1 Timothy iii. 8–10
“Likewise must the Deacons
be grave, not doubletongued, not given much to wine, not greedy of
filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved: then let them use the office of a Deacon, being found blameless.”
of Bishops, and having described their character, and the
qualities which they ought to possess, and having passed over the order
of Presbyters, he proceeds to that of Deacons. The reason of this
omission was, that between Presbyters and Bishops there was no great
difference. Both had undertaken the office of Teachers and Presidents
in the Church, and what he has said concerning Bishops is applicable to
Presbyters. For they are only superior in having the power of
ordination, and seem to have no other advantage over
Presbyters.
“Likewise the
Deacons.” That is, they should have the same qualities as
Bishops. And what are these same? To be blameless, sober, hospitable, patient, not brawlers, not covetous. And that he means this when he says “likewise,” is evident from what he says in addition, “grave, not doubletongued”; that is, not hollow or deceitful. For nothing so debases a man as deceit, nothing is so pernicious in the Church as insincerity. “Not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” Thus he explains what he means by “blameless.” And here he requires, though in other words, that he be “not a novice,” where he says, “Let these also first be proved,” where the conjunction “also” is added, as connecting this with what had been said before of Bishops, for nothing intervenes between. And there is the same reason for the “not a novice” in that case. For would it not be absurd, that when a newly purchased slave is not entrusted with anything in a house, till he has by long trial given proofs of his character, yet that one should enter into the Church of God from a state of heathenism, and be at once placed in a station of preeminence?
Ver. 11. “Even so must
the women be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.”
Some have thought that this is
said of women generally, but it is not so, for why should he introduce
anything about women to interfere with his subject? He is speaking of
those who hold the rank of Deaconesses.
Ver. 12. “Let the Deacons
be husbands of one wife.”
This
must be understood therefore to relate to Deaconesses. For that order
is necessary and useful and honorable in the Church. Observe how he
requires the same virtue from the Deacons, as from the Bishops, for
though they were not of equal rank, they must equally be blameless; equally pure.
“Ruling their children and
their own houses well.”
Ver. 13. “For they that
have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good
degree, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.”
Everywhere they are required to
rule their children well, that others may not be scandalized by their
misconduct.
“They that use the office
of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree,” that is, advancement, “and much boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ”; as if he would say, that those who have been found vigilant in the lower degree will soon ascend to the higher.
Ver. 14, 15. “These
things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. But if I
tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself
in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar
and ground of the truth.”
That he may not plunge Timothy
into dejection by giving him orders about such matters, he says, I
write thus not as though I were not coming, but I will indeed come, still in case I should be delayed, that thou mayest not be distressed. And this he writes to him to prevent his being dejected, but to others in order to rouse them to greater earnestness. For his presence, though only promised, would have great effect. Nor let it seem strange that, though foreseeing everything through the Spirit, he was yet ignorant of this, and only says, I hope to come, but if I tarry, which implies uncertainty. For since he was led by the Spirit, and did not act from his own inclination, he was naturally uncertain about this matter.