If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Parallel translations
- WEB if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.
- BSB An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
- NKJV if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
- NASB namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion.
- NLT An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, and the father of children marked by faith and good behavior. It matters because a leader's home life is evidence of his fitness to shepherd the church.
Overview
Paul begins the qualifications for elders with integrity in marriage and family. 'Husband of one wife' calls for marital faithfulness and devotion. Christians differ over whether 'children who believe' means children who are faithful Christians or simply trustworthy and well-behaved, but either way an elder's household should commend, not contradict, his ministry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- 1 Tim 3:2–7A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
- 1 Tim 3:12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
- Prov 28:7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
- Titus 1:6–8If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
- Gen 18:19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
- Eph 5:18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
- Lev 21:7They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
- Lev 21:14A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
- Ezek 44:22Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
- Titus 1:10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
- 1 Th 5:14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
- Mal 2:15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
- 1 Sam 2:29–30Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
- 1 Sam 2:22Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- 1 Sam 3:12–13In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
- 1 Sam 2:11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
- Luke 1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
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We await 'the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us' and purify a people of his own.
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Original language
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