Deacons Their Biblical Qualifications 1 Timothy 3 8

Deacons Their Biblical Qualifications

1 Timothy 3: 8 -13 The qualifications here can be grouped together by 1) personal character: positives (must be) and negatives (must not be); and, 2) family relations (wife, marriage, children)

1 Timothy 3: 8 -13 A man (implied “husbands”) First be proved (Gr. δοκιμαζέσθωσαν) – “to test, examine, prove” for approval; a man must first have these qualifications in place in his life, then he is appointed

1 Timothy 3: 8 -13 “In like manner…” – a high standard or set of qualifications exists for deacons, just like for bishops (3: 1 -7) Deacons are found 1) in the plural only and 2) always along side elders

Grave Gr. σεμνούς = reverent; dignified; venerable; respectful; hence, serious demeanor (Phil. 4: 8; 1 Tim. 3: 8, 11; Tit. 2: 2) A deacon must not be frivolous, but take his work of service seriously

Not Double-Tongued Gr. μὴ διλόγους = lit. two words; twice speech (1 Tim. 3: 8) A deacon must never engage in doubletalk, saying one thing to one person and then changing it with the intent to deceive

Not Given to Much Wine Gr. μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας = lit. not to wine much given to (addicted) “Wine” (οἶνος) is the general word for wine, whether fermented or unfermented

Not Given to Much Wine “Given” (addicted) is from the Gr. προσέχω meaning “to hold to”; “turn to”’ “attend to”; “be devoted to” A deacon must not be addicted to wine

Not Given to Much Wine The words “given” (addicted) and “much” become points of debate (see Tit. 2: 3) “Not give to wine” (Gr. μὴ πάροινον = not sitting beside, or tarrying at wine) is found in 1 Tim. 3: 3 and Tit. 1: 7 for the elders

Not Given to Much Wine “Much” is forbidden in 1 Tim. 3: 8 and “little” is encouraged in 1 Tim. 5: 23 (for medicinal use) Let’s remember two biblical warnings about “wine”: Prov. 23: 31 and Eph. 5: 18

Not Greedy of Filthy Lucre Gr. μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς = greedy (fond or eager) of base, sordid, and dishonest gain; 1 Tim. 3: 3, 8; Tit. 1: 7 A deacon (like elders) must not make or keep his personal wealth by dishonest means

Holding the Mystery of the Faith “Holding”, “mystery”, “the faith”, “pure conscience” A deacon must hold fast to the faith (the NT gospel) and be pure in his belief and practice of it

Blameless Gr. ἀνέγκλητοι = when tried, not called into account; un-reprovable; irreproachable; Col. 1: 22; Tit. 1: 6 -7 A deacon (like elders) must have a character and conduct that is free from valid accusation

The Husband of One Wife Gr. μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρες = lit. one woman Man (ἄνδρες ) as “husband” is found in Mt. 1: 16, 19; Mk. 10: 2; Jn. 4: 16; Rom. 7: 2; 1 Cor. 7: 2; Gal. 4; 27; 1 Tim. 3: 2, 12; Tit. 1: 6; Rev. 21: 2

The Husband of One Wife “Married only once” found in the NRSV is an interpretation (interpolation), not a translation; it switches the focus to how many times a man is married A deacon (like elders) must be the husband of one woman

Ruling Their Children … Well Gr. προϊστάμενοι = preside over; rule over; manage A deacon (like elders) must have his child(ren) under his control at all times and “well” (according to the NT) guided at all times

Deacons and Their Wives Does 1 Timothy 3: 11 refer to 1) all “women” in the church, 2) “wives” of elders, deacons, or both, 3) women assisting deacons, or 4) female deacons (deaconess)

Deacons and Their Wives “Women” or “wives”? Grammatically, the Greek word Γυναῖκας could be translated either way depending upon the context. Both are found in various standard English translations. Note: The pronoun “their” in some translations is not in the Greek text.

Deacons and Their Wives “Wives” (ESV, KJV, etc. ), I believe, best fits the immediate context of 1 Timothy 3: 8 -13. The qualifications of a bishop who is a “husband” (v. 2) comes before verse 11 and the qualifications of deacons who are “husbands” (v. 12) comes after.

Deacons and Their Wives “In like manner…” – a high standard or set of qualifications exists for the wives, just like for bishops (3: 1 -7) and the deacons (3: 8 -10, 12 -13)

Deacons and Their Wives Gr. σεμνούς = reverent; dignified; venerable; respectful; hence, serious demeanor (Phil. 4: 8; 1 Tim. 3: 8, 11; Tit. 2: 2) The deacon’s wife must not be frivolous, but take seriously the Lord’s work and that of her husband in the local church

Deacons and Their Wives Gr. μὴ διαβόλους = lit. “to throw over or across; ” hence, “slander, ” “accuse falsely”; 1 Tim. 3: 11; 2 Tim. 3: 3; Tit. 2: 3 The deacon’s wife must not gossip or falsely accuse someone with the malicious intent to harm another

Deacons and Their Wives Gr. νηφαλίους = sober; not intoxicated with wine; free from negative influences (intoxicants); clear-minded; 1 Tim. 3: 2, 11; Tit. 2: 2 The deacon’s wife must be clear-minded, clear-headed, sober, and temperate

Deacons and Their Wives Gr. πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν = faithful, trustworthy, dependable, reliable The deacon’s wife must be trustworthy in all her relationships and responsibilities with Christ and other Christians in the local church

Deacons and Their Wives A wife influences her husband for better, or for worse A wife supports or hinders her husband’s work A wife builds up or tears down her husband’s reputation

Deacons Rewarded Served well as deacons – the rewards are conditioned upon well-serving men A good standing – honorable standing (esteem) before men now and before Jesus in the judgment day

Deacons Rewarded Great boldness in the faith – they have fearless confidence to speak truth now and in the judgment day

Some Questions Can a woman serve as a “deaconess”? Some Bible students appeal to 1) Romans 16: 1; 2) 1 Timothy 3: 11; 3) 1 Timothy 5: 3 -10; and, 4) Church history and tradition

Some Questions Was Phoebe, Romans 16: 1, a “deacon” (NIV, NRSV) or “deaconess” (RSV, ISV, [N]ASV footnote, some Greek lexicons), of the church? Phoebe was a “servant” of the church just like any woman is a servant

Some Questions There is not enough information in this verse to prove conclusively that Phoebe was a female “deacon” in the specific sense of the word found in Philippians 1: 1 or 1 Tim. 3: 8, 10, 12, 13 “Deacon” is not found in other versions

Some Questions Of the 30 times that diakonos appears in the NT, how many times will you translate it in its specific sense, “deacon” or “deaconess”? Why stop with Romans 16: 1? The same form, diakonon, is found in Romans 15: 8 of Jesus Christ. Was he a deacon?

Some Questions Elders are not mentioned in Rom. 16: 1 “Deacon”, in some versions, is in the singular, not the plural No mention of appointment here

Some Questions In 1 Timothy 3: 11, the words “in like manner” (or “likewise”) and “women” (or “wives”) do not imply the meaning of deaconess Paul used the word gunaikos, not diakonissa

Some Questions 1 Timothy 3: 11 is parenthetical, sandwiched between the qualifications for a deacon. The discussion of a third church office (deaconess) would be abrupt here. Verse 11 could actually be the start of the last of the qualifications dealing with the domestic relationships.

Some Questions As for 1 Timothy 5: 3 -10, there is no contextual connection between “widows indeed” and female deacons. This is pure assumption based upon later Church History, not on scripture.

Some Questions Yes, many women served others in the NT, but they did not hold an official, appointed position while doing so. Women can do some jobs better than men. Let them do it. But, an official position does not have to be created.

Some Questions In Acts 6: 1 -6, widows were being neglected. Women could have been appointed, but were not. Seven men were appointed. This is not because men are more superior than women. It is because that is what God wanted and that is the pattern we follow.

Some Questions Church History does not determine whether we have deaconesses or not Biblical “scholars” and “restoration preachers” do not determine whether we have deaconesses or not

Serve As A Deacon In Greek and Roman culture, the servant was considered a less-honorable person In the Lord’s kingdom, all servants (incl. faithful deacons) rewarded (Lk. 12: 37) and honored (Jn. 12: 26) for their service