Qualifications for Deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
What is a deacon? How do deacons function in the local church? Why is it important for the local church to have deacons?
Why must a deacon be dignified? Why is it important for Christians to be dignified? How can one go about being dignified?
Why must a deacon not be double-tongued? What did Paul mean by “double-tongued?” Why is it important for Christians not to be double-tongued? How can one go about keeping himself from being double-tongued?
Why must a deacon not be addicted to much wine? Notice the change in wording from what Paul said about elders.
- Elders are not to be drunkards; deacons are not to be addicted to much wine.
- Is there any significance in the different wording? If so, what?
Does the fact that deacons cannot be addicted “to much wine,” indicate that they can be addicted to a little wine?
- Why or why not?
- What does the Bible teach about alcohol?
Why is it important for the Christian not to be addicted to much wine? How can one go about keeping himself from being addicted to much wine?
Why must the deacon not be greedy for dishonest gain? Why is it important for Christians not to be greedy for dishonest gain? How can one go about keeping himself from being greedy for dishonest gain? Does the fact that Paul used the phrase “dishonest gain,” indicate that there is honest gain? Why or why not? What might be the difference between dishonest and honest gain?
Why must the deacon hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience? What is the mystery of the faith?
- If something is a “mystery,” how can one hold it?
- What is a “mystery” in Scripture?
How can one hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience?
- Why is a clear conscience important?
- How can one go about having a clear conscience?
- Is a clear conscience always a safe guide?
Why is it important for a deacon to be tested first? How should deacons be tested? Should all Christians be tested? Why or why not?
Why should a deacon be blameless? Elders are to be above reproach.
- Is there a difference in being blameless and being above reproach?
- What might that difference be?
- Why would Paul make a difference in being blameless and being above reproach?
How can one go about becoming blameless? How can a deacon prove himself to be blameless? How can any Christian prove himself to be blameless?
“Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.” The Greek can be translated “the women likewise….” The same word is used for wife or woman.
- Some have suggested, therefore, that Paul was here giving instructions concerning female deacons.
- Yet Paul’s statement that deacons must be the husband of one wife rules out such an interpretation.
Why should the wife of the deacon be dignified?
- Earlier Paul had said that deacons themselves were to be dignified.
- Might the mention of the wives’ being dignified indicate something about the one flesh relationship in marriage?
Why should the wife of the deacon not be a slanderer?
- Why is it important for Christians not to be slanderers?
- How can one go about keeping himself from becoming a slanderer?
Why should the wife of a deacon be sober-minded?
- Paul mentioned being sober-minded in the qualifications of overseers.
- Why would Paul instruct the wife of a deacon to fulfill this qualification of elders?
- Why might Paul not have instructed the deacons themselves to be sober-minded?
Why should the wife of a deacon be faithful in all things?
- Again, why might this be a qualification of the deacon’s wife and not the deacon himself?
- How important is it for the Christian to be faithful in all things?
- How can one go about becoming faithful in all things?
Why should the deacon be married? Why should he only have one wife? If a man’s wife dies and he remarries, would you still consider him qualified to be a deacon? Why or why not? If a man puts his wife away for fornication and remarries (cf. Matthew 19:9), would you still consider him qualified to be a deacon? Why or why not?
Why should a deacon manage his children and his household well? What is involved in managing one’s children and household well? How does one know when he is managing his children and his household well? How would someone not in the household know if a man is managing his children and his household well?
How does one who serves as a deacon gain a good standing for himself and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus?