Verse 13
‘For those who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.’
The importance of the office in the eyes of the early church, comes out in this final comment. Those who serve well as deacons both gain good standing before God, and great boldness in their approach to God, and in their expectation of That Day. If they remain true they will one day hear His, ‘well done good and faithful servants’.
‘Gain to themselves a good standing.’
‘The faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ It is questioned as to whether this refers to their faith or to ‘the faith’ as signifying a kind of statement of faith. It must, however, be seen as questionable whether at this stage such a clear distinction would be made. They would certainly have had at least primitive ‘statements of faith’ but they would equally certainly have been expected to have a positive faith about them.
The use of ‘Christ Jesus’ might be seen as pointing to Paul, although it has been objected that the use here is not quite in accord with his usual usage. But he is here dealing with titles (‘bishop’, ‘deacon’), and the title Christ preceding Jesus would fit the formality of the situation indicating that he is a servant of the Christ.
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