1 Timothy 3:11

Even somust their wivesbe grave The R.V. translates literally Women in like manner must be grave, i.e. women deacons, favouring the general view of the earliest commentators, as Chrysostom and Theod. Mops.," mulieres quae diaconis officium implere statuuntur," and the latest, as Bps Wordsworth and Ellicott. Fairbairn gives well the reasons; -the mode of expression "likewise" apparently marking a transition to another class (as at 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 2:9; Titus 2:3; Titus 2:6); also the absence of the article or the pronoun to connect the women with the men spoken of before; the mention only of qualifications for deacon work, while nothing is said of those more directly bearing on domestic duties."

slanderers The word is only used in these Epistles, here and Titus 2:3 of women; in 2 Timothy 3:3 of men. It corresponds to the -double-tongued" above. Theod. Mops. Lat. gives -accusatrices," and this shews well the identity of the word with that for the great -accuser," the devil (diabolus).

faithful in allthings] That is, in all the duties of a deaconess.