Qualities of Deacons and Members

No. 10

By

Shelby G. Floyd

May 11, 2009

 

 

 

 

Part Two: The Qualities of the Deacon and His Family

 

10.

 

1 Timothy 3:11

“Even so must their wives be…sober…”

KJV

 

     Drinking alcoholic beverages has been and still is one of the greatest curses on the human race. Yet it is a choice that people make to their detriment. Drinking alcoholic beverages will destroy a person externally, internally and eternally—it will destroy “your whole spirit, soul and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). One of the qualities of choosing a deacon is that his wife is to be “sober.” “Even so must their wives be…sober…” (1 Timothy 3:11, KJV). “Sober” is translated from [nhfaleos-nephaleos] and means to be “sober, temperate; abstaining from wine either entirely (Joseph. Ant. 3, 12, 2) or at least from its immoderate use” (Thayer, p. 425).

      

Christian Women Must Be Also “Sober”

    

     This word “sober” [nhfaleos-nephaleos] is only found three times in the English New Testament. It is applied to the “overseer—bishop,” to the deacon’s wife and to older men and women (1 Tim. 3:2, 11; Tit. 2:2). Paul declared to the Roman Christians:

 

Romans 13:11-14

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

NKJV

 

 

Deacons Wives

Attribute

Christians

1 Timothy 3:11

“Their wives likewise must be…sober…”

ESV [Emphasis SGF]

Sober, temperate, sober-minded—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,

NKJV [Emphasis SGF] Compare I Pet. 4:3; Rom. 13:11-14

 

 

    

     Since the word of God forbids “drinking parties” (1 Peter 4:3, ESV), it is wise for all Christian people to abstain from alcoholic drink, especially the elders, deacons and their wives. Therefore, let all Christian men and women strive to be the best example to the people of God and outsiders by being “temperate” and “sober-minded” This attribute should be apparent in every Christian’s life. Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved