1 Timothy 3:13

Contextual Overview

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 Shammashim, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; ⁸ Deacons, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced,double-worded">[fn] addicted to wine, or greedy for money.Leviticus 10:9; Ezekiel 44:21; Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 6:3;">[xr] ⁸ 8 And also the ministers [fn] must be pure, not speaking doubly, not inclined to much wine, nor shall they love unclean gains. ⁸ And so also the deacons should be pure, and not speak double, nor incline to much wine, nor love base gains; 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 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁸ Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they: Matthew 25:21, Luke 16:10-12, Luke 19:17

used: or, ministered, Matthew 20:28, Romans 12:7, Romans 12:8, 1 Corinthians 16:15, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11

degree: Acts 21:35,*Gr.

great: Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Acts 6:15, Acts 7:1-53, Philippians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:1

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 3:12 - plainness 1 Timothy 3:10 - use

Cross-References

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said to the woman, Ye will not certainly die;

Genesis 3:4
But the snake said to the woman, "You will not die.

Genesis 3:4
The serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die,

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die;

Genesis 3:4
And the snake said, Death will not certainly come to you:

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent sayde vnto the woman: ye shall not dye the death.

Genesis 3:4
Then the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not die at all,

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die;

Genesis 3:4
The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die.

Genesis 3:4
but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For they that have used the office of a deacon well,.... With diligence and faithfulness, with simplicity and cheerfulness; taking good care of the minister and poor, and of the discipline of God's house:

purchase to themselves a good degree; not an higher office, as that of presbytery or episcopacy, which is a sense calculated to serve a hierarchy; nor a degree in glory and happiness hereafter; but rather an increase of gifts and grace; or a degree of respect and honour in the church: or the sense is, they possess and enjoy, which is the meaning of the word rendered "purchase", a very honourable office in the church; and which is so to them, they using it well, and discharging it in an honourable manner; unless the apostle should design what the Jews called דרגא דמהימנותא, "a degree of faith": b but that is expressed in the next clause:

and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus: either in the exercise of the grace of faith at the throne of grace; or in asserting the doctrine of faith before men; and in reproving either for error or immorality: all which may be boldly done by those who use this office well.

b Zohar in Exod. fol. 36. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For they that have used the office of a deacon well - Margin, “ministered.” The Greek word is the same as deacon, meaning ministering, or serving in this office. The sense would be well expressed by the phrase, “deaconizing well.” The “word” implies nothing as to the exact nature of the office.

Purchase to themselves - Procure for themselves; see this word explained in the notes on Acts 20:28.

A good degree - The word here used (βαθμός bathmos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, “a step,” as of a stair; and the fair meaning is that of going up higher, or taking an additional step of dignity, honor, or standing. So far as the “word” is concerned, it may mean either an advance in office, in dignity, in respectability, or in influence. It cannot certainly be inferred that the apostle referred to a higher grade of “office;” for all that the word essentially conveys is, that, by exercising this office well, a deacon would secure additional respectability and influence in the church. Still, it is possible that those who had performed the duties of this office well were appointed to be preachers. They may have shown so much piety, prudence, good sense, and ability to preside over the church, that it was judged proper that they should be advanced to the office of bishops or pastors of the churches. Such a course would not be unnatural. This is, however, far from teaching that the office of a deacon is a subordinate office, “with a view” to an ascent to a higher grade.

And great boldness in the faith - The word here rendered “boldness” properly refers to boldness “in speaking;” see it explained in the Acts 4:13 note; 2 Corinthians 3:12 note; Philippians 1:20 note. But the word is commonly used to denote boldness of any kind - openness, frankness, confidence, assurance; John 8:13, John 8:26; Mark 8:32; 2 Corinthians 7:4. As it is here connected with “faith” - “boldness in the faith” - it means, evidently, not so much public speaking, as a manly and independent exercise of faith in Christ. The sense is, that by the faithful performance of the duties of the office of a deacon, and by the kind of experience which a man would have in that office, he would establish a character of firmness in the faith, which would show that he was a decided Christian. This passage, therefore, cannot be fairly used to prove that the deacon was “a preacher,” or that he belonged to a grade of ministerial office from which he was regularly to rise to that of a presbyter.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. That have used the office of a deacon well — They who, having been tried or proved, 1 Timothy 3:10, have shown by their steadiness, activity, and zeal, that they might be raised to a higher office, are here said to have purchased to themselves a good degree, βαθμον καλον. for, instead of having to administer to the bodies and bodily wants of the poor, the faithful deacons were raised to minister in holy things; and, instead of ministering the bread that perisheth, they were raised to the presbyterate or episcopate, to minister the bread of life to immortal souls. And hence the apostle adds; And great boldness in the faith; πολλην παρῥησιαν, great liberty of speech; i.e. in teaching the doctrines of Christianity, and in expounding the Scriptures, and preaching. It seems to have been a practice dictated by common sense, that the most grave and steady of the believers should be employed as deacons; the most experienced and zealous of the deacons should be raised to the rank of elders; and the most able and pious of the elders be consecrated bishops. As to a bishop of bishops, that age did not know such. The pope of Rome was the first who took this title. The same office, but not with the same powers nor abuse, is found in the patriarch of the Greek Church, and the archbishop of the Protestant Church. As the deacon had many private members under his care, so the presbyter or elder had several deacons under his care; the bishop, several presbyters; and the archbishop, several bishops. But I speak now more of the modern than of the ancient Church. The distinction in some of these offices is not so apparent in ancient times; and some of the offices themselves are modern, or comparatively so. But deacon, presbyter, and bishop, existed in the apostolic Church, and may therefore be considered of Divine origin.