Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 3:12

"Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well." — 1 Timothy 3:12 (ASV)

Now Paul returns to the specific qualifications of deacons. Like an overseer (v.2), a deacon must be the husband of one wife, and he must also “manage his children and his household well” (cf. v.4, where “household” [GK 3875] is translated “family”).