1 Timothy 3:13 - Exposition

Served well as deacons for used the office of a deacon well, A.V.; gain to themselves a good standing for purchase to themselves a good degree, A.V. Served… as deacons ( διακονήσαντες ); as in 1 Timothy 3:10 . In this technical sense only found in these two passages; which well agrees with the late date of this Epistle, when the technical sense of διάκονος was established. Gain to themselves a good standing. The sense of the passage depends a good deal upon the exact meaning of βαθμός . In 1 Samuel 5:4 , 1 Samuel 5:5 , in the LXX ., βαθμός is the rendering of נתָּפְםִ (rendered αἴθριον in Ezekiel 9:3 ; Ezekiel 10:4 ), a somewhat unusual word for a "threshold." In 2 Kings 20:9 , 2 Kings 20:10 , 2 Kings 20:11 , it is the rendering of הלָעֲםַ , "a degree on the sun-dial." This latter seems to suit better the verb περιποιοῦνται , they gain or acquire, which suggests the idea of advancement. It does not follow that St. Paul had in his mind their advancement from the "inferior office" to "the higher ministries in the Church" (Ordination Service); he may merely have meant to say that the discharge of the duties of a deacon in an efficient and exemplary manner raised a man to high estimation in the Church, and so gave him confidence in confessing the faith of Jesus Christ both by word and deed. Gain to themselves ( περιποιοῦνται ); acquire by purchase or otherwise. Frequent in the LXX .; but only elsewhere in the New Testament in Acts 20:28 . Boldness ( παρρησίαν ); very common in the New Testament (comp. Acts 4:13 , Acts 4:29 , Acts 4:31 ; Ephesians 6:19 ; Philippians 1:20 , etc.), where it is especially applied to boldness in preaching the gospel of Christ. This seems to imply that St. Paul contemplated preaching as a part of the deacon's work. We know that Philip the deacon and Stephen the deacon were both preachers.