1 Timothy 3:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:8-13

We have here the character of deacons: these had the care of the temporal concerns of the church, that is, the maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor: they served tables, while the ministers or bishops gave themselves only to the ministry of the word and prayer, Acts 6:2, 4. Of the institution of this office, with that which gave occasion to it, you have an account in Acts 6:1-7. Now it was requisite that deacons should have a good character, because they were assistants to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11

3:11 In the same way, the women must be dignified; they must not be given to slanderous gossip; they must be sober; they must be in all things reliable. As far as the Greek goes, this could refer to the wives of the deacons, or to women engaged in a similar service. It seems far more likely that it refers to women who are also engaged upon this work of charity. There must have been acts of kindness and of help which only a woman could properly do for another woman. Certainly in the early... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:11

Even so must their wives be grave ,.... Some instead of "wives" read "women", and understand them of deaconesses, such as were in the primitive churches; whose business it was to visit the poor and sick sisters of the church, and take care of things belonging to them; but it is better to interpret the words of the wives of the deacons, who must be as their husbands, "grave" in speech, gesture, and dress, of an honest report, a good behaviour, and chaste conversation; which will reflect... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11

Even so must their wives be grave - I believe the apostle does not mean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the Christian women in general. The original is simply: Γυναικας ὡσαυτως σεμνας· Let the women likewise be grave. Whatever is spoken here becomes women in general; but if the apostle had those termed deaconesses in his eye, which is quite possible, the words are peculiarly suitable to them. That there was such an order in the apostolic and primitive... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11

Verse 11 11.Likewise the wives He means the wives both of deacons and of bishops, for they must be aids to their husbands in their office; which cannot be, unless their behavior excel that of others. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-13

I. QUALIFICATIONS OF A BISHOP . Preliminary direction to Timothy . "Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." The Scripture idea of the episcopate is that of oversight , viz. of souls. A bishop was one who had the duty of overseeing a congregation in spiritual matters, being, in respect of gravity and dignity, called presbyter or elder. Timothy was to encourage any who sought to enter into the episcopate. The saying in Christian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

It was one of the weightiest duties laid upon Timothy, when called to be the spiritual ruler of the Church of Ephesus, to take care that the priests and deacons were men well qualified for their holy office. The condition of a congregation depends so largely upon the spiritual character of those who minister to it, that the choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of God's Church is a matter of vital importance to the welfare of the people, and demands the utmost wisdom and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:11

Women in like maturer must for even so must their wives , A.V. ; temperate for sober , A.V. Women . What is meant by these "women"? Certainly not women in general, which would be quite out of harmony with the context. The choice lies between This last, on the whole, is the most probable. The male deacons had just been spoken of, and so the apostle goes on to speak of the female deacons (at διάκονοι , Romans 16:1 ). He conceives of the deacon's office as consisting of two... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:11

Even so must their wives be grave - Chrysostom, Theophylact, Grotius, Bloomfield, and many others, suppose that by the word “wives,” here, (γυνᾶικας gunaikas), the apostle means “deaconesses.” Clarke supposes that it refers to women in general. The reason assigned for supposing that it does not refer to the wives of deacons, as such, is, that nothing is said of the qualifications of the wives of bishops - a matter of as much importance as that of the character of the wife of a deacon; and that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Timothy 3:11

1 Timothy 3:11. Even so must their wives Namely, the wives of the deacons; be grave Serious in their deportment; not slanderers Or false accusers of the brethren and others; sober Or watchful, (as νηφαλεους may be rendered,) for occasions of doing good, and guarding against every temptation to evil; faithful To God, their husbands, and the poor; in all things Committed to their care, lest their imprudent and unfaithful conduct should bring the character of their husbands under... read more

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