1 Timothy 3:8-13 Godly Servants

1 Timothy 3:8-13 Godly Servants

In these verses, we have the requirements for deacons. One can look at these verses and see three offices (elder, deacon, deaconess) or one can see that the wife requirement is related to the male deacon. In either case, the idea is that the elder serves by equipping the church, and the deacon serves by helping the church.

The English word deacon is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos, which simply means “servant.” It is likely that the origin of the deacons is recorded in Acts 6. The first deacons were appointed to be assistants to the Apostles. In a local church today deacons relieve the pastors/elders of other tasks so that they may concentrate on the ministry of the Word, prayer, and spiritual oversight.

Even though deacons are not given the authority of elders, they still must meet certain qualifications. Many faithful deacons have been made elders after they proved themselves.¹

QUALITY #1: RESPECTED (1 Timothy 3:8)

“Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,” (1 Timothy 3:8, HCSB)

For deacons, it is extremely important that have earn respect. How do they earn this respect? By qualities that build respect. An elder has already received respect because of the nature of the work. They lead the church and dispense the Word of God. The deacon must serve the church. Servants will prove they are servants by the way they act. The qualities of respect begin with the “not’s.”

1. Hypocrisy – literally “double-tongued”

2. Addicted – literally “devoted”

3. Greedy –

Deacons handle offerings and distribute money to needy people in the church. It may be tempting to steal or to use funds in selfish ways. Finance committees in churches need to have a spiritual attitude toward money.²

QUALITY #2: FAITHFUL (1 Timothy 3:9)

“holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” (1 Timothy 3:9, HCSB)

A deacon must be faithful to the faith. That means that he not only believes the doctrine, but he lives by it. This is why hypocrisy is not allowed for a deacon.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains how the faith and conscience work in the life of an elder and deacon:

When Paul is speaking about faith and conscience, he does not ask about knowledge and experiences. Instead, he describes the bishop and deacon as being bound in faith and conscience, as not giving offense to the outside, as being long tested rather than beginners in whom detractors find no legitimacy. It is the man with the spirit of power and love and prudence, not the one who might run the risk of attracting the admiration of others. It is on such a man—and even in his case not too hastily or suddenly—that hands are laid and whereupon he is charged with ministry in the church-community (1 Tim. 5:22).³

The deacon’s spiritual character must begin with an affirmation of New Testament doctrine. He holds to the mystery of “the faith,” which simply refers to the content of Christian truth. And he must hold to it “with a clear conscience,” that is, a conscience that does not accuse him. It is not enough merely to believe the truth (James 2:19); you must also live it. And the stronger your theological and biblical knowledge, the stronger your conscience.⁴

QUALITY #3: TESTED AND APPROVED (1 Timothy 3:10)

“And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.” (1 Timothy 3:10, HCSB)

There is a commercial that states that a certain cereal is “kid-tested and mom-approved.” Deacons need to be tested and approved. They need to be tested first. How are they tested? The testing is through leadership and servant development – mentoring. I suggest that deacons should not be deacons unless the pastor has mentored them long enough that they can show that a person is qualified to be a deacon. Many times, churches choose deacons because of a popularity contest or because they may not have a long-term pastor. These methods run the risk of choosing the wrong people to serve. If after the testing, they prove to be blameless, then they can serve.

How long should the testing time be? I think it should be years. Other denominations require theological training on the level of seminary training for deacons. One might say that Southern Baptists don’t need deacons with that much training. However, my experience has proven that we need to take more time to train deacons, not less time.

As with the overseers, a time of testing, training, and maturing is required. This is an important principle in leadership development.⁵

QUALITY #4: COOPERATIVE (1 Timothy 3:11)

“Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.” (1 Timothy 3:11, HCSB)

The word here for wives, literally is “gyne” where we get out word gynecologist. So it is a challenge to interpret whether this speaking about wives of deacons or deaconesses. Do these words describe the characteristics of wives of male deacons? Or do these words describe the characteristics of female deacons? How you interpret this verse determines what kinds of deacons you have in the church.

Again, we have three characteristics surrounding respect:

1. Not gossipers and slanderers – not devils – “diabolos”

2. Self-controlled – sober, in terms of use of alcohol

3. Faithful – trustworthy

I use the word cooperative to describe this quality. If this verse is talking about female deacons, then they need to cooperative with the male deacons and elders. If this verse describes the wives of deacons, then they need to faithful and not against their husbands. They need to speak well of them and they don’t need to be like little devils running around destroying the church.

QUALITY #5: FAMILY-FAITHFUL (1 Timothy 3:12)

“Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.” (1 Timothy 3:12, HCSB)

So we have a possible difference between the deacon and the elder. There are no female elders. This is probably why there is no requirements about the wife. The office of elder is limited to men. The fact that he is faithful to his wife and manages his family reinforces the quality that an elder should be married faithfully to his wife. It also reinforce the thought that elders should not be divorced.

Most commentators agree that Paul is probably not requiring marriage or prohibiting polygamy, but they are divided over whether he is prohibiting remarriage or simply promoting faithfulness in marriage. On the strength of the parallel with 1 Tim 5:9, Bernard (1906, 53) insists that remarriage after death or divorce is forbidden to those who would be episkopoi or diakonoi.⁶

“No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,” (1 Timothy 5:9, HCSB)

I tend to agree with this interpretation. The reason is because of the seriousness of the office. I have heard various people make the case that divorced people can be elders and deacons. The arguments usually go along the line like this: “Why can’t I be a deacon or elder?” “The church is treating me as a second-class citizen.” “Why punish someone for a mistake in the past?” On the other side of the arguments against men who are divorced for the office of elder and deacon, I hear this: “Why should I listen to the advice of a man who can’t handle his marriage?” “If he can’t stay married, then why I should take advice from him?” “How can he properly lead the church if he can’t lead his family?”

I have heard these arguments from both sides and I have to admit, that people who make these claims don’t understand what the office of elder and deacons are honestly. There is a great weight of responsibility placed upon people who serve as elders and deacons.

Now interestingly, we always argue about the qualification for men to be deacons, but we never look at this same requirement for women deacons. No one argues that a wife must have been married to one man to be a female deacon. Also, this strengthens the argument for divorced deacons. Women who were not faithful, who acted like devils, who were out of control and divorced the man – these women would not disqualify a man from the office of deacon. I still believe that the Bible is clear about the interpretation of a one-woman husband. For the deacon, I see why some churches choose deacons whose wives previously left them.

PROMISE: GOOD STANDING AND GREAT BOLDNESS (1 Timothy 3:13)

“For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 3:13, HCSB)

Just as there is a promise for elders, there is a promise for deacons. Elders have a noble work. Deacons get two benefits: good standing for themselves and great boldness. Deacons get a great standing because people look to them as servants. They are the example of servanthood for other people in the church. Deacons are also supposed to be great witnesses for the church. They should know how to share the Gospel. They are examples of faith for people in the church.

There are many stories of deacons who misuse their position. So this promise is also a warning for people who serve as deacons. They are examples for people in the church and in the community. God wants to use deacons to help the church complete its mission.