Lord willing, on May 15, three new deacons will be appointed to serve this congregation. However, before that day occurs, we, as a congregation, must make sure we understand the work and qualifications of a deacon. In the last two bulletins we have learned that the basic meaning of the Greek word translated “deacon” is servant, or minister, and that in God’s plan for church organization, there are to be special servants, the Bible calls “deacons” (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12). In this article, we will examine the remaining qualification and examine the work that deacons are to do.

Qualifications of Deacons (Continued)

The apostle Paul gives the qualifications for deacons: “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless....12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well” (1 Tim. 3:8-12). There is one qualification that we have not yet covered.

Ruling Their Children and Their Own Houses Well The word translated “ruling” is from a Greek word that literally means “set before.” In this context, it means to “be a leader, have authority over, manage; care for, give help.”1  This is also a qualification that men who would serve as elders must meet (1 Tim. 3:4-5). Outside of the references in First Timothy 3:4-5, 12, the word is found in five other places, where it is translated “ruleth” (Rom. 12:8), “are over” (1 Thes. 5:12), “rule” (1 Tim. 5:17), and “maintain” (Tit. 3:8, 14). A man who cannot effectively serve his home by setting the proper example and by executing the proper, loving authority cannot be expected to effectively serve the church in his special capacity. A major difference between the “domestic” qualifications of an elder and a deacon is the fact that a deacon’s children are not explicitly required to be “faithful” (i.e., Christians), as are the children of men who would serve as elders (Tit. 1:6). While we should never bind what God has not bound, we should realize that this qualification requires that a potential deacon’s children be old enough to adequately determine whether he rules his children and house well. This writer has known of young married men who were appointed deacons within months of their first child’s birth, as if the qualification was given to prove that a man was biologically capable of reproduction. Because a man rules his lap baby well does not necessarily prove he rules his children and his own house well. In some instances the man who ruled his lap baby well when first appointed has little or no control over his teenagers later, yet he still serves as a deacon, to the detriment of the church. Do the men whose names have been submitted meet this qualification?

We have examined the qualifications given in First Timothy 3:8-12 that a man must meet in order to serve as deacon in the New Testament church: Grave, Not Double-Tongued, Not Given to Much Wine, Not Greedy of Filthy Lucre, Holding the Mystery of the Faith, First Be Proved, Being Found Blameless, The Husband of One Wife, and Ruling Their Children and Their Own Houses Well. Do the men whose names have been submitted to serve as deacons of this congregation meet these qualifications? If so, then they will be appointed on May 15 to serve. If not, then please bring your Scriptural objections to the elders.

The Work of Deacons
Deacons are special servants, and, like any other member of the local church, they must submit to the will of God and to the judgment of the elders of the local church. A deacon has no authority except what is delegated to him by his overseers. Deacons are not elders, “junior elders,” or mere “figureheads,” whose names appear on the church stationary. The “office of a deacon” is a work (1 Tim. 3:10, 13).

The nearest thing to a statement of their work is found in First Timothy 3:13, “For they that have used the office of a deacon well...” It is the work of deacons to serve well in whatever responsibility they are given. Any Scriptural work that is within a deacon’s ability should be willingly and diligently performed. The fact that “they are servants disposed to be in readiness for whatever they may be asked to do may give a reason for no more specific mention being made of this task.”2

Although the men of Acts 6:1-6 were not deacons as per First Timothy 3:8-13, the kind of work they did in assisting the apostles, in principle, is the kind of work done by deacons. The “seven men” chosen in Acts 6:1-6 were to be appointed over the business of serving tables (Acts 6:2-3). The word translated “serve” (Acts 6:2) is from the same Greek word that is translated “office of a deacon [serve as deacons, NKJ]” (1 Tim. 3:10, 13). This is not teaching that deacons are merely to take care of the physical work of the church, while elders take care of the spiritual work of the church. The key to understanding the nature of a deacon’s work is found in the fact that they, like the seven chosen in Acts 6, may do whatever will assist in the “ministry of the word.” With the seven in Acts 6, it was taking care of the Grecian widows so that the apostles did not have to be slowed in spreading the gospel. With deacons today, they may do whatever work the elders assign them that will assist the “ministry of the word.” This may include taking care of the church building, serving as treasurer, leading personal evangelism, being the contact with the missionaries supported by the local church, etc.

Appointing deacons is important and must be taken seriously. When the men whose names have been submitted desire and actually do their work, the church will be more effective in doing God’s will. Faithful deacons will also be rewarded. “For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13).

End Notes

1 Barclay M. Newman, Jr., “A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament,” The Greek New Testament. 4th rev. ed. (Stuttgart, Germany: United Bible Society, 1993) 151.
2 James D. Cox, With The Bishops And Deacons (Delight, AR: Gospel Light Publishing, 1976) 23.