Focused Passage

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Qualified Leadership and Conduct in the Household of God

Paul moves from overseer qualifications, to deacon qualifications, to the theological reason for ordered church conduct: the church is God's household, the pillar and foundation of the truth, confessing the mystery of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

DeaconsΔιακόνουςG1249Noun - Accusative Masculine PlurallikewiseὡσαύτωςG5615Adverb[must be] dignifiedσεμνούςG4586Adjective - Accusative Masculine PluralnotμὴG3361Adverbdouble-tonguedδιλόγουςG1351Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural[or]μὴG3361AdverbgivenπροσέχονταςG4337Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Pluralto muchπολλῷG4183Adjective - Dative Masculine SingularwineοἴνῳG3631Noun - Dative Masculine Singular[or]μὴG3361Adverbgreedy for moneyαἰσχροκερδεῖςG146Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 9

Original words

They must holdἔχονταςG2192Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Pluralto theτὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingularmysteryμυστήριονG3466Noun - Accusative Neuter Singularof theτῆςG3588Article - Genitive Feminine SingularfaithπίστεωςG4102Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularwithἐνG1722Prepositiona clearκαθαρᾷG2513Adjective - Dative Feminine SingularconscienceσυνειδήσειG4893Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 10

Original words

AdditionallyκαὶG2532Conjunction. . .δὲG1161ConjunctiontheyοὗτοιG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Pluralmust first be testedδοκιμαζέσθωσανG1381Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural. . .πρῶτονG4412Adverb - SuperlativeThenεἶταG1534Adverbif they areὄντεςG1510Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Pluralabove reproachἀνέγκλητοιG410Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plurallet them serve as deaconsδιακονείτωσανG1247Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 11

Original words

In the same wayὡσαύτωςG5615Adverb[the] womenΓυναῖκαςG1135Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural[must be] dignifiedσεμνάςG4586Adjective - Accusative Feminine PluralnotμὴG3361AdverbslanderersδιαβόλουςG1228Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural[but] temperateνηφαλίουςG3524Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural[and] faithfulπιστὰςG4103Adjective - Accusative Feminine PluralinἐνG1722Prepositionall thingsπᾶσινG3956Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Or their wives
Verse 12

Original words

A deaconΔιάκονοιG1249Noun - Nominative Masculine Pluralmust beἔστωσανG1510Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Plural[the] husbandἄνδρεςG435Noun - Nominative Masculine Pluralof but oneμιᾶςG1520Adjective - Genitive Feminine SingularwifeγυναικὸςG1135Noun - Genitive Feminine Singulara goodκαλῶςG2573AdverbmanagerπροϊστάμενοιG4291Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural[of his] childrenτέκνωνG5043Noun - Genitive Neuter PluralandκαὶG2532Conjunction[of his]τῶνG3588Article - Genitive Masculine PluralownἰδίωνG2398Adjective - Genitive Masculine PluralhouseholdοἴκωνG3624Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 13

Original words

ForγὰρG1063Conjunctionthose whoοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine Pluralhave servedδιακονήσαντεςG1247Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Pluralwell [as deacons]καλῶςG2573AdverbacquireπεριποιοῦνταιG4046Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Pluralfor themselvesἑαυτοῖςG1438Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plurala highκαλὸνG2570Adjective - Accusative Masculine SingularstandingβαθμὸνG898Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctiongreatπολλὴνG4183Adjective - Accusative Feminine SingularconfidenceπαρρησίανG3954Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularinἐνG1722Preposition[the] faithπίστειG4102Noun - Dative Feminine Singularthat [is]τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularinἐνG1722PrepositionChristΧριστῷG5547Noun - Dative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦG2424Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.