Bishops Ruling the Home and Church I Timothy 3:5

Paul the apostle shared with Timothy his “son in the faith” concerning different areas of ministry within the church. Timothy was to be the pastor of the church in Ephesus, and as Paul gave instructions for bishops, he included, “One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;”. In chapter three and verse five of his letter, Paul tells Timothy the reason why a bishop must rule over his own house well where we read:

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

The verse begins, “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house,...” Paul wrote rhetorically and parenthetically when he said, “For” or “but, and, moreover or also” “if a man” or “whoever” “know not how” which is “eido ou eido” in Greek and means “to perceive with the eyes or senses, to notice, discern or discover” “to rule” or “set in place, be over, preside over, superintend, protect, guard, give aid, care for and give attention” “his own house” or “household or family”. As though Paul desired to emphasize his point, he drew Timothy's attention once again to the condition of a bishop ruling well over his own family.

The verse continues, “...how shall he take care of the church of God?) Paul questioned, “how shall he take care of” or “care for, aid and give attention to” “the church” which means “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly and those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body” “of God” or “Godhead, trinity or one and only true God”. Paul knew if a man could not oversee his own family and household where his greatest advantage toward loving and caring of others was to be exhibited, how would he ever be able to take care of others? In other words, if a man doesn't care for those within his own family, he will not be inclined to do so for those who are not as relationally close to him.

As we think through this verse, perhaps we should set our minds upon the idea that Paul emphasized a bishop ruling well in his own home twice. This should show us the importance of caring for and paying attention to those within our own families and households. It is easy for us to become judges of bishops or pastors and require that they follow Paul's directives, but what if we apply them to ourselves? Though we may not “desire the office of a bishop”, we who follow Jesus are Christians, and our homes should be ruled over well no matter what circumstances or situations arise. For this, we need the Lord Jesus' help, and maybe the best way to end our study today is to ask the Lord for it. Heavenly Father, help us to “rule well” within our own homes, in Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Next time Paul gives the reason a bishop does not need to be “a novice”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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