1 Timothy 3:13

The rewards for faithful service as a deacon are two: a good reputation, and increased confidence in dealing with other people and with God (cf. Matthew 20:26-28; Mark 10:43-45). Presumably this confidence builds on a clear conscience.

Paul said nothing about the duties of deacons. This indicates that he did not associate specific tasks with the office. He seems to have intended that deacons should function as official servants of the church in whatever capacity the elders may see a need for this. They were in effect the elders’ assistants.

"1 Timothy 3:1-13 thus presents a twofold pattern for the official ministry of the church, that of oversight (episkopos) and that of service (diakonos)." [Note: Knight, p. 175.]

Whereas the elder office apparently arose out of Jewish religious life, the deacon office seems to have developed from an incident in the early history of the church (i.e., Acts 6:1-6). Luke did not call the men appointed to assist the apostles in Acts 6 deacons in that passage. Nevertheless this event apparently led to the official appointment of deacons (servants) as assistants to the elders who served especially in the realm of physical and material needs. [Note: See Strauch, pp. 367-72.]

"An analysis of the data seems . . . to indicate the existence of oversight by a plurality of church leaders throughout the NT church in virtually every known area and acknowledged or commended by virtually every NT writer who writes about church leadership." [Note: Knight, pp. 176-77.]