1 Timothy 3:8-13

The Qualifications For Deacons and Deaconnesses (1 Timothy 3:8-13 ).

The fact that there is no reference to teaching in these requirements points to the fact that deacons were not seen as authoritative teachers, but it would be unrealistic not to recognise that they would certainly engage in some form of teaching. As they moved around assisting the bishops in fulfilling the functions of the church throughout the city, and especially in their own locality, acting as ‘servants’, and presumably among other things having responsibilities with regards to almsgiving and church support to the needy, they would inevitably find themselves asked questions by those to whom they went, and by new Christians with whom they came in contact, and be required to give guidance in spiritual matters, and it may well be that they would give a word of teaching in small local groups that they attended. We can see how easily that would happen from Acts 6:0. Some may even have been local ‘prophets’, for there is no reason to doubt that some of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:0) would be exercised in even the smallest groups. That was indeed partly their purpose. To make up for the dearth of teachers in such groups. But their words would not be seen as the official teaching of the church. Nevertheless it could become extremely influential within those groups, and it may well be that some of those criticised as false teachers were in fact deacons involved in such situations and doing the best that they could, although having said that, it was, of course necessary to set them right. The requirements for deacons, while not as strict as those for bishops, were nevertheless searching.

This is partly confirmed by the fact that they too needed to prove their ability to ‘rule the household’, and needed to be sound in the mysteries of the faith.

Analysis.

a In a similar way deacons must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience (1 Timothy 3:8-9).

b And let these also first be proved, then let them serve as deacons, if they are blameless (1 Timothy 3:10).

c Women in the same way must be grave, not slanderers, temperate; faithful in all things (1 Timothy 3:11).

b Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well (1 Timothy 3:12).

a For those who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 3:13).

Note in ‘a’ the moral behaviour expected of the deacons and their holding of the mystery of the faith, and in the parallel they thus gain a good standing and great boldness in that faith. In ‘b’ they are to be proved, and in the parallel we learn one way in which they are to be proved. Centrally in ‘c’ women are numbered among them, and if the chiasmus is accepted are given fairly prominent mention.