qualifications for deacons and leader’s wives i timothy 3:8-13

Qualifications for Deacons and Leader’s Wives I Timothy 3:8-13

Introduction

• The word deacon (diakonos) means a servant or minister• It is used many times in the New Testament in a general sense• Paul was a deacon in this sense- Col. 1:25• Here it used to describe a group of men possessing specific

qualifications and appointed to serve the local church- Phil. 1:1• As with the elders, each man must possess all of these

qualifications before he is appointed•Most of these are required of every christian

Qualifications for Deacons-1

1. Reverent (KJV- grave)- V8• The word (semnous) means serious, honorable, honest, dignified• All christians are to be honest (reverent)- Phil. 4:8• This word describes a faithful christian of good character• A servant must take his service seriously and so must those who

serve the local church2. Not double-tongued


• The word dilogos means literally to speak twice• It means to speak one thing to one person and something different

to another person about the same thing

• Such a person is often said to be two-faced• It is one form of dishonesty• The truth does not change, and christians must always speak the

truth- Eph. 4:25 • Liars have a place reserved for them-Rev. 21:8


3. Not given to much wine• The phrase means not addicted to wine or strong drink• A similar qualification is given for those who serve as elders• I Tim. 3:3- not given to wine • It refers to one who is in the habit of drinking wine• Drinking fermented wine can lead to drunkenness- Gal. 5:21• Alcohol removes inhibitions and causes people to do things they

would not do otherwise- Prov. 23:33


• It affects one’s ability to reason and make judgments- Prov. 31:4-5• Christians must be sober- I Pet. 5:8• The safe course for all christians including elders and deacons is to

abstain from all alcoholic beverage4. Not greedy for money• This is also a qualification for elders- I Tim. 3:3• Those who are greedy for money will use whatever means is

necessary to obtain it


• That attitude will lead to many sins- I Tim. 6:10• It caused Judas to steal and betray the Lord- Jn. 12:6• It can also cause christians to neglect their duty to earn more of it5. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience• The “mystery of faith” is the gospel- V16 & Eph. 1:9• The conscience is one’s knowledge of himself/herself• A pure conscience is one that is free of guilt and corruption


• It must be educated in the faith once delivered to the saints- Acts 23:1 & Jude 3

6. He must first be proved- V10• Paul told Timothy not to lay hands on anyone hastily- I Tim. 5:22• This applies to teachers, song leaders, as well as deacons• A man must demonstrate his dedication to the Lord and holy way of

life before leading in worship or serving as a deacon7. He must be blameless


• That is without any sustainable charge of wrongdoing• Also a requirement for those who serve as elders- Titus 1:78. He must be the husband of one wife- V12• He cannot be a bachelor nor a polygamist9. He must rule his children and his own house well- V12• As with the elder, he must be the head of his family- Eph. 5:22-23

& Eph. 6:1• There is no requirement that a deacon’s children be believers

Qualifications for Leader’s Wives-1

• These are found in verse 11 and appear to apply to the wives of both elders and deacons• These affect their example and influence on their children & others1. Reverent (KJV- grave)• It has the same meaning here as in verse 8• That is serious, honorable, honest, dignified• A quality required of all christians- Phil. 4:8 (NKJV-noble)2. Not slanderers


• Slander is a form of gossip- I Tim. 5:13• It is the spreading of false accusations• Slander is the Devil’s work- Rev. 12:10• All christians must avoid this sin of the tongue- Titus 3:23. Temperate (KJV- sober)• Also a requirement for elders- V2• A quality of mature christians- Titus 2:2


• It describes a person who is in control of his faculties and aware of the spiritual dangers around him/her

4. Faithful in all things- V11a. Faithful to the Lordb. Faithful to His churchc. Faithful to her husband and to her children• Supporting her husband as he serves or leads in the local church

qualifications for deacons and leader’s wives i timothy 3:8-13

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