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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_3:8-13
8Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti_3:8 "Deacons" Deacons are not mentioned at all in 2 Timothy and Titus. The office and function of a deacon is not defined in the NT. Many assume that Acts 6 is a beginning of this particular task-oriented office, but this seems unlikely. Here they are mentioned, along with pastors, as the two functions/offices in the local church (cf. Php_1:1). The term "deacon" means "to raise dust," which is metaphorical for menial service. It became the general word of "ministry" in the NT (cf. 1Ti_1:12; 1Ti_4:6; 2Ti_1:18; 2Ti_4:5; 2Ti_4:11). Deacons are servants, not managers!
▣ "likewise" The qualifications of church leaders are extended to a new group, as they are to "women" in 1Ti_3:11.
▣ "must be men of dignity" See note at 1Ti_2:2.
▣ "not double-tongued" This means saying different things to different groups to be accepted under false pretenses. This is a form of lying and falsehood.
NASB "not. . .addicted to much wine"
NKJV "not given to much wine"
NRSV "not indulging in much wine"
TEV "moderate in the amount of wine they drink"
NJB "they must not drink too much wine"
This is a compound of pros and echô, which means "to have in addition" or "to hold to." In this context maybe "to give oneself up to" (Harold K. Moulton, The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, p. 349). This phrase, like 1Ti_3:3, does not refer to total abstinence, but to abuse. In some cultures, even in our day, Christians have no problem with this statement. In America alcohol abuse led to the temperance movement which overstated the biblical passages. If we, for whatever reason, intentionally overstate the biblical position, we become the standard, not the Bible. It is as problematic to add to the Bible (even with the purest motives and for sincere causes) as it is to take away from the Bible. Is the Bible the only source for faith and practice? If so, it must judge all cultures! See Special Topic at 1Ti_3:3.
▣ "or fond of sordid gain" This refers to the business honesty of these bi-vocational church leaders. If money is priority (cf. 1Ti_6:9-10) then Jesus cannot be! False teachers are often characterized in the NT as greedy and sexually exploitive. Remember, this entire context reflects the abuses of the heretics.
1Ti_3:9 "but holding to the mystery of the faith" This mystery seems to refer to both Jew and Greek being included in the family of God (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13; Col_1:26-27). The term "faith" has the definite article, which means it refers to the body of Christian doctrine.
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▣ "with a clear conscience" The term "conscience" seems to imply that these leaders' walk and talk coincide with the truths of the gospel. See fuller note at 1Ti_1:5.
1Ti_3:10 "These men must also first be tested" This is a present passive imperative. This is the Greek term dokimazô, which is used with the connotation of "to test with a view toward approval" (cf. Rom_2:18; Rom_12:2; Rom_14:22; 1Co_3:13; 1Co_16:3; 2Co_8:22; 1Th_2:4). It is contrasted with peirazô, which connotes "to test with a view toward destruction" (cf. 1Co_2:5; 1Co_10:9; 1Co_10:13; Gal_6:1; Php_1:10; 1Th_3:5; 1Ti_6:9). See Special Topic: Greek Words for Testing and Their Connotations at 1Ti_6:9.
▣ "then let them serve as deacons" This is a Present active imperative.
▣ "if" This is another first class conditional sentence like 1Ti_3:5.
▣ "they are beyond reproach" See note at 1Ti_3:2.
1Ti_3:11 "Women must likewise be dignified" This does not refer to deacons' wives (cf. KJV and NIV), but to women in servant roles in the house churches. The Greek syntax distinguishes another group of church servants (i.e. "likewise" of 1Ti_3:8). Deaconesses are mentioned in Rom_16:1 (cf. Charles B. Williams' translation) and possibly Php_4:3. The qualifications for these female servants are similar to those for the male leaders. They were meant to be deacon-helpers in situations where a male deacon would simply be inappropriate (caring for sick women, helping prepare women before and after baptism, regular visits to older women, etc). From the writings of the Early church fathers we know that the office of deaconess developed very quickly and was used throughout the early centuries. The problem in our day is that we have made deacons an executive board which, because of other passages in Timothy, seem to rule out women. However, deacons are meant to be servants and, therefore, women have an appropriate role. Possibly the deaconesses were synonymous with the "widows' roll" (cf. 1Ti_5:9 ff), which were widows over sixty with no family who the early church hired for ministry. I think to reprint my exegetical notes from Rom_16:1 here may be helpful:
NASB, NKJV "who is a servant of the church"
NRSV "a deacon of the church"
TEV "who serves the church"
NJB "a deaconess of the church"
This is the term diakonos. It is an accusative singular feminine form. It is the Greek term for minister/servant. It is used (1) of Christ in Rom_15:8; Mar_10:45; (2) of Paul in Eph_3:7; Col_1:23; Col_1:25; and (3) of deacons in Php_1:1; 1Ti_3:11.
There is evidence in both the NT and early post-biblical church writings for the office of deaconess. Another example of women in local church ministry in the NT is "the widows' roll" of the Pastorals (cf. 1Ti_3:11; 1Ti_5:3-16). The RSV, Amplified, and Phillips translations have "deaconess" in Rom_16:1. The NASB and NIV have it in the footnotes. The NEB has "who holds office." All believers are called, gifted, full-time ministers (cf. Eph_4:12). Some are called to leadership ministry roles. Our traditions must give way to Scripture! These early deacons and deaconesses were servants, not executive boards.
M. R. Vincent, Word Studies, vol. 2, pp. 752 and 1196, says that the Apostolical Constitutions, dating from the late second or early third century, makes a distinction between the duties and ordination of female church helpers.
1. deaconesses
2. widows (cf. 1Ti_3:11; 1Ti_5:9-10)
3. virgins (cf. Act_21:9 and possibly 1Co_7:34)
These duties involved
1. caring for the sick
2. caring for those physically persecuted
3. visiting those in prison for the faith
4. teaching new believers
5. assisting in baptism of women
6. some overseeing of female church members
▣ "not malicious gossips" This is a perfect example of the problems caused by the false teachers (cf. 1Ti_5:13-15; 2Ti_3:1-7). It is possible that this refers to conversations about the false teachers' teachings. The term translated "gossip" was often used of the devil (cf. Joh_6:70). It literally meant "slander" (NKJV, NRSV, NIV, cf. 1Ti_3:11; 2Ti_3:3; Tit_2:3), not gossip (NASB, TEV, NJB).
▣ "temperate" See note at 1Ti_3:3.
▣ "faithful in all things" This again may be pointing toward the false teachers' use of women in the house churches. These leaders/servants must be faithful in the faith (no article in 1Ti_3:13 also) and in their lifestyle choices.
1Ti_3:12 Most modern translations make 1Ti_3:8-13 into one paragraph. Deacons start the discussion (cf. 1Ti_3:8) and end the discussion (cf. 1Ti_3:13), yet in 1Ti_3:11 deaconesses are discussed. This is why some translations call them "deacon's wives." However, I think that deacon helpers, or deaconesses, may be more culturally appropriate. Women servants (i.e., "widows") are specifically mentioned in 1Ti_5:9-10.
1Ti_3:12 is very similar to the qualifications of the overseer or bishop (i.e. pastor) in 1Ti_3:2-5.
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1Ti_3:13 "served" This is the verb form of "deacon." It is the general term in the NT for "minister/servant." The term "deacon" is not in this verse in Greek.
▣ "obtain for themselves a high standing" This does not necessarily refer to a higher leadership position (i.e. pastor), but possibly respect within their community which allows them to boldly share the gospel.