Catena Fidei

1 Timothy 3:1 (WEB)
This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.

Catechism · 1

§1577Article 6 · The Sacrament of Holy OrdersRead at vatican.va
“The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:12-16; 1 Tim 3:1-13; 2 Tim 1:6; Titus 1:5-9; St. Clement of Rome, Ad Cor. 42, 4; 44, 3: PG 1, 292-293; 300.

Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul Chapter 16
““If any man,” says he, “desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1.
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Tertullian, On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 6
“Thence, therefore, among us the prescript is more fully and more carefully laid down, that they who are chosen into the sacerdotal order must be men of one marriage; which rule is so rigidly observed, that I remember some removed from their office for digamy.” — editor's note: Comp. 1 Tim. iii. 1, 2; Tit. i. 5, 6; and Ellicott’s Commentary.
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Tertullian, On Monogamy Chapter 12
“Come, now, you who think that an exceptional law of monogamy is made with reference to bishops, abandon withal your remaining disciplinary titles, which, together with monogamy, are ascribed to bishops.” — editor's note: See 1 Tim. iii. 1–7; Tit. i. 6–9.
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Jerome, Against Jovinianus Book 1
“And we do not read:“If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good degree,” but, “he desireth a good work,” because by being placed in the higher order an opportunity is afforded him, if he choose to avail himself of it, for the practice of virtue.” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1.
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Jerome, Letters Letter 14
“You will say: “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1.
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Jerome, Letters Letter 69
“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1–7.
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Basil the Great, Letters Letter 230
“…it has from of old been under the government of men right honourable and the elect of God, who have held fast to “the faithful word as we have been taught.”” — editor's note: Tit. i. 9. cf. 1 Tim. i. 15; 1 Tim. iii. 1; 2 Tim. ii. 11; and Tit. iii. 8.
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Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule I.9Part I
“But for the most part those who covet pre-eminence seize on the language of the Apostle to serve the purpose of their own cupidity, where he says, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work (1 Tim. iii. 1).” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo, The City of God XIX.19Book XIX
“It is to this the apostle refers when he says, “He that desireth the episcopate desireth a good work.”” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1.
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Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 18
“In proportion to my measure I take what I put before you: where it is opened, I see with you; where it is shut, I knock with you.” — editor's note: 1 Tim. iii. 1.
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