Deacons and Members

Qualities of Deacons and Members

No. 8

Shelby G. Floyd

April 27, 2009

Part Two: The Qualities of the Deacon and His Family

1 Timothy 3:11

“In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect…”

NIV

There is one additional quality incumbent upon men who are to appointed to serve as deacons. Since it is listed in the same context of his relationship with his wife and family, we shall notice it later in this context.

The first quality that should characterize the deacon’s wife is that she should be a woman “worthy of respect” [semnos-semnos], (1 Timothy 3:11). This quality is the same as was assigned to her husband, “Deacons likewise are to be men “worthy of respect...” [semnos-semnos], (1 Timothy 3:8). The deacon and is wife must be alike in this quality. They both are to be venerated for their honorable character. When this is the case the deacon’s wife will be a great asset in his work of serving in the church.

Christian Women Must Also Be Worthy of Respect

In the same way all Christian women are to cultivate a character worthy of the respect. Peter advised the wives in his day:

1 Peter 3:1-4

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

NKJV

Titus was a faithful preacher and companion of the apostle Paul. As Titus traveled around in his ministry, Paul commanded him to instruct the older women who were in turn to teach and train the younger women to live a worthy life of respect:

Titus 2:3-5

the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

NKJV

It is imperative then that not only the wives of the deacons, but all Christian women inculcate the virtue of honorable character “worthy of respect.”

Deacons Wives

Attribute

Christians

1 Timothy 3:11

“In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect…”

NIV [Emphasis SGF]

Grave, worthy of respect, venerated for honorable character—1 Timothy 3:11

Titus 2:3-5

the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

NKJV [Emphasis SGF] Compare 1Peter 3:1-4