Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11
11. their wives—rather, "the women," that is, the deaconesses. For there is no reason that special rules should be laid down as to the wives of the deacons, and not also as to the wives of the bishops or overseers. Moreover, if the wives of the deacons were meant, there seems no reason for the omission of "their" (not in the Greek). Also the Greek for "even so" (the same as for "likewise," 1 Timothy 3:8, and "in like manner," 1 Timothy 3:8- :), denotes a transition to another class of persons.... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11
1 Timothy 3:11. Even so must their wives be grave,— There was as much reason that this should extend to the wives of bishops also; and as he begins the next verse with let the deacons, that is to say, as well as the bishops, be the husbands of one wife,—perhaps he might so design it. These wives were not to slander any body, and especially not to blast the characters of the poor to their husbands, and so cut them off from the charitable relief of the church. The deacons themselves are required,... read more