1 Timothy: Leadership in God’s Covenant Community – The Qualifications of Deacons

Peter Barnes | 1 Timothy  3:8-13

SERMON NOTES
THE  QUALIFICATIONS  OF  DEACONS
Deut. 24:5-22;  1 Timothy  3:8-13

– two  distinct  offices:  elder/overseer  in  3:1-7  and  deacon  in  3:8-13;  like  two  prongs  on  a  fork,  not  rungs  on  a  ladder  i.e.  the  deacon  is  not  a  trainee  elder

1. Deacons  must  be  godly.

– 3:8  –  like  the  elder  in  3:3;  also  3:12  is  like  3:2, 4-5  regarding  the  home; 3:10  –  test  or  evaluate  first

2. Deacons  must  hold  to  the  faith  rather  than  teach  it.

– elders  must  be  able  to  teach  (3:2);  deacons  hold  to  the  faith  (3:9);  must  be  a  genuine  Christian

3. Women  deacons?

– 3:11  –  can  refer  to  women  (RSV,  NASB)  or  wives  (NKJV,  NIV,  ESV)

(a)  No  parallel  qualifications  for  elders’  wives  in  1 Tim. 3:1-7;  (b)  Paul  does  not  say  ‘their’  wives;  (c)  Deacons  are  not  covered  by  the  prohibition  in  1 Timothy 2:11-12;  (d)  Phoebe  is  a  deacon  or  servant  (Rom. 16:1-2);  (e)  There  were  women  deacons  (or  deaconesses)  in  the  early  Church.

4. The  work  of  deacons  is  commendable.

– 3:13;  in  itself,  not  as  a  stepping  stone  to  the  eldership;  the  work  of  Christ  is  ‘to  deacon’  (Mark 10:45)

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