1 Timothy 3:11

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (THEIR) WIVES - rather, 'women;' i:e., deaconesses. For there is no reason that special rules should be laid down as to wives of deacons, and not also as to wives of bishops. Moreover, if wives of deacons were meant, there seems no reason for the omission of "their." Also [ hoosautoos (G5615)] "even so" ("likewise," 1 Timothy 3:8; "in like manner," 1 Timothy 2:9) denotes a transition to another class of persons. Also the omission of domestic duties in their case, though they are specified in the man (1 Timothy 3:12)...

11._Likewise the wives _He means the wives both of deacons and of bishops, for they must be aids to their husbands in their office; which cannot be, unless their behavior excel that of others....

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....

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 th...

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

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 _Faithful is the saying _for _this is a true saying_,_ _A.V.; _seeketh _for _desire_,_ _A.V. FAITHFUL IS THE SAYING (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15, note). This manifestly refers to what follows, not, as Chrysostom and others, and margin of the R.V., to the saying which precedes, in 1 Timothy 2:15. SEEKETH (ὀρέγεται); literally, _stretches out his hands after_._ It _is peculiar in the New Testament to the pastoral Epistles and the Epistle to the Hebrews, though common in classical Greek (see...

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; exc...

III. CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF GOD CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)_ 2. The deacon (1 Timothy 3:8) 3. The house of God and the mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14) 1 Timothy 3:1 As stated before, the Church is viewed in these pastoral Epistles as the house of God. The holiness which becomes this house is to be maintained and expressed in a practical way. The different directions given as to overseers and deacons demonstrate what God esteems highly, and what He expects of those who are saved by grace, and who constitute His House. Paul wrote these instructions to his son Timot

DEACONS AND DEACONESSES. Certain moral qualities, likewise, are required in deacons. They must be serious, sincere in speech, free from love of wine and (since they administer church funds) from love of money, holding with a pure conscience the truth revealed in the faith. They, too, must be appointed only when, tested by their general conduct in the community, they are found without accusation. (Deaconesses must satisfy similar requirements.) The domestic conditions demanded for bishops apply to deacons also. These varied qualifications are needful because fidelity in their office wins them, among their fellows, both a position of honour and boldness in their faith. 1 TIMOTHY 3:9. MYSTERY: _ i.e._ truth which man could not find for himself, but which, once hidden, is now made known through revelation....

THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH (1 Timothy 3:1-7)...