Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 3:8-13
Helpful thoughts:
- The word, “Deacon” means, service. The office began its function in the local church in Acts 6.
- The qualifications for deacons are very similar to that of the pastor/elder, hence the opening words of verse 8, “Deacons, likewise…”
- Deacons do not need to be able to teach, but they are still to be mature in their faith.
- Deacons are not hybrid-pastors, mini-pastors nor are they necessarily elders-in-training. They are mature men who serve the needs of the church under the leadership of the elders, maintaining unity in the whole congregation (Acts 6:1-7).
- The beginning of verse 11 has been interpreted as “Their wives” (Meaning, the wives of the deacons), or simply as women (Meaning, women who serve as deaconesses).
- It is interesting to note there is no qualification for a pastor’s wife mentioned.
- Many consider Phoebe, from Romans 16:1, to have been a deaconess. (Remember the word, “deacon” or in the Greek feminine form “deaconess” literally means “servant.”)
- Keeping 1 Timothy 2:12 in mind, in churches where the deacons serve like an executive board, it wouldn’t be right for women to serve in that capacity due to the authority they would be exercising over the men.
- Note: Our church has women whom we call, “Deaconesses” who serve in the area of preparing the Lord’s Supper and assisting in preparations for baptism, serving on the membership committee, etc.
Questions to consider:
- How can you see these qualifications being important for anyone serving in the role of a deacon (And/or the deacon’s wife or the deaconesses)? Why would there be these unique qualifications for the women that are not mentioned for the men specifically?
- Even though the roles of elders/pastors and deacons are unique and different, why are both so necessary and useful to the church? Why should deacons never be considered second-class servants?
- If people were to aspire to these offices without aspiring to service (Either of physical or spiritual needs) what would go wrong? What must be the true nature of the desire to serve in either office in the church in order to it to be a blessing to the people?