1 Timothy 3:8

The duties and characters of Deacons, both Men and Women

8. the deacons There is no article; for -deacons" in the accusative we must supply from 1 Timothy 3:2 the remainder of the construction -it is right that deaconsbe." This elliptical abruptness is among the characteristics of the style of these Epistles. See Introduction, p. 31. The title -deacons" is only used in this special sense here and Philippians 1:1. But the title -deaconess" is given to Phœbe, Romans 16:1. In other passages such as Romans 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Peter 4:10 the word still retains the general sense explained on 1 Timothy 3:1. Both in Philippians 1:1 and Romans 14:1 we may trace a fitness in the mention from the office of almoner, the original function assigned to the deacons, Acts 6:1. In writing to the Philippians St Paul, as Bp Lightfoot points out, mentions the officers, since the contributionswere probably sent to him in their name as well as of the Church generally. In commending Phœbe to the Roman Church he speaks of her as -a succourer of many and of mine own self." Though the duties were now enlarged, St Paul still lays stress here on fitness for their first charge; they of all men must be -not greedy of filthy lucre." He had not mentioned this in speaking of the presbyters; though in Titus 1:7 he does.

grave Considering the emphasis laid on purity of life and bearing in the case of the presbyters -pure," -orderly," we see in this epithet the corresponding qualification of -seemly morals and propriety," cf. 1 Timothy 2:2,

not doubletongued Or, better, not talebearers. The word is used here only in N.T. Xen. de Equestri, viii. 2, uses the noun of repeating gossip. Polycarp has this very rare word, ad Phil. c. v., of the deacons. Bp Ellicott attributes the interpretation of Theodoret -saying one thing to one and another to another" to Theodore; who has however a singular explanation of his own, -non bilingues"; -si enim deferunt illa quae mandantur a presbyteris sive viris sive mulieribus ad quos et mittuntur, iustum est eos sincero arbitrio sicut convenit implere quae sibi mandantur quae per eos mandantes audiunt."

not given to much wine The word for -given" is used five times by St Paul in these Epistles, and nowhere else by him except in Acts 20:28 to the elders of Ephesus, -take heed to yourselves." Lit. -giving heed."