1 Timothy 3:9

Contextual Overview

⁸Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, ⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not fond of dishonest gain, ⁸Just the same, jigger bosses (or deacons) should be well respected, honest, and not at the beer store every single day. They should never put good money ahead of good people. ⁸ Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world; ⁸ Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means, ⁸ Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, ⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; ⁸ Likewise the deacons must be serious, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not desirous of filthy gain: Holding fast the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Holding: 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:19

the mystery: 1 Timothy 3:16, 2 John 1:9, 2 John 1:10

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:11 - mysteries Acts 24:16 - General 1 Corinthians 4:1 - mysteries 1 Corinthians 14:2 - howbeit Ephesians 3:4 - the mystery

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave to me from the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:12
And Adam said: The woman whom thou gauest [to be] with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I dyd eate.

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me gave me fruit from that tree. So I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:12
And Adam seide, The womman which thou yauest felowe to me, yaf me of the tre, and Y eet.

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gauest to be with mee, shee gaue me of the tree, and I did eate.

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Holding the mystery of the faith,.... The doctrine of the Gospel, called the "faith", because it contains things to be believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable without it: it is called "the mystery", because it is of divine revelation, and could have never been discovered by human reason; and now it is revealed, the modus of many things contained in it remains a mystery; several of the doctrines of it are mysterious ones, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity; and which the ancient Jews call by this very name, a

רזא דמהימנותא, "the mystery of faith"; the incarnation of the Son of God, the union of the saints to Christ, and their communion with him, and the resurrection of the dead, with others. Now this mysterious doctrine of faith is to be held by deacons; they are to profess it, and to hold fast the profession of it and that

in a pure conscience; with a conscience sprinkled by the blood of Christ; with a conscience void of offence both towards God and man; with a suitable life and conversation; a conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ, and by which it is adorned: and this part of their character is necessary, that such may be able to instruct and establish those who are weak in the faith, and oppose and refute the erroneous, and also recommend the Gospel by their own example; otherwise should their principles or practices be bad, their influence on others might be very pernicious and fatal.

a Zohar in Gen. fol. 12. 4. & 13. 1, 2. & in Exod. fol. 66. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Holding the mystery of the faith - On the word “mystery,” see notes on 1 Corinthians 2:7. It means that which had been concealed, or hidden, but which was now revealed. The word “faith” here, is synonymous with “the gospel;” and the sense is, that he should hold firmly the great doctrines of the Christian religion which had been so long concealed from people, but which were now revealed. The reason is obvious. Though not a preacher, yet his influence and example would be great, and a man who held material error ought not to be in office.

In a pure conscience - A mere orthodox faith was not all that was necessary, for it was possible that a man might be professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. Holding the mystery of the faith — Instead of της πιστεως, the faith, one MS. (the readings of which are found in the margin of a copy of Mill's Greek text in the Bodleian library, and which is marked 61 in Griesbach) reads αναστασεως, of the resurrection. This reading, like many others in this MS., is found nowhere else; and is worthy of little regard, but as expressing what appeared to the writer to be the apostle's meaning. One of the greatest mysteries of the faith was undoubtedly the resurrection of the dead; and this was held in a pure conscience when the person so exercised himself as to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men. See Acts 24:16. What has been since called Antinomianism, that is, making void the moral law, by a pretended faith in the righteousness of Christ, is that which the apostle has here particularly in view.