If one desire the Eldership he desires a good work, etc.; he calls it a work, and not authority; that they may not resemble worldly powers according to the argument of some people, but by doctrine, etc.

And let him be the husband of one wife; for because at that time, many had taken two wives at once, according to the Law which does not forbid it, and also when they had one lawful wife, they used concubines or sinned with other women; for this reason he says, one who is the husband of one wife only during her life, and not of two or three, according to the custom of the Law and of the heathen; and if after the death of the first, he is constrained to take another, he is not hindered from Bishophood, that is to say Eldership; because at that time Elders were called Bishops; and those that are Bishops to-day were then called Apostles. Others say, that he who had taken one wife, and after her death remains in holiness, as it is required that the conduct of a priest should be higher than that of the people, as also the Bishop's should be higher than the Elders', and the nation's than Heathendom. Let not the Bishops take wives, and let the Elders and Deacons take one; and let common men not take two at the same time.

Spotless does not allude to a spot which blemishes the body; but he warns about spots of the soul; for just as the law in its childishness warns against bodily spots, so also here in its perfectness, he warns against spots of the soul; and we ought to know, that the Apostle Paul speaks about him who takes two wives during their lives; and if it were not so, he whose wife has lived for one day is oppressed, etc. Nevertheless an Elder should not be celibate, according to the outward sense of the phrase, and as this means according to the outward reading of the word, Let a priest have taken one wife, and after her death remain in holiness; yet because men had become slack, and the rulers of the Church had seen that many hateful things are done in secret for this reason, they had allowed even priests to take wives after the death of the first ones, furthermore concubines under the pretext of necessities which are outside marriage should be desisted from.

1 Tim 3:3

And his hand not ready to strike; that is to say, let him not show severity uselessly and without cause.

1 Tim 3:4

Holding his children in subjection with all gravity, etc.; he does not say this from the standpoint of the children, but from the mind of their father; but if when he chastises and teaches they are troublesome and insolent he is not guilty; as Samuel was not blameable because of his sons who were seen to be antagonistic, for if he does not know how to rule his own little house, how can he rule the Church that is full of confused and variegated minds?

1 Tim 3:6

And let him not be a novice in his doctrine, either in the case of a man who is a novice in believing or in his baptism. The Greek says, Let him not be a novice in his planting. Somewhere (1 Cor 3:6) the Apostle calls Faith a plant. I have planted, and Apollos watered; that is to say, I have brought the Faith; and elsewhere (Rm 6:5) he calls Baptism so. If, he says, we have been planted with Him [Christ] in the likeness of His death; for the Apostle announces that he should be a Bishop who has been for some time a Believer and baptized; that he may know how to relate the reason of this; and he does not prohibit youth according to some; inasmuch as Timothy also was a youth, as we learn from his Epistle, Let no man despise your youth. The Greek, instead of, Lest he fall into the condemnation of Satan, says into the pride of Satan, because he, who at once believed and was baptized, and did not give proof of his conduct, and did not learn what is proper, and comes into rulership is lifted up with pride as one superior to the Believers; and henceforth he is not able to learn because he has become a Teacher, nor does he know how to teach because he has not learnt it; so therefore he is vainly lifted up with pride, being in no wise different from Satan, him who when he was a servant of God, because he was lifted tip with pride, snatched to himself the name and honor of his Lord; and receives punishment justly from that Judge. Others say that just as Satan, because he was not tried about the function that had been bestowed on him, was lifted up because of the high rank that he had received; and on this account he fell and was removed from his honor; thus also this man, because he did not understand the greatness of the rank to which he was called, that he should teach humility and love and submission, is clothed with pride, and falls like him; and henceforth not only is he unfit to exercise priesthood, but not even simple works. And we ought to know that those who are now called Bishops, at that time were called Apostles; but after Believers multiplied, and the Apostles went out of the world, and those who were appointed after them in the Church, because they did not resemble the Apostles, and did not work miracles and signs, considered that it was very hard for them to be called by the name of Apostles, so therefore they divided these names; and they left the name of Elders to the Elders, that is to say, of Bishops; and they appointed as Bishops those who were called Apostles; and it is evident that they were called by both names, Elders and Bishops, from this, that Paul brought the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, and when they had come to him, he had admonished them, saying, Take heed to the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you Bishops, etc. (Acts 20:28)