“for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:5 NKJV)

Paul wrote two letters to Timothy to instruct him on how to pastor the church at Ephesus. In chapter three of his first letter, he gave qualifications for the selection of church “overseers” (ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos). The qualifications included several concerning a man’s family life. Why was family life so important one might ask? Paul explained that the same competency used to lead a family well was necessary in leading the church well. Why? Because the church is God’s family (Eph. 2:19).