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the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

1 Timothy 3:13

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Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Commandments;   Deacon;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Boldness;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Deacons;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Boldness, Holy;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Church, the;   Ministry, Minister;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Deacon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Eve;   Minister;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Deacon;   Offices in the New Testament;   Titus, Epistle to;   1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Church Government;   Deacon;   Minister;   Ministry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boldness;   Church (2);   Minister Ministry;   Parousia;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Deacon,;   Stephen;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Deacon;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Boldness;   Church;   Church Government;   Degree;   Purchase;   Spiritual Gifts;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 1;  

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

they: Matthew 25:21, Luke 16:10-12, Luke 19:17

used: or, ministered, Matthew 20:28, Romans 12:7, Romans 12:8, 1 Corinthians 16:15, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11

degree: Acts 21:35,*Gr.

great: Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Acts 6:15, Acts 7:1-53, Philippians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:1

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 3:12 - plainness 1 Timothy 3:10 - use

Cross-References

Genesis 3:4
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
Genesis 3:4
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman.
Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
Genesis 3:4
The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
Genesis 3:4
And the serpent sayde vnto the woman: ye shall not dye the death.
Genesis 3:4
But the snake said to the woman, "You will not die.
Genesis 3:4
But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die.
Genesis 3:4
Forsothe the serpent seide to the womman, ye schulen not die bi deeth;
Genesis 3:4
And the Serpent said vnto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For they that have used the office of a deacon well,.... With diligence and faithfulness, with simplicity and cheerfulness; taking good care of the minister and poor, and of the discipline of God's house:

purchase to themselves a good degree; not an higher office, as that of presbytery or episcopacy, which is a sense calculated to serve a hierarchy; nor a degree in glory and happiness hereafter; but rather an increase of gifts and grace; or a degree of respect and honour in the church: or the sense is, they possess and enjoy, which is the meaning of the word rendered "purchase", a very honourable office in the church; and which is so to them, they using it well, and discharging it in an honourable manner; unless the apostle should design what the Jews called דרגא דמהימנותא, "a degree of faith": b but that is expressed in the next clause:

and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus: either in the exercise of the grace of faith at the throne of grace; or in asserting the doctrine of faith before men; and in reproving either for error or immorality: all which may be boldly done by those who use this office well.

b Zohar in Exod. fol. 36. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For they that have used the office of a deacon well - Margin, “ministered.” The Greek word is the same as deacon, meaning ministering, or serving in this office. The sense would be well expressed by the phrase, “deaconizing well.” The “word” implies nothing as to the exact nature of the office.

Purchase to themselves - Procure for themselves; see this word explained in the notes on Acts 20:28.

A good degree - The word here used (βαθμός bathmos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, “a step,” as of a stair; and the fair meaning is that of going up higher, or taking an additional step of dignity, honor, or standing. So far as the “word” is concerned, it may mean either an advance in office, in dignity, in respectability, or in influence. It cannot certainly be inferred that the apostle referred to a higher grade of “office;” for all that the word essentially conveys is, that, by exercising this office well, a deacon would secure additional respectability and influence in the church. Still, it is possible that those who had performed the duties of this office well were appointed to be preachers. They may have shown so much piety, prudence, good sense, and ability to preside over the church, that it was judged proper that they should be advanced to the office of bishops or pastors of the churches. Such a course would not be unnatural. This is, however, far from teaching that the office of a deacon is a subordinate office, “with a view” to an ascent to a higher grade.

And great boldness in the faith - The word here rendered “boldness” properly refers to boldness “in speaking;” see it explained in the Acts 4:13 note; 2 Corinthians 3:12 note; Philippians 1:20 note. But the word is commonly used to denote boldness of any kind - openness, frankness, confidence, assurance; John 8:13, John 8:26; Mark 8:32; 2 Corinthians 7:4. As it is here connected with “faith” - “boldness in the faith” - it means, evidently, not so much public speaking, as a manly and independent exercise of faith in Christ. The sense is, that by the faithful performance of the duties of the office of a deacon, and by the kind of experience which a man would have in that office, he would establish a character of firmness in the faith, which would show that he was a decided Christian. This passage, therefore, cannot be fairly used to prove that the deacon was “a preacher,” or that he belonged to a grade of ministerial office from which he was regularly to rise to that of a presbyter.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. That have used the office of a deacon well — They who, having been tried or proved, 1 Timothy 3:10, have shown by their steadiness, activity, and zeal, that they might be raised to a higher office, are here said to have purchased to themselves a good degree, βαθμον καλον. for, instead of having to administer to the bodies and bodily wants of the poor, the faithful deacons were raised to minister in holy things; and, instead of ministering the bread that perisheth, they were raised to the presbyterate or episcopate, to minister the bread of life to immortal souls. And hence the apostle adds; And great boldness in the faith; πολλην παρῥησιαν, great liberty of speech; i.e. in teaching the doctrines of Christianity, and in expounding the Scriptures, and preaching. It seems to have been a practice dictated by common sense, that the most grave and steady of the believers should be employed as deacons; the most experienced and zealous of the deacons should be raised to the rank of elders; and the most able and pious of the elders be consecrated bishops. As to a bishop of bishops, that age did not know such. The pope of Rome was the first who took this title. The same office, but not with the same powers nor abuse, is found in the patriarch of the Greek Church, and the archbishop of the Protestant Church. As the deacon had many private members under his care, so the presbyter or elder had several deacons under his care; the bishop, several presbyters; and the archbishop, several bishops. But I speak now more of the modern than of the ancient Church. The distinction in some of these offices is not so apparent in ancient times; and some of the offices themselves are modern, or comparatively so. But deacon, presbyter, and bishop, existed in the apostolic Church, and may therefore be considered of Divine origin.


 
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