1 Timothy 3:11

Contextual Overview

⁸ Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. ⁸ Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. ⁸ Likewise, the shammashim must be of good character, people whose word can be trusted. They must not give themselves to excessive drinking or be greedy for dishonest gain. ⁸ Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means, ⁸ In the same way, the men who are chosen to be special servants must have the respect of others. They must not be men who say things they don't mean or who spend their time drinking too much. They must not be men who will do almost anything for money. ⁸ Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁸ Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world; ⁸ Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre, ⁸ Likewise the deacons must be pure, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

their: Leviticus 21:7, Leviticus 21:13-15, Ezekiel 44:22, Luke 1:5-6, Titus 2:3

be: 1 Timothy 3:4

not: Psalms 15:3, Psalms 50:20, Psalms 101:5, Proverbs 10:18, Proverbs 25:13, Jeremiah 9:4, Matthew 4:1, John 6:70, 2 Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:3,*Gr: Revelation 12:9, Revelation 12:10

sober: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 2 Timothy 4:5, Titus 3:2,*Gr: 1 Peter 5:8

faithful: 1 Timothy 1:12, 1 Timothy 6:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:16 - talebearer Ezra 10:18 - the sons Malachi 2:15 - That he Galatians 5:22 - faith Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking Philippians 4:8 - honest Titus 2:2 - sober James 4:11 - Speak 1 Peter 2:1 - all evil

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
"What have you done?" replied the LORD. "The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me, from the ground.

Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said: Why have you done this terrible thing? You killed your own brother, and his blood flowed onto the ground. Now his blood is calling out for me to punish you.

Genesis 4:10
He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground.

Genesis 4:10
And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the earth.

Genesis 4:10
And he sayde: What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me out of the grounde.

Genesis 4:10
And the LORD said, What have you done? The voice of your brothers blood cries to me from the ground.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Even so must their wives be grave,.... Some instead of "wives" read "women", and understand them of deaconesses, such as were in the primitive churches; whose business it was to visit the poor and sick sisters of the church, and take care of things belonging to them; but it is better to interpret the words of the wives of the deacons, who must be as their husbands, "grave" in speech, gesture, and dress, of an honest report, a good behaviour, and chaste conversation; which will reflect honour and credit to their husbands:

not slanderers; or accusers, and so act like devils, as the word is sometimes rendered; for should they act such a part, and accuse either the poor, or any of the members of the church wrongfully, or on any trifling occasion, as persons addicted to this vice are wont to do, it would be of bad consequence: and they also should be

sober, temperate, not given to wine; excessive drinking is very scandalous in the female sex; and is the rather mentioned here, because women in the eastern countries were too frequently addicted to it:

faithful in all things; as in the marriage bed, so with whatsoever else they are intrusted with in the family, and civil concerns of their husbands; and this is the rather observed, because the wives of deacons may be sometimes intrusted with the church's stock in their husband's absence, to impart to the poor.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Even so must their wives be grave - Chrysostom, Theophylact, Grotius, Bloomfield, and many others, suppose that by the word “wives,” here, (γυνᾶικας gunaikas), the apostle means “deaconesses.” Clarke supposes that it refers to women in general. The reason assigned for supposing that it does not refer to the wives of deacons, as such, is, that nothing is said of the qualifications of the wives of bishops - a matter of as much importance as that of the character of the wife of a deacon; and that it cannot be supposed that the apostle would specify the one without some allusion to the other. But that the common interpretation, which makes it refer to the wives of deacons, as such, is to be adhered to, seems to me to be clear. Because:

(1) It is the obvious and natural interpretation.

(2) The word here used - “wives” - is never used of itself to denote deaconesses.

(3) If the apostle had meant deaconesses, it would have been easy to express it without ambiguity; compare notes, Romans 16:1.

(4) What is here mentioned is important, whether the same thing is mentioned of bishops or not.

(5) In the qualifications of bishops, the apostle had made a statement respecting his family, which made any specification about the particular members of the family unnecessary. He was to be one who presided in a proper manner over his own house, or who had a well-regulated family; 1 Timothy 3:4-5. By a comparison of this passage, also, with Titus 2:3-4, which bears a strong resemblance to this, it would seem that it was supposed that the deacons would be taken from those who were advanced in life, and that their wives would have some superintendence over the younger females of the church. It was, therefore, especially important that they should be persons whose influence would be known to be decidedly favorable to piety. No one can doubt that the character of a woman may be such, that it is not desirable that her husband should be an officer in the church. A bad woman ought not to be entrusted with any additional power or influence.

Grave - notes, 1 Timothy 3:4.

Not slanderers - compare Titus 2:3, “Not false accusers.” The Greek word is διαβόλους diabolous - “devils.” It is used here in its original and proper sense, to denote a “calumniator,” “slanderer,” or “accuser.” It occurs in the same sense in 2 Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3. Elsewhere in the New Testament, it is uniformly rendered “devil” (compare notes, Matthew 4:1), and is given to Satan, the prince of the fallen angels Matthew 9:34, by way of eminence, as “the accuser;” compare Job 1:6-11 notes, and Revelation 12:10 note. Here it means that they should not be women who were in the habit of calumniating others, or aspersing their character. Mingling as they would with the church, and having an opportunity to claim acquaintance with many, it would be in their power, if they chose, to do great injury to the character of others.

Sober - notes, 1 Timothy 3:2.

Faithful in all things - To their husbands, to their families, to the church, to the Saviour.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. Even so must their wives be grave — I believe the apostle does not mean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the Christian women in general. The original is simply: γυναικας ωσαυτως σεμνας. Let the women likewise be grave. Whatever is spoken here becomes women in general; but if the apostle had those termed deaconesses in his eye, which is quite possible, the words are peculiarly suitable to them. That there was such an order in the apostolic and primitive Church, and that they were appointed to their office by the imposition of hands, has already been noticed on Romans 16:1. Possibly, therefore, the apostle may have had this order of deaconesses in view, to whom it was as necessary to give counsels and cautions as to the deacons themselves; and to prescribe their qualifications, lest improper persons should insinuate themselves into that office.

Not slanderers — μη διαβολους. Literally, not devils. See note on 1 Timothy 3:7. This may be properly enough translated slanderers, backbiters, tale-bearers, c., for all these are of their father, the devil, and his lusts they will do. Let all such, with the vast tribe of calumniators and dealers in scandal, remember that the apostle ranks them all with malicious, fallen spirits a consideration which one would suppose might be sufficient to deter them from their injurious and abominable conduct.

Sober — See note on 1 Timothy 3:2.

Faithful in all things. — The deaconesses had much to do among the poor, and especially among poor women, in dispensing the bounty of the Church. They were not only faithfully to expend all they had got, and for the purpose for which they got it; but they must do this with impartiality, showing no respect of persons, the degree of distress being the only rule by which the distribution was to be regulated.