The Grace Notes devotions in 2024 are based on verses from 1 Timothy. Each devotion includes Greek, pastoral ministry notes, and prayer.

This month we consider the qualifications for deacons in the church, 1 Tim 3:8-13.

⁸ Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς,  ⁹ ἔχοντας τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει.  ¹⁰ καὶ οὗτοι δὲ δοκιμαζέσθωσαν πρῶτον, εἶτα διακονείτωσαν ἀνέγκλητοι ὄντες.  ¹¹ γυναῖκας ὡσαύτως σεμνάς, μὴ διαβόλους, νηφαλίους, πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν.  ¹² διάκονοι ἔστωσαν μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρες, τέκνων καλῶς προϊστάμενοι καὶ τῶν ἰδίων οἴκων·  ¹³ οἱ γὰρ καλῶς διακονήσαντες βαθμὸν ἑαυτοῖς καλὸν περιποιοῦνται καὶ πολλὴν παρρησίαν ἐν πίστει τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. ^[1]

⁸ Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς,

The ὡσαύτως indicates that this section addresses a similar but distinct kind of public servant among God’s people. It appears that deacons worked with and under overseers but did not have as much responsibility, experience, or authority. That deacons were not required to be apt to teach might indicate that they were not responsible for maintaining sound doctrine and refuting false teaching. Διακόνους is accusative because the δεῖ εἶναι of verse two needs to be supplied again, and the infinitive requires an accusative subject. What follows are one positive and three negative requirements of deacons: they must be worthy of respect; they must not be double-tongued, not minded towards much wine, and not after shameful gain. Σεμνούς seems to be a summary word that subsumes the positive characteristics required of overseers in verses two and three. The three negatives seem to correspond to similar negatives for overseers in verse three: μὴ διλόγους with μὴ πλήκτην, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας with μὴ πάροινον, and μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς with ἀφιλάργυρον. In the areas of speech, drink, and money, church leaders must avoid the sins that so easily entangle. Because deacons were not in a position of authority, their speech temptation might be insincere-talk—covering impure ambitions with garments of godliness—rather than bully-talk.

 ⁹ ἔχοντας τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει. 

The deacon must be focused on God’s revelation of the gospel in his word and in his one and only Son. And he must hold this mystery of the faith in a clear conscience. Church leaders can have a clear conscience only if they are living humble lives of repentance before God. Leaders in Christ’s church often pray, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my rock and my redeemer” (Ps 19).

¹⁰ καὶ οὗτοι δὲ δοκιμαζέσθωσαν πρῶτον, εἶτα διακονείτωσαν ἀνέγκλητοι ὄντες.

The ἀνέγκλητοι for deacons corresponds to the ἀνεπίλημπτον for overseers in verse 2. Deacons needed to be tested first; they needed to be proven. The testing ground and the method of testing are not indicated, but it likely included an evaluation of their home life followed by a gradual assumption of duties in the church.

¹¹ γυναῖκας ὡσαύτως σεμνάς, μὴ διαβόλους, νηφαλίους, πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν.

Once again, the ὡσαύτως points to a similar but distinct kind of public servant in the church. Were these women deaconesses who served alongside the deacons? Were they assistants to the deacons? Were they married to the deacons? Removed from the original context, we cannot answer these questions with any certainty. In any case, because they were in the public eye of the church, there were corresponding requirements for them: worthy of respect (σεμνάς), not slanderous (μὴ διαβόλους), sober-minded (νηφαλίους—perhaps regarding both alcohol and material possessions), and faithful in everything. In our day, too, we recognize that the women who serve publicly in the church must be godly and honorable.

 ¹² διάκονοι ἔστωσαν μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρες, τέκνων καλῶς προϊστάμενοι καὶ τῶν ἰδίων οἴκων·

Paul returns to the deacons and repeats qualifications he had listed for the overseers: they must be husbands of one wife, managing well their own children and their own households.

 ¹³ οἱ γὰρ καλῶς διακονήσαντες βαθμὸν ἑαυτοῖς καλὸν περιποιοῦνται καὶ πολλὴν παρρησίαν ἐν πίστει τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

In verse thirteen Paul concludes his discussion of church leaders in the same way he began it in verse one: with an encouraging word. Those who serve commendably acquire a good standing for themselves and much boldness in faith in Christ Jesus. They will be blessed with progress and boldness within the sphere of their Christian faith. Their ministries will not only be a blessing to others. They themselves will be blessed. 

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I am not exactly sure how my role as pastor and teacher compares with the role of overseer and deacon in the early church, but I know that your requirements for public ministers have not changed. When I ponder this list I am filled with gratitude and fear. Thank you for giving me faith in Jesus and for making me worthy to serve in his church. Guard and protect me from the devil, who surely wants to cause my downfall. Even in the challenges of ministry, fill my heart with joy, boldness, and hope; through the merits of Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.

P.S. For further reading, I recommend Pres. emeritus David Valleskey’s recent book, The Splendid Task of the Ministry: A Pastoral Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (NPH, 2023).

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^[1] Holmes, M. W. (2011–2013). The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (1 Ti 3:8–13). Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature.