What 1 Timothy 3:8–13 Requires of a Deacon
The deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8–13 are not a rank above others but a tested servant role, measured by character, speech, and household faithfulness. The passage shows how the church entrusts service to people whose lives have already been examined.
1 Timothy 3:8–13: Deacon Qualifications
Paul lists the character a congregation should look for before it sets anyone apart as a deacon. The standard is a tested life, not a title, and the reward named is standing and confidence in the faith.
Titus 1:5–9: Elder Qualifications and Divorce
Titus 1:5–9 gives qualifications for elders, not deacons, and its phrase about being the husband of one wife sits inside a call for leaders whose family life is blameless. Applying that standard to deacons and to divorce requires more than this passage alone states.
Deacon Duties in 1 Timothy 3:8–13
1 Timothy 3:8–13 says less about what deacons do than about who they must be. The passage gives character qualifications, requires testing before service, and assumes the work itself.