8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
likewise (v.8) — similar to bishops (vs. 1-7)
deacons (v.8) = servants, in relationship to their work (distinguished from “bond servants” which indicates their relationship to their masters) — The KJV includes the word “office” in verses 8 and 13. This is not in the original texts.
reverent (v.8) = having gravity and dignity
double-tongued (v.8) — saying one thing to one person and then another thing to another person, saying one thing while meaning another
given (v.8) = attach one’s self to
not greedy for money (v.8) — disgraceful gain (see v.3)
mystery (v.9) — something that can only be known through divine revelation, not through human apprehension — knowledge withheld until God appoints a time and manner to reveal it.
“The faith,” of course is the “one faith” of Ephesians 4:5, the great body of doctrine committed to and proclaimed by Paul. This body of truth, as we know, was a mystery, a secret, until the glorified Lord revealed it to him (see Ephesians 3:1-3; Romans 16:25-26). It is assumed that the bishops would “hold” this blessed truth out of deep conviction, but this should be the case with the deacons as well, even though their ministry differed from that of the bishops. — Stam, page 78.
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