1Ti 3:8-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 3:8-13: 3:8-13 The Greek word translated deacon (“servant, assistant, courier, agent”) and its cognates (“service, to serve”) are commonly used for service of any kind (e.g., 4:6 ; Matt 22:13 ; John 2:5 ; 12:26 ; Rom 13:4 ; 1 Cor 3:5 ). As designating an office in the church, it occurs only in 1 Tim 3:8-13 ; Phil 1:1 ; and (maybe) Rom 16:1 . This passage concentrates on character rather than activities. See also study note on Acts 6:2-6. 3:8 must not be ... dishonest with money (3:3 ): Greed is disreputable and improper (6:6-10 , 17-19 ; Eph 5:3 ; Col 3:5 ), especially for those who lead in the church (1 Tim 3:9 ; see Titus 1:7 ).

Summary for 1Tim 3:8-13: 3:8-13 ^a The Greek word translated deacon (“servant, assistant, courier, agent”) and its cognates (“service, to serve”) are commonly used for service of any kind (e.g., 4:6 ^b; Matt 22:13 ^c; John 2:5 ^d; 12:26 ^e; Rom 13:4 ^f; 1 Cor 3:5 ^g). As designating an office in the church, it occurs only in 1 Tim 3:8-13 ^h; Phil 1:1 ⁱ; and (maybe) Rom 16:1 ^j. This passage concentrates on character rather than activities. See also study note on Acts 6:2-6. 3:8 ^k must not be ... dishonest with money (3:3 ^l): Greed is disreputable and improper (6:6-10 ^m, 17-19 ⁿ; Eph 5:3 ^o; Col 3:5 ^p), especially for those who lead in the church (1 Tim 3:9 ^q; see Titus 1:7 ^r).
3:11 ^s their wives (or the women deacons): The Greek word can be translated women or wives. In favor of their wives, 3:8-13 ^t is a discussion of male deacons; switching to “women deacons” would disrupt the flow of thought. However, there might have been women deacons in the early church (see Rom 16:1 ^u). In that case, this verse might parallel 1 Tim 3:8 ^v.