Qualifications of Qualifications of DeaconsDeacons

DignifiedDignified

KJV—graveKJV—grave RSV—seriousRSV—serious NASV—men of dignityNASV—men of dignity ESV—dignifiedESV—dignified NIV—men worthy of respectNIV—men worthy of respect BAGD—worthy of respect/honor, BAGD—worthy of respect/honor,

noble, dignified, seriousnoble, dignified, serious

Not Double-TonguedNot Double-Tongued

KJV—not double-tonguedKJV—not double-tongued RSV—not double-tonguedRSV—not double-tongued NASV—not double-tonguedNASV—not double-tongued ESV—not double-tonguedESV—not double-tongued

footnote: footnote: OrOr devious in speech devious in speech NIV—sincereNIV—sincere BAGD—not insincereBAGD—not insincere

Not Addicted to Much Not Addicted to Much WineWine

KJV—not given to much wineKJV—not given to much wine RSV—not addicted to much wineRSV—not addicted to much wine NASV—or addicted to much wineNASV—or addicted to much wine ESV—not addicted to much wineESV—not addicted to much wine NIV—not indulging in much wineNIV—not indulging in much wine BAGD—not {occupying oneself with, BAGD—not {occupying oneself with,

devoting oneself to, applying oneself devoting oneself to, applying oneself to} much wineto} much wine

Not Greedy Not Greedy for Shameful Gainfor Shameful Gain

KJV—not greedy of filthy lucreKJV—not greedy of filthy lucre RSV—not greedy for gainRSV—not greedy for gain NASV—or fond of sordid gainNASV—or fond of sordid gain ESV—not greedy for dishonest gainESV—not greedy for dishonest gain NIV—not pursuing dishonest gainNIV—not pursuing dishonest gain BAGD—not shamelessly greedy for BAGD—not shamelessly greedy for

money, not avaricious, not fond of money, not avaricious, not fond of dishonest gaindishonest gain

From the words ‘shameful’ and ‘gain’From the words ‘shameful’ and ‘gain’

Holding to the Mystery of Holding to the Mystery of the Faith with a Clear the Faith with a Clear ConscienceConscience

KJV—… mystery … pure conscience KJV—… mystery … pure conscience RSV—… mystery … clear conscienceRSV—… mystery … clear conscience NASV—… mystery … clear conscienceNASV—… mystery … clear conscience ESV—… mystery … clear conscienceESV—… mystery … clear conscience NIV—… deep truths … clear conscienceNIV—… deep truths … clear conscience BAGD—mystery, transcendent/ultimate BAGD—mystery, transcendent/ultimate

reality, secret; clean, purereality, secret; clean, pure

Be Tested First … BlamelessBe Tested First … Blameless

KJV—being KJV—being foundfound blameless blameless RSV—prove themselves blamelessRSV—prove themselves blameless NASV—are beyond reproachNASV—are beyond reproach ESV—prove themselves blamelessESV—prove themselves blameless NIV—there is nothing against themNIV—there is nothing against them BAGD—blameless, irreproachableBAGD—blameless, irreproachable

Women: DignifiedWomen: Dignified

KJV—graveKJV—grave RSV—seriousRSV—serious NASV—dignifiedNASV—dignified ESV—dignifiedESV—dignified NIV—women worthy of respectNIV—women worthy of respect BAGD—worthy of respect/honor, BAGD—worthy of respect/honor,

noble, dignified, seriousnoble, dignified, serious

Women: Not SlanderersWomen: Not Slanderers

KJV—not slanderersKJV—not slanderers RSV—no slanderersRSV—no slanderers NASV—not malicious gossipsNASV—not malicious gossips ESV—not slanderersESV—not slanderers NIV—not malicious talkersNIV—not malicious talkers BAGD—not slanderousBAGD—not slanderous

Women: Women: TemperateTemperate KJV—soberKJV—sober RSV—temperateRSV—temperate NASV—temperateNASV—temperate ESV—sober-mindedESV—sober-minded NIV—temperateNIV—temperate BAGD—1. temperate, sober; being BAGD—1. temperate, sober; being

very moderate in the drinking of an very moderate in the drinking of an alcoholic beverage; alcoholic beverage; 2. self-controlled, level-headed, being 2. self-controlled, level-headed, being restrained in conductrestrained in conduct

Women: Faithful in all Women: Faithful in all thingsthings

KJV—faithful in all thingsKJV—faithful in all things RSV—faithful in all thingsRSV—faithful in all things NASV—faithful in all thingsNASV—faithful in all things ESV—faithful in all thingsESV—faithful in all things NIV—trustworthy in everythingNIV—trustworthy in everything BAGD—trustworthy, faithful, BAGD—trustworthy, faithful,

dependable, inspiring faith/trust, dependable, inspiring faith/trust, being worthy of belief or trustbeing worthy of belief or trust

Deacons: Men of One Deacons: Men of One WomanWoman

KJV—the husbands of one wifeKJV—the husbands of one wife RSV—the husband of one wifeRSV—the husband of one wife NASV—husbands of NASV—husbands of onlyonly one wife one wife ESV—the husband of one wifeESV—the husband of one wife NIV—the husband of but one wifeNIV—the husband of but one wife BAGD—man, esp. husband; woman, BAGD—man, esp. husband; woman,

here wifehere wife

Does not mean:Does not mean:

All the deacons share the same wifeAll the deacons share the same wife Only one woman deacon is allowedOnly one woman deacon is allowed

But:But: Each deacon should be the husband Each deacon should be the husband

of one wifeof one wife So several translations change the So several translations change the

plural to a singular to avoid plural to a singular to avoid misunderstandingmisunderstanding

Can a divorced man serve?Can a divorced man serve?

Arguments in the affirmative:Arguments in the affirmative: No second class citizens in the churchNo second class citizens in the church Means only one of the following:Means only one of the following:

Not unmarriedNot unmarried Not divorcedNot divorced Not a polygamistNot a polygamist Not an adulterer (a one-woman man)Not an adulterer (a one-woman man) Not remarried (married only once)Not remarried (married only once)

Answers to AffirmativeAnswers to Affirmative

First:First: Are women then second class Are women then second class

citizens?citizens? What about those who fail to meet What about those who fail to meet

another of the qualifications?another of the qualifications?Second:Second: A phrase may have a general meaningA phrase may have a general meaning It’s “man It’s “man ofof one woman”, not “one- one woman”, not “one-

woman man”woman man”

Genitive used for Genitive used for MarriageMarriage

In Paul’s writing the genitive is used of marriage:In Paul’s writing the genitive is used of marriage: Eph. 5:28—the man ought to love the woman Eph. 5:28—the man ought to love the woman of of

himselfhimself Eph. 5:31—cleaves to the woman Eph. 5:31—cleaves to the woman of himof him Eph. 5:33—each must love the woman Eph. 5:33—each must love the woman of himselfof himself I Cor. 5:1—someone has the woman I Cor. 5:1—someone has the woman of the father of the father

(note that the genitive relationship is between the (note that the genitive relationship is between the father and the woman, not between the son and the father and the woman, not between the son and the woman; he just “has” her)woman; he just “has” her)

I Cor. 7:2—each must have the woman I Cor. 7:2—each must have the woman of himselfof himself I Cor. 7:39—a woman is bound for as much time as the I Cor. 7:39—a woman is bound for as much time as the

man man of herof her lives lives

Genitive used for Genitive used for MarriageMarriage

Luke also uses the genitive for marriage:Luke also uses the genitive for marriage: Luke 1:13—Zachariah … the woman Luke 1:13—Zachariah … the woman of youof you

Elisabeth will bear you a sonElisabeth will bear you a son Luke 8:3—and Joanna the woman Luke 8:3—and Joanna the woman of Chouzaof Chouza Luke 17:32—Remember the woman Luke 17:32—Remember the woman of Lotof Lot Acts 18:2—Aquilla … and Priscilla woman Acts 18:2—Aquilla … and Priscilla woman of of

himhim Acts 5:1—some man named Ananius with Acts 5:1—some man named Ananius with

Sapphira the woman Sapphira the woman of himof him Acts 5:7—the woman Acts 5:7—the woman of himof him came in came in Acts 5:9—the feet of those burying the man Acts 5:9—the feet of those burying the man of of

youyou

Genitive used for Genitive used for MarriageMarriage

And Jesus uses the genitive for marriage:And Jesus uses the genitive for marriage: Mark 10:11—whoever divorces the woman Mark 10:11—whoever divorces the woman of himof him Mark 10:12—if she divorces the man Mark 10:12—if she divorces the man of herof her Matt. 5:32—every one divorcing the woman Matt. 5:32—every one divorcing the woman of himof him But perhaps the real evidence is found in the But perhaps the real evidence is found in the

account of the woman at the well:account of the woman at the well: John 4:18—the man you have now is John 4:18—the man you have now is NOTNOT the the

man man of you of you (she was committing fornication with (she was committing fornication with the man, but Jesus says there is no marriage the man, but Jesus says there is no marriage relationship, therefore it is not a genitive relationship, therefore it is not a genitive relationship)relationship)

Genitive NOT used for Genitive NOT used for FornicationFornication

It is notable that in Paul’s extended discussion It is notable that in Paul’s extended discussion of fornication in I Cor. 6 the genitive is not used of fornication in I Cor. 6 the genitive is not used of that relationship.of that relationship.

Herod “had” Herodias “the woman Herod “had” Herodias “the woman of Philip of Philip his brotherhis brother” (Mark 6:17-18), but the genitive is ” (Mark 6:17-18), but the genitive is only used of Philip, not Herod.only used of Philip, not Herod.

If a married man having a mistress makes him If a married man having a mistress makes him a man of two women, then an unmarried man a man of two women, then an unmarried man with a mistress would qualify as a “man of one with a mistress would qualify as a “man of one woman,” hardly the intended meaning.woman,” hardly the intended meaning.

Evidence from 1 Tim. 5:9Evidence from 1 Tim. 5:9

““Let a widow be enrolled if she is not Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,”been the wife of one husband,”

““having been” is not in the Greek texthaving been” is not in the Greek text 1946 RSV translated this “married 1946 RSV translated this “married

only once” as well as in 1 Tim. 3only once” as well as in 1 Tim. 3 NIV translates this “has been faithful NIV translates this “has been faithful

to her husband”to her husband”

Manage Children WellManage Children Well

KJV—ruling their children and their houses KJV—ruling their children and their houses wellwell

RSV—manage their children and their RSV—manage their children and their households wellhouseholds well

NASV—good managers of their children and NASV—good managers of their children and their own householdstheir own households

ESV—managing their children and their own ESV—managing their children and their own households wellhouseholds well

NIV—manage his children and his household NIV—manage his children and his household wellwell

BAGD—to exercise a position of leadership, BAGD—to exercise a position of leadership, rule, direct, be at the head of, manage, conductrule, direct, be at the head of, manage, conduct

Gain a Good StandingGain a Good Standing

KJV—used the office of a deacon well KJV—used the office of a deacon well purchase a good degree and … boldnesspurchase a good degree and … boldness

RSV—serve well as deacons gain a good RSV—serve well as deacons gain a good standing and … confidencestanding and … confidence

NASV—have served well as deacons obtain NASV—have served well as deacons obtain a high standing and … confidencea high standing and … confidence

ESV—serve well as deacons gain a good ESV—serve well as deacons gain a good standing and … confidencestanding and … confidence

NIV—have served well gain an excellent NIV—have served well gain an excellent standing and … assurancestanding and … assurance

BAGD—step, stage, grade, rankBAGD—step, stage, grade, rank