1 Timothy 3:11

‘Women in the same way must be grave, not slanderers, temperate; faithful in all things.’

In a section dealing with church offices this can only refer to women deacons, in reality if not by title. Had it referred to wives we would have expected a similar mention with regard to the bishops and besides, would have expected it to follow 1 Timothy 3:12-13, and we do know that there were women deacons (see Romans 16:1-2). Thus women deacons were recognised functionaries in the churches. They would in fact be very necessary in order to cater for some of the needs of womenfolk, and in order to avoid such dangers as are probably portrayed in 2 Timothy 3:6, while in some social circles it may even have been a positive necessity. For some the intrusion of men might well not have been acceptable. They may well have been older women, and were mainly known for their practical ministry (Romans 16:2), but also possibly for the teaching of women in practical Christianity (see 1 Timothy 5:5; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:3-5), although this would inevitably involve some doctrine. It would only secondarily, however, be that of the authoritative voice of the church.

The requirements for these ‘women deacons’ were similarly strict. They had to be grave, taking life and the prospect of their position very seriously, not slanderers who would pass on gossip about those whom they visited, temperate and wise, and ‘faithful in all things’ (absolutely trustworthy). The word for slanderers is diabolos which is the name also of the Devil, but means ‘the Slanderer. Its use as signifying ‘slanderers, backbiters, gossipers’ is found in classical literature, and is well in place here, however in view of the earlier references to the Devil (1 Timothy 3:6-7) we might well consider that Paul intended that idea to be found within it. Thus ‘women who do not behave like the Devil’ in his insidious, deceitful and untrustworthy ways, possibly even having in mind that some of this number had been passing on the false teaching that he has previously decried..

The position of this verse in the chiasmus suggests that Paul was deliberately highlighting this unusual ministry of women deacons, and that he therefore saw it as important. The lack of an official title suggests an early rather than a late date.