Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

3:8-13 Qualifications for Deacons. Along with elders (vv. 1-7), deacons are officers of the NT church (cf. Phil. 1:1). "Likewise" (1 Tim. 3:8) suggests a link between the lists of qualifications, and indeed there are striking similarities. Deacons, like overseers, are to exhibit lives shaped by the gospel. One key distinction is that deacons are not required to be able to teach. This list, like the one for the overseers, focuses on character rather than duties. The NT contains little explicit discussion of the role of deacons (unless Acts 6 is understood to refer to the installation of the first deacons; see note on Acts 6:6), but the Greek word diakonos means "servant," so the office probably involved being responsible for various areas of service in the church.

Qualifications for Elders in 1 Timothy and Titus

Qualifications for Deacons

3:9 Mystery (Gk. mystērion) is a common Pauline word and refers here to the entire revealed content of God's plan to bring salvation through Christ (see 1 Cor. 2:7; 4:1; 15:51; Eph. 3:4-13; Col. 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3). with a clear conscience. While deacons are not required to be able to teach, they are required to have a good grasp of the gospel, and their behavior is to be consistent with the gospel.

3:10 Deacons should be tested, presumably under the leadership of the overseers.

3:11 As the ESV footnote indicates, the Greek word for "wives" (gynē, here plural) can mean either "women" or "wives." This ambiguity results in at least three interpretations. The text could refer to (1) the wives of deacons (their wives), (2) women deacons, or (3) women who assist the deacons (in some denominations called "deaconesses") but who are distinct from the deacons. (The word "their" is not explicit in the Greek text but, according to the first interpretation, it represents the sense of the verse in the context of vv. 8-13.) These women appear abruptly in the flow of the text. A reference to the wives of deacons would make good sense, leading into the discussion of the deacon's family in v. 12. However, the term likewise in similar cases often introduces a new group (e.g., 2:9; 3:8; Titus 2:3, 6). Also, the discussion of overseers lacked any reference to their wives. This would support understanding these women as deacons or assistants. Romans 16:1 refers to Phoebe as a "servant" or "deacon" or "deaconess" (Gk. diakonos; see ESV footnote); see note on Rom. 16:1. If the office of deacon is understood as involving church-wide teaching or governing authority, then 1 Tim. 2:11-15 would not permit women to carry out these functions. The fact that teaching is not mentioned as a responsibility of the deacons would seem to indicate that this was not a role that Paul intended for deacons.

3:12 husband of one wife. See notes on vv. 2-3, 4-5.

3:13 Paul highlights the value and importance of deacons by stating two results of good service in this role: (1) good standing refers to respect and appreciation from the church to one who serves in this way; and (2) great confidence probably refers to the increase in confidence that comes from seeing the power of the gospel regularly proven in ministry.

Previous | Next