THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:3-4).

1.        These words were spoken by the apostles of Jesus Christ.

2.       This appointment of seven men addressed both a need and a problem in the church.

3.       These seven men were given delegated authority by the apostles in a specific area.

4.      These men met some basic qualifications before being appointed:  honest report and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.

5.       The appointment of these men freed the apostles to continue to labor in other areas:  prayer and the ministry of the word.

 

B.      Some see these seven men as the first deacons in the Lord’s church.

1.        They were definitely servants (Acts 6:2).

2.       They served over a specific work of the church, that is, the daily ministration (Acts 6:1).

3.       They met basic qualifications before serving (Acts 6:3). 

4.      Their labors were distinct from the labors of the apostles (Acts 6;2, 4).

 

C.      NOTES:

1.        There are two things that make some question whether these men were “officially” deacons in the church.

a.       These men were not officially called deacons or appointed to the office of a deacon.

b.      We are not told that they met the qualifications of a deacon found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

2.       But, this may have been a precursor to the formulation of the office.

3.       By the time Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, we know the office was established in the local congregations (See Phil. 1:1).

 

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

 

a.       The bishops were the overseers of the church, the elders.  And, the deacons were the servants within the church.

b.      Note that they are distinguished from the saints.

4.      In 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Paul reveals the fact that an office of a deacon exists (v. 10) and sets forth nine qualifications of a deacon.

 

D.     The title of our lesson this morning is:  “The Qualifications of A Deacon.” 

 

I.                   BLAMELESS  (1 Tim. 3:10)

 

A.     Paul begins his list of qualifications in verse 8.  However, let’s go to verse 10 and see what Paul says.

 

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

 

B.      The man who is going to enter of the office of a deacon needs to be proved first.

1.        The word “proved” means “to test, examine” in order to see whether something or someone is genuine or not.

2.       It also involves the idea of being tested to see if a person is “deemed worthy” of the office of a deacon.

 

C.      Two points:

1.        An individual being considered for the office of a deacon is not a novice or newborn in the faith.  He has had some time to manifest his life before the congregation.

2.       He has lived his life before the church and has been scrutinized by his brothers and sisters in Christ.  They have watched his attitude, his words, his emotions, his faithfulness, and his service in the local congregation.

 

D.     The end result of the testing is that he is found blameless.

1.        He is not a perfect individual (I John 1:8, 10).

2.       But, he cannot be accused of things.  HE cannot be called into account because of something that manifests itself in his life.  He is blameless.

3.       NOTE:  If something is there from the outset, the individual is not qualified for the office of a deacon.

 

II.                THE DEACON’S WIFE (1 Tim. 3:11)

 

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

 

A.     Some do not believe that this statement applies to the perspective deacon’s wife.  However, it is sandwiched right in between the qualifications.

1.        Those considered for the office of a deacon are often young. 

a.       Youth are sometimes not as focused on spiritual things as those who are older.

b.      The man being considered for the office of a deacon may be spiritual, but if his wife is not, it will make him less effective in the ministry.

2.       When a man accepts the position of a deacon, he is going to be sacrificing some of his personal time to perform his service to the church.  He needs a wife of a special character to support him in this role.

 

B.      Paul lists four qualities the deacon’s wife must have.

1.        Grave: 

a.       Definition:  venerable, honorable, honest, serious minded 

b.      She is not glib and unconcerned about life and spiritual matters.

2.       Not a slanderer

a.       The Greek word is the same word from which we get the word “devil.”

b.      She is not an accuser and a slanderer of others.

c.       She does not feel the need to run others down and make fun of them to others.

d.      She sees the good in people and loves them.

3.       Sober

a.       The word “sober” means to be free from intoxicants.

b.      The word involves drunkenness, but it also describes one who can think clearly and rationally instead of reacting simply out of emotions.

4.      Faithful in all things

a.       The deacon’s wife is faithful and steadfast in her service to Jesus Christ.

b.      She is not unfaithful.  She is not partially faithful.  She is faithful in all things.

c.       Her faithful example within the church where her husband is serving in the office of a deacon is going to be a great benefit to her husband.

 

C.      This is another qualification that from the outset could disqualify a man from holding the office of a deacon.  If is wife does not meet her qualifications, then there is no reason to pursue the man for the office of a deacon.

 

III.              GRAVE (1 Tim. 3:8)

 

Likewise must the deacons be grave…

 

A.     The word here is the same word that was applied to the deacon’s wife in verse 11.

 

B.      Definition:

1.        Strong (4586):  venerable, reverend, honorable    :- grave, honest

2.       Thayer:  august, venerable, reverend, to be venerated for character

3.       Barnes:  serious, sober-minded man

4.      Clarke:  of a sedate and dignified carriage and conduct

 

C.      A deacon should be a man who knows when it is time to be serious.

1.        He is not immature.

2.       He is not a jokester about important matters.

3.       He isn’t flippant and lax about his responsibilities.

 

D.     A grave individual puts his mind and effort to the work that is assigned to him. 

1.        He is concerned about his responsibilities.

2.       He is deeply aware that he is depended upon by others.

3.       He wants to accomplish the tasks that are assigned to him.

 

IV.              NOT DOUBLE TONGUED (1 Tim. 3:8)

 

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued…

 

A.     Definition:

1.        Strong (1351):  having two tongues, equivocal, telling a different story

2.       Thayer:  saying one thing to one person and another thing to another person

3.       Barnes:  deceitful

4.      Clarke:  hypocrisy, deceit…the word could also be translated liar

 

B.      A deacon is in communication with two groups of people:  those above him, that is, the elders and those under him, members who assist him in his work.

1.        He should not be telling the elders one thing and those under him another thing.

2.       He should not get a message from his superiors and miscommunicate that message to those under him.

3.       Barnes makes application of this qualification in two ways:

a.       The deacon should be a person who reports the exact truth.

b.      The deacon should be a person who will fulfill his promises exactly as promised.

 

C.      We learn some lessons here.

1.        Words matter.

2.       Others are depending upon the things we communicate.

3.       There is always a temptation to manipulate the truth depending upon the individuals to whom we are speaking. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Deacons are a vital part of the work of the church.

 

B.      They serve in various capacities in order to free up the elders to function in their role of watching for the souls of the flock.

 

C.      God did not want just any Christian man serving as a deacon.  Therefore, He gave qualifications that had to be met. 

1.        We have examined four of these this morning.

2.       We will study the remaining five qualifications in a second lesson.