Qualities of Deacons

Deacon Nomination Preparation, MFBC 2023

Message Two of Two

1 Timothy 3:8-13.

ETS: Paul explained the qualities that should be evidenced in one serving as deacon.

ESS: Deacons should be people who exemplify honorable character.

OSS: [Doctrinal] {I want the people to understand the type of person that deacons should be.}

PQ: What are the biblical qualities of the deacon?

UW: Qualities

Intro.:

[1] Address similarities and differences between pastor/deacon.

[2] Distinguish between worldly standards of cultural influence that have infiltrated our understanding of who should be deacons (i.e.,Absent Alex; Busy Bill; Popular Paul; Successful Sam)

TS: Let us examine the biblical qualities detailed in 1 Timothy now:

There are positive qualities that should characterize deacons:

Worthy of respect/sincere [v. 8a]

Grounded in the faith [v. 9]

Faithful [vv. 10-12]

Above reproach and without accusation

Faithful in leading their family

Faithful to one, present, living wife.

Good rapport [v. 13]

There are negative qualities that should not characterize deacons:

Not hypocritical or insincere [v. 8b]

Not a drunkard [v. 8c]

Not greedy [v. 8d]

**Of particular interest is verse 11. Generally, it could refer to the following:

a) Women in general

b) Wives of deacons

c) Women deacons (deaconesses)

Thoughts after study:

—> It is likely that it either refers to option a) or b). Option c) is not likely in this passage simply because of the term used. There is support both in the NT [Rm. 16] and in writings of the early church fathers that deaconesses were popular during the early church and first century. Yet, here, because of the term used, it is not likely referring to deaconesses.

—> It is not as likely that it refers to a deacon’s wife simply on the basis that there is no addressing of the pastor’s wife in the earlier verses. Thus, this would seem unsupported by the structure of the passage. The only support that seems to make this option likely is the factor that in their culture (and ours) much of one’s ministry is influenced by one’s wife. Also, there is no pronoun in the Greek such as “their wives” to refer explicitly to deacons’ wives as some English translations suggest.

—> It is most likely that this refers to women in general. This is to support that those who are to serve- there is the general standard to live an honorable life.

CONCLUSION:

[1] Do you exemplify these qualities as a believer?

[2] Has God called you to serve as Deacon?

Resources Consulted:

[1] R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000).

[2] Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 4 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887).

[3]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 7 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

[4] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014).

[5]David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013).

[6] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: I Thessalonians to Philemon, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885).

[7] Ray Van Neste, “1 Timothy,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).