mann, die ihren Kindern und den eigenen Häusern wohl vorstehen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Diaconi sint unius uxoris viri, qui filiis suis bene præsint, et suis domibus.