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1 Timothy 3:8-13 – Qualifications of Deacons
INTRO:
A. Basically, if you understand the qualifications for elders, you understand them for deacons. Since we spent so much time discussing overseer’s qualifications, we will try to cover all the necessary information on Deacons in two lessons.
B. Although they are nowhere specifically called deacons, many believe the workers in Acts 6 were. Whether or not they were, they do serve the need of describing the basic work of deacons.
C. Sometimes language is difficult to understand if we are biased by cultural or ecclesiastical biases. People in the 20th century are culturally and ecclesiastically biased against pure N.T. Christianity which is a Christianity that is simple and uncomplicated. This difficulty in understanding is made somewhat more complicated by archaic translations. Although the King James is a worthy translation, it is sometimes difficult to understand. This is true in regard to a statement it makes about deacons (1 Tim. 3:13): For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree…. This makes it sound like a theological degree purchased from a seminary after years of hard work.
1. Office
a. “In I Tim. 3:1, the word `office,’ in the phrase `the office of a bishop,’ has nothing to represent it in the original; the R.V. marg. gives `overseer’ for `bishop,’ and the phrase lit. is `overseership;’ so in vv.10,13, where the A.V. has `use (and `used’) the office of a decon,’ the R.V. rightly omits `office,’ and translate the verb diakoneo, to serve, `let them serve as deacons’ and `(they that) have served (well) as deacons.”[1]
1) Lit., “For those well having served….”
b In Rom.12:4, the KJV translate praxis as office, when it more accurately means “a doing, deed.”[2] The NASB reads, function.
c. Our English word office comes from the Latin officium, which is made up of opus, a work, plus facere, to do. So an office is simply a work to do. If we understand both elders and deacons as works to do, we cannot go wrong. In that way, they are the same as ministers and prophets.
2. Deacon
a. Diakonos – “whence Eng. deacon, primarily denotes a servant, whether as doing servile work, or as an attendant rendering free service, without particular reference to its character. The word is probably connected with the verb dioko, to hasten after, pursue (perhaps originally said of a runner).[3] It occurs in the N.T. of domestic servants, John 2:5,9; the civil ruler, Rom.13:4; Christ, Rom.15:8; Gal.2:17; the followers of Christ in relation to their Lord, John 12:26; Eph.6:21; Col.1:7; 4:7; the followers of Christ in relation to one another, Matt.20:26; 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:43; the servants of Christ in the work of preaching and teaching, 1 Cor.3:5; 2 Cor.3:6; 6:4; 11:23; Eph.3:7; Col.1:23,25; 1 Thess.3:2; 1 Tim.4:6; those who serve in churches, Rom.16:1 (used of a woman here only in N.T.); Phil.1:1; 1 Tim.3:8,12; false apostles, servants of Satan, 2 Cor.11:15. Once diakonos is used where, apparently, angels are intended, Matt.22:13; in ver.3, where men are intended, doulos is used.
Diakonos is, generally speaking, to be distinguished from doulos, a bondservant, slave[4]; diakonos views a servant in relationship to his work; doulous views him in relationship to his master….”[5]
1) Therefore, you can be a doulos/slave without any work. You cannot be a diakonos/deacon without work. Too often in churches the preacher does the work of the elders, the elders do the work of the deacons, and the deacons do nothing.
2) Illustration:
There was a church that was scripturally organized with two elders, several deacons, and two preachers. A lectureship was scheduled. They decided to print all the outlines using an offset printer, which they named, Lucifer. One preacher was out of town during the preparation period. One of the elders and the other preacher spent hours in the printing room. Ink, plates, paper, were everywhere. The deacons were nowhere to be found. They fulfilled their normal, assigned duties, but at this time they were nowhere. The preacher asked the elder where they were and was told, “I cannot get them to help.” The preacher wondered why they were deacons.
3. Purchase
a. Peropoieo (4046)
1) “signifies to gain or get for oneself, purchase.”[6]
2) “to make to remain over; to reserve, to leave or keep safe, lay by; mid. to make to remain for one’s self….[7]
3) Same word used in Acts 20:28 to refer to Jesus’ purchasing the church with His blood.
4. Degree
a. Bathmos (898) – denotes a step, primarily of a threshold or stair, and is akin to baino, to go; figuratively, a standing, a stage in a career, position, degree, I Tim.3:13, of faithful deacons.”[8]
1 Tim. 3:13
(ALT) For the ones having served as a deacon well obtain to themselves a good standing and much boldness [or, confidence] in faith, the [one] in Christ Jesus.
(ASV) For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(BBE) For those who have done good work as Deacons get for themselves a good position and become free from fear in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(CEV) Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.
(Darby) for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(DRB) For they that have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(EMTV) For those who have served well as deacons obtain a standing for themselves and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(ESV) For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
(GNB) Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.
(GW) Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.
(ISV) Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
(KJV) For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(LITV) For those having served well gain a good grade for themselves and much boldness in faith, those in Christ Jesus.
(Murdock) For they who serve well [as deacons], procure for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in the faith of Jesus the Messiah.
(NASB) For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
(RV) For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(Webster) For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
(WNT) For those who have filled the deacon’s office wisely and well, are already gaining for themselves an honourable standing, and are acquiring great freedom of speech in proclaiming the faith which rests on Christ Jesus.
(YLT) for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.
D. As we later look at the qualifications, we will notice their similarity to overseer’s, as well with all Christians. We might understand the need for overseers having qualifications, but why deacons? It seems strange that before elders are appointed, we have men serving exactly the same functions that deacons perform after we have elders. The main reasons I believe deacons have qualifications are:
1. Being a deacon is an honor. All Christians should consider serving, whether in the capacity of a deacon, or simply as a Christian, an honor. Subjection, submission, servitude are not evil concepts nor bad words. It is an honor to serve.
2. Being a deacon is a representation of Christ and His church. Even the world expects more of those publicly recognized as workers (1 Tim.3:7).
3. Being a deacon is a work.
E. Text: 1 Tim. 3:8-10,12-13
BODY:
I. MEN OF DIGNITY (v.8)
A. Def. Semnos (4586)
1. “honourable.”[9]
2. “first denoted reverend, august, venerable (akin to sebomai, to reverence); then, serious, grave….Trench…points out that `grave’ and `dignity’ fail to cover the full meaning of their original; `the word we want is one in which the sense of gravity and dignity is combined.’ Cremeer describes it as denoting what inspires reverence and awe, and says that semonos and hosios, holy, consecrated, are only secondary designations of the conception of holiness. `The word points to seriousness of purpose and to self-respect in conduct’ (Moule).[10]
B. Various Translations: Grave; Men of Dignity; Serious; Honorable; Serious Demeanor.
- It is important to understand that circumstances play a role in this qualification.
C. Other Uses:
1. Same qualification for an elder [1 Tim.2:4], except the word there is semnotes [4587]. There it has to do with the manner in which he raises his children.
2. Used for lives of all Christians (1 Tim.2:2).
II. NOT DOUBLE-TONGUED (v.8)
A. Def. Ma (3361) Dilogous (1351)
1. “Primarily means saying the same thing twice, or given to repetition (dis, twice, logos, a word, or speech); hence, saying a thing to one person and giving a different view of it to another, double-tongued….”[11]
2. When the Indians accused the “White Man” of speaking with forked tongue, they meant the same thing as double tongued. Someone else classified the double-tongued as cannibal tongues because they devour others. Another similar expression is two-faced.
B. Various Translations: not double-tongued; not talebearers; not deceitful in speech; straight-forward men; no gossips; sincere in their talk.
C. Other Uses: None.
D. The importance of this is apparent, especially since all Christians must watch their language; but also because deacons will be reporting their duties and needs to the congregation and/or elders. They must be able to be trusted.
III. NOT ADDICTED TO MUCH WINE (v.8)
A. Def.
1. Not Ma (3361)
2. Wine Oino (3631)
3. Much Pollo (4183)
4. Addicted Prosechontas (4337)
a. The connotative definition is, “to be given or addicted to. The denotative meaning is “to turn to.” The same word is used variously to mean, “to bring to, bring near; as if to bring a ship to land. To turn the mind to, attend to, be attentive as if to a person, self or a thing, even of caring for, providing for. To guard oneself, to beware. To apply one’s self to, attach one’s self to, hold or cleave, to a person or a thing. To devote thought and affort to.[12]
1) A plausible translation would be do not give yourself up, by turning your mind to much wine.
b. In reference to an elder, one word is translated into addicted to wine, paroinon (3943).
1) “and adjective, lit., tarrying at wine (para, at, oinos, wine)[13]
B. Often people compare this to the elder’s qualification of not being addicted to wine, and quarrel over the word much. The problem is the oblique comparing of English translations without regard to the original Greek. Paul did not write in English. The English word much is not the only difference. The Greek words for addiction are completely different. Therefore Paul was not delineating a difference by using the word much, while using the same word for addictions.
Is there difference between the qualifications for elders and deacons in this regard? No. An addiction is wrong for any Christian (1 Cor.6:12). An addiction almost always implies a large or much quantity of consumed substance. Therefore an addiction can be defined by the word much. Not being addicted to wine is the same as not being addicted to much wine. After all, if the emphasis is on the word much, let’s negate the statement. A deacon cannot be addicted to much wine, but a deacon can be addicted to a little wine? Whoever heard of such nonsense?
Let’s look at the Greek terms for addiction. For the deacon the term addicted is translated from prosechontas (4337). The connotative definition is, “to be given or addicted to. The denotative meaning is “to turn to. The same word is used variously to mean, “to bring to, bring near; as if to bring a ship to land. To turn the mind to, attend to, be attentive as if to a person, self or a thing, even of caring for, providing for. To guard oneself, to beware. To apply one’s self to, attach one’s self to, hold or cleave, to a person or a thing. To devote thought and effort to.[14] A plausible translation would be do not give yourself up, by turning your mind to much wine.
In reference to an elder, one Greek word is translated into the English phrase addicted to wine, paroinon (3943). This is “an adjective, and literally means tarrying at wine from para, at, and oinos, wine.[15]
Paul was not giving different qualifications. He was stating the same thing using different words.
IV. NOT FOND OF SORDID GAIN (v.8)
A. Def.
B. Various Translations:
C. Other Uses:
1. This is exactly the same as for elders (1 Tim.3:3).
D. This suggests that deacons often handled money (Acts 6).
V. HOLDING TO THE MYSTERY OF FAITH WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE (v.9)
A. Def.
1. Holding Eshontas (2192) – “to hold fast, keep….“[16]
2. Mystery Mustarion (3466) – “a hidden thing, secret, mystery….”[17]
3. Faith Pisteos (4102) – “the substance of Christian faith or what is believed by Christians.”[18]
a. it is important to remember that God’s revealed will is called the faith because that word indicates trustworthiness. We can trust God and His word.
4. Clear Kathara (2513) – “free from every admixture of what is false, sincere.”[19]
5. Conscience Suneidasei (4893) – the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one, condemning the other; conscience.”[20]
B. Various Translations: Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience; Holding fast the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience; They must maintain the divine truth of the faith with a pure conscience; Hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience; Holding the divine truth of the faith with a clear conscience; Holding fast the secret of the faith with a pure conscience; But with a pure conscience keeping hold on the hidden truth of the faith; but holding the mysterious truths of the faith with a clear conscience; Holding the sacred secret of the faith in a pure conscience; Continue to hold the open secret of faith with a clear conscience; But holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.
VI. ALSO TESTED (v.10)
VII. BEYOND REPROACH (v.10)
VIII. HUSBANDS OF ONE WIFE (v.12)
IX. GOOD MANAGERS OF CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLDS
[1]Vine’s, p.814.
[3]Thayer, in his lexicon, disagrees with this etymology (p.138.) He believes the origin is uncertain. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, also disagrees with this derivation (v.32).
[4]Trench agrees with this distinction. Maybe this is a hint that deacons are not servants of the elders. In Rom.16:1, diakonos is used of a woman. She is said to be a diakonos of the church. This should not be interpreted to mean the church was her master, but the church was her work. This is true of all deacons.
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