Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 - Managing His Household

One facet of good home management is keeping “his children under control with all dignity. That qualification is not meant to exclude men without children, but merely assumes they will be present. The term “under control” is a military term. It designates the lining up in rank under one in authority. His children are to be respectful, well-disciplined followers of Christ. Anyone who has ever had children knows this is not going to happen naturally. Children will take as much authoritative territory as they are allowed. Little is as frustrating as watching a family where a toddler is the one in authority. And it’s not the toddler’s fault. Parents must establish from the start the pecking order or they will find themselves shortly at the bottom of said pecking order.