1 Timothy 3:8-10

"Likewise" (1 Timothy 3:8) indicates that Paul was describing an office different from that of elder when he spoke of deacons. "Deacon" (Gr. diakonos, 1 Timothy 3:8; lit. servant) is a word the New Testament writers used frequently. In time the churches recognized official servants of the churches, and these people held office as deacons. A list of 12 qualifications follows.

1. "Men of dignity" (Gr. semnos, 1 Timothy 3:8) means worthy of respect.

2. "Not double-tongued" (Gr. me dilogous, 1 Timothy 3:8) means not two-faced, saying one thing or living one way part of the time and another at other times; honest, not hypocritical, sincere; men of integrity.

3. "Not addicted to much wine" means not an addict (Gr. me oino pollo prosechontas, 1 Timothy 3:8; cf. elder qualification #8).

4. "Not fond of sordid gain" means he does not love "dirty money" (Gr. me aischrokerdeis, 1 Timothy 3:8; cf. elder qualification #12).

5. "Holding the . . . faith with a clear conscience" (Gr. echontas to mysterion tes pisteos en kathara syneidesei, 1 Timothy 3:9) describes a man of conviction who behaves in harmony with his beliefs. "The mystery of the faith" is the body of doctrine that God has given us by special revelation. Today "mystery" implies knowledge withheld, but in the Bible it often means knowledge revealed.

6. "Beyond reproach" (Gr. anegkletoi, 1 Timothy 3:10; cf. elder qualification #1) means without reasonable grounds for accusation. This was to be true of him in the past as well as in the present, having passed the test of time. Paul was not referring to some type of ordination examination. [Note: See Fee, 1 and 2 Timothy . . ., p. 87.]

"The meaning is not [either] that they should be given a trial appointment as deacon, but rather that the church should constantly be examining and testing the members of the congregation, so that whenever the need for selecting deacons arises, they will know what members are qualified for appointment." [Note: D. Edmond Hiebert, "Behind the Word ’Deacon:’ A New Testament Study," Bibliotheca Sacra 140:558 (April-June 1983):154.]