I Timothy Chapter Three - Lesson Six
Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,
with the overseers and deacons.
In our last lesson we saw that Elders, Bishops, Overseers, and Pastors are one in the same concerning
office. It appears that each church had a plurality of Elders if there were qualified people. Elders were always
appointed and never elected (Tit. 1:5). However in the office of the deacons it appears in scripture that they
were chosen out from among the people themselves (Acts 6:3-6). Though the qualifications for both offices are
similar their primary functions seem different. In this lesson we will examine the qualifications and function of
the deacon in the church.
(8)Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy
lucre; (9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (10) And let these also first be proved; then
let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. (11) Even so must their wives be grave, not
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (12) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children
and their own houses well. (13) 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. (14) These things write I unto thee,
hoping to come unto thee shortly: 1 Timothy 3:8-14
Definition of Deacon
The Greek word for “Deacon” is “Diakonos”. It is rendered “minister” and “ministers” in Mat_20:26;
Mar_10:43; Rom_13:4; Rom_15:8; 1Co_3:5; 2Co_3:6; 2Co_6:4; 2Co_11:15, 2Co_11:23; Gal_2:17; Eph_3:7;
Eph_6:21; Col_1:7, Col_1:23, Col_1:25; Col_4:7; 1Ti_4:6; “servant” and “servants,” Mat_22:13; Mat_23:11;
Mar_9:25; Joh_2:5, Joh_2:9; Joh_12:26; Rom_16:1; and “deacon” or “deacons,” Phi_1:1; 1Ti_3:8, 1Ti_3:12.
The word is applied to the ministers of the gospel as being the servants of Christ, and of the churches. It came
especially to denote those who had charge of the alms of the church, and who were the overseers of the sick and
the poor, based on Acts 6.
Origen Of Deacons
In Phil. 1:1 and I Tim. 3 we see an actual office separate from bishops/pastors/elders/overseers. It is clear that
deacons had a primary role in the ministry to the extent that strong biblical qualifications were required.
It is generally believed that the office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men, among them
Stephen, to assist with the charitable work of the early church as recorded in Acts 6. However, the word
“deacon” isn’t directly applied to them.
Qualifications Of Deacons As found in the book of Acts
1. Filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom Acts 6:1-6
Qualifications Of Deacons As found in the book of I Tim.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Grave = semnos – serious
Double- tongued = dilogos = unequivocal
Not given to much wine – mē oino pollo prosechontas = not to give heed to a lot of wine (Acts 20:2, I Tim. 1:4)
Not greedy of ill gain = mē aischrokerdeis = not using money wrongly/immorally for their own advantage =
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience = ekontos to mustērion tēs pisteōs en katharāi suneidēsei
= to adhere to the revealed sound doctrine of Christ with a godly life
And let these also first be tested - kαι οὗτοι day dοkιmαzέσthsαν proτον = to be tested
before approved (However, it doesn’t say how)
6.
Even so their wives are to be reverent “semnos”, not slanderers “diabolos/false accusers”, temperate
“nayfalios/sober/vigilant” , faithful in all things “pistis en pasin”.
7.
the husbands of one wife
mias gunaikos Andres = one wife husband
ruling their children and households well = teknon kαlos prοistαmεnοι kαi τon ἰ
8.
=
δίon οἴkon.
The Blessing Of The Office Of The Deacon/Diaconate
1Ti 3:13 For they having served well gain a good grade/standing for themselves, and much
boldness in the faith, those in Christ Jesus.
It means, evidently, not so much public speaking, as a manly and independent exercise of faith in
Christ. The sense is, that by the faithful performance of the duties of the office of a deacon, and by the kind of
experience which a man would have in that office, he would establish a character of firmness in the faith, which
would show that he was a decided Christian.