• I Timothy 3:8-12
  • Qualifications of deacons, continued:
    • “not fond of sordid gain” - I Timothy 3:8
    • “holding to the mystery of faith” - I Timothy 3:9
      • See Colossians 1:25 for another use of “mystery.”
      • See also II Corinthians 13:5.
    • “beyond reproach” - I Timothy 3:10
      • “must also first be tested” - “Also” here seems to be referring back to qualifications for elders. Deacons should be tested like elders are.
    • “women” - I Timothy 3:11
      • The Greek word translated “women” here can mean either “wife” or “woman” depending on the context. Since this verse occurs in the middle of a discussion on deacons and the next verse specifies that deacons must be male (i.e., be “husbands of only one wife”), the most natural interpretation would be that this is referring to the wives of deacons.
      • Qualifications for wives of deacons:
        • “dignified”
        • “not malicious gossips” - cf. II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3
        • “temperate” - also, sober or sober-minded. See I Timothy 3:2.
        • “faithful in all things”
    • “husbands of only one wife” - I Timothy 3:12
      • See I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 (cf. I Timothy 5:9)
      • This seems to indicate that a deacon must be married and in a scriptural marriage. If is not completely clear if a man could still be a deacon after his wife died.