1 Timothy 3:8

3:8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ.

{3} Likewise must the {e} deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (3) Likewise the deacons must first be proved, that there may be a good trial of their honesty, truth, sobriety, mind void of covetousness, that they are well instructed in the doctrine of faith, and to be short, of their good conscience and integrity. (e) These are those that had to look after the poor.

1 Timothy 3:8-9 . Likewise the deacons — Of whom see on Acts 6:3-4 , and Php 1:1 ; must be grave — Or serious, as some render σεμνους : men of a steady, decent, and venerable behaviour. No mention is made of presbyters, or elders, as distinct from bishops; evidently because (as has been observed on 1 Timothy 3:1 , and Php 1:1 ) they were not distinct from them; but the two names were used promiscuously for the same persons. Not double-tongued — Deceitful and dissembling, speaking one thing in one company, and another in another; not given to much wine — Which would render them utterly unfit for their office; not greedy, or desirous of filthy lucre — See on 1 Timothy 3:3 . “With what abhorrence does the apostle everywhere speak of this! All that is gained, (above food and raiment,) by ministering in holy things, is filthy gain indeed! Far more filthy than what is honestly gained by raking kennels, or emptying common sewers.” — Wesley. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience — Well instructed in, and firmly believing, all the great doctrines of the gospel, and adorning them by a correspondent practice; or steadfast in faith, and holy in heart and life. Although the apostle did not mention it, Timothy would readily infer from this direction concerning deacons, that it was equally necessary in bishops as in them to be sound in the faith, and holy in life.

Likewise must the deacons be grave: the term deacon signifies the same with one that ministereth, and is applicable to any that have any service in the church. But it is also a term peculiar to the office of those who serve tables, that is, took care of the poor, for which purpose these officers were first instituted, Acts 6:3 ; and thus the term is taken, Romans 12:7,8 Php 1:1 ; and so it here must be interpreted, being distinctly mentioned from the other officers, whose qualifications were before expressed, nor is it required of these officers that they should be didaktikoi, apt to teach. Indeed both Stephen and Philip did preach, but the latter was an evangelist, and it was a time of persecution, when even the more private brethren went every where preaching the gospel. Of these officers he requires, that they should be persons not of light, airy tempers, but serious and composed, men of a modest, seemly carriage. Not double-tongued; not excessive talkers, or men that regarded not what they said, but talked any thing, according to the place or company they were in or with. Not given to much wine; not too much attending taverns, and places where wine was sold or drank. Not greedy of filthy lucre; not greedy of gain, any sordid, base way.

1 Timothy 3:8 . Διακόνους ), the deacons ) Supply it behoves to be .— μὴ διλόγους , not double-tongued ) saying some things to some men, and other things to others. The deacons might take occasion to commit such sins, in performing the duties of their office. The deacons should not be double-tongued , nor the deaconesses calumniators , 1 Timothy 3:11 [slanderers]: it seems the deacons visited more houses than the deaconesses.— μὴ οἴνῳ , not to wine ) The danger of drunkenness threatens those who in the way of duty visit many houses.

Deacons The office of Deacon appears in the Pastorals, but not in Paul's letters, with the single exception of Philippians 1:1, where the Deacons do not represent an ecclesiastical office, though they remark an advance toward it. Clement of Rome (ad 1 Corinthians 42. xliv.) asserts their apostolic appointment. But the evidence at our command does not bear out the view that the institution of the diaconate is described in Acts 6:1-6. The terms διάκονος and διακονία are, in the Pauline writings, common expressions of servants and service either to Christ or to others. Paul applies these terms to his own ministry and to that of his associates. Διακονία is used of the service of the apostles, Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Διάκονος is used of Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:5); of Christ (Galatians 2:17; Romans 15:8); of the civil ruler (Romans 13:4); of ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:15). The appointment of the seven grew out of a special emergency, and was made for a particular service; and the resemblance is not close between the duties and qualifications of deacons in the Pastorals and those of the seven. The word διάκονος does not appear in Acts; and when Paul and Barnabas brought to Jerusalem the collection for the poor saints, they handed it over to the elders. In like manner (ὡσαύτως) Rare in Paul (Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 11:25). Frequent in Pastorals. Grave (σεμνούς) In Paul only Philippians 4:8. See on σεμνότης gravity, 1 Timothy 2:2.

Double-tongued (διλόγους) N.T.o. olxx, oClass. Saying one thing and meaning another, and making different representations to different people about the same thing. Given to much wine (οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας) See on 1 Timothy 1:4. Total abstinence is not enjoined, even on a deacon. Comp. 1 Timothy 5:23. Greedy of filthy lucre (αἰσχροκερδεῖς) N.T.o. olxx. The adverb αἰσχροκερδῶς in a base, gain - greedy way, 1 Peter 5:2. From αἰσχρός disgraceful and κέρδος gain. Comp. Hdt. i.:187: εἰ μὴ ἄπληστός τε ἔας χρημάτων καὶ αἰσχροκερδής if thou hadst not been insatiable of wealth and ready to procure it by disgraceful means. Aristoph. Peace, 622, alludes to two vices of the Spartans, ὄντες αἰσχροκερδεῖς καὶ διειρωνόξενοι sordidly greedy of gain, and treacherous under the mask of hospitality. Similarly Eurip. Androm. 451. Comp. turpilucricupidus, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 63.

8. The deacons were chosen by the voice of the people. Cyprian [Epistle, 2.5] says that good bishops never departed from the old custom of consulting the people. The deacons answer to the chazzan of the synagogue: the attendant ministers, or subordinate coadjutors of the presbyter (as Timothy himself was to Paul, 1Ti 4:6; Phm 13; and John Mark, Ac 13:5). Their duty was to read the Scriptures in the Church, to instruct the catechumens in Christian truths, to assist the presbyters at the sacraments, to receive oblations, and to preach and instruct. As the "chazzan" covered and uncovered the ark in the synagogue, containing the law, so the deacon in the ancient Church put the covering on the communion table. (See Chrysostom [19], Homily on Acts; Theophylact on Luke 19; and Balsaman on Canon 22, Council of Laodicea). The appointing of "the seven" in Ac 6:1-7 is perhaps not meant to describe the first appointment of the deacons of the Church. At least the chazzan previously suggested the similar order of deacons. double-tongued—literally, "of double speech"; saying one thing to this person, and another to that person [Theodoret]. The extensive personal intercourse that deacons would have with the members of the Church might prove a temptation to such a fault. Others explain it, "Saying one thing, thinking another" (Pr 20:19; Ga 2:13).

Verse 8. - Deacons in like manner must for likewise must the deacons , A.V. Grave ( σεμνούς ); in Philippians 4:8 rendered "honest" in the A.V., and "honourable" in the R.V., and "venerable" in the margin. None of the words are satisfactory, but "honest" in the sense of honnete , i.e. "respectable," "becoming the dignity of a man," comes nearest to the meaning of σεμνός . Ἄνηρ σεμνός is a man who inspires respect by his conduct and deportment. It occurs again in ver. 11 and in Titus 2:2 . Double-tongued ( διλόγους ); only here in the New Testament, or indeed anywhere. The verb διλογεῖν and the noun διλογία are found in Xenophon and Diodorus Siculus, but in a different sense - "to repeat," "repetition." Here δίλογος is used in the sense of δίγλωσσος ( Proverbs 11:13 ; Ecclus. 28:13), "a slanderer," "a false-tongued man," who, as Theophylact (ap. Schleusner) well explains it, thinks one thing and says another, and says different things to different people. The caution here given is of incalculable importance to young curates. They must not allow themselves to be either receptacles or vehicles of scandal and detraction. Their speech to rich and poor alike must be perfectly sincere and ingenuous. Not given to much wine. The effect of the best sermon may be undone, and more than undone, if the preacher sinks into the pot-companion of his hearers. He at once ceases to be σεμνός , to inspire respect (comp.

Titus 2:3 where the additional idea, most true, of the slavery of drunkards, is introduced). Greedy of filthy lucre ( αἰσχροκερδεῖς ); only here and in ver. 3 (T.R.) and Titus 1:7 . The adverb αἰσχροκερδῶς occurs in 1 Peter 5:2 , and is one of many points of resemblance between the pastoral Epistles and 1 Peter. Balsam, Gehazi, and Judas Iscariot are the three prominent examples of professed servants of God being lovers of filthy lucre. Achan ( Joshua 7:21 ) is another (see 1 Timothy 6:10 ). When lucre is the price for doing wrong, it is "filthy." When lucre is sought on occasions where none is due, it is "filthy;" and when the desire of even just gains is excessive, it ceases to be clean. 1 Timothy 3:8