1 Timothy 3:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

NIV: A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

NASB: Deacons must be husbands of one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

CSB: Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

NLT: A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.

KJV: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

NKJV: Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

This verse returns to the qualifications of prospective deacons, after speaking about their wives (1 Timothy 3:11). Like elders, deacons are to be known for faithfulness in their marriage. This uses the Greek expression mias gynaikos andres, literally "one-woman men." This is the same phrasing used in 1 Timothy 3:2. Like elders (1 Timothy 3:4–5), deacons are to also demonstrate proper management of their children and household. This would have included wife, children, extended family in the home, and any servants. First century "households" in Ephesus sometimes consisted of several people, and the typical family of this era had many more children than in modern Western societies.

The idea was that a man must be able to lead his own family well if he was to successfully lead the larger "family" of a church congregation. Though deacons are not required to be "able to teach" as are elders (1 Timothy 3:2), they are required to have a solid family reputation. This verse does not explicitly exclude single men, nor does it speak regarding past divorce or family problems. The emphasis is on one's current family status being of high character among the church and community.

First Timothy 3:8–13 gives qualifications for those who wish to serve as ''deacons,'' or ''servants,'' within the church. Many of these are duplicates of the requirements given for elders, including a good reputation and a respectable control over their own homes. Deacons are also prohibited from being those with a reputation for being two-faced, greedy, or prone to addiction. Unlike elders, who have probably already been ''tested,'' Paul says deacons should submit to a time of testing and be installed when they prove themselves ''blameless.''

First Timothy chapter 3 expresses requirements for two different levels of church leadership. The first are ''elders'' or ''overseers.'' These men are to be experienced Christians, respectable, capable teachers, with a good reputation and a well-ordered family life. The second group are ''servants,'' or ''deacons,'' who share many of the same expectations. Unlike elders, however, deacons are not necessarily called on to teach. And, they are expected to be ''tested'' prior to taking on their role.

Chapter 3 concludes Paul's general statements about church structure and behavior. In chapters 1, 2, and 3, he has laid out some broad concepts which Timothy needs to enforce in his congregation. This chapter specifically deals with the qualifications for leaders, including both elders and deacons. The next chapters will transition to Paul's warnings about certain dangers lurking around the Christian church.

First Timothy is one of Paul's three ''Pastoral Epistles.'' Paul's other letters, such as Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, are meant for a broader audience. First Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are written to specific people whom Paul is advising on how to best lead their local churches. These three letters present a close look at the form and function of church leadership. First Timothy, like 2 Timothy and Titus, is less formal and systematic, and more personal. This gives great insight into the way pastors, deacons, and elders ought to prioritize their time and energy.