1 Timothy 3:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It was fitting to say this also about women deaconesses, since this rank is very necessary, useful, and worthy of honor in the Church. "A deacon," he says, "must be the husband of one wife." Do you see that he requires the same virtue of deacons also? Though they are not equal to the bishop in rank, they must nevertheless be just as blameless and just as pure. "Ruling their children and their own households well. For those who have served well prepare for themselves a higher degree and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus." Everywhere he speaks about the governance of children, so that others may have no occasion for scandal.

A deacon must be the husband of one wife. Do you see that the Apostle requires of deacons the very same virtue that he required of bishops? For they too must equally be pure and blameless. "Ruling their children and their own households well." Everywhere he speaks about the governance of children, so that others may have no occasion for scandal.

"Let deacons be husbands of one wife." This must be understood according to the previous interpretation. "Ruling their children and their own households well." He established this also as law for those whom he calls bishops.

"Let deacons be husbands of one wife." This is meant if married men are raised to the diaconal service. And if men, that is deacons, are required to be married only once, then women counted worthy of the diaconal rank must likewise have been married only once. For this is very necessary and proper in the Church. "Ruling their children and their own houses well." As was said above also concerning the bishop. Do you see that the Apostle requires the same qualities of deacons as of bishops? Although they are not equal to the bishop in rank, they too must be just as pure and blameless as those who later ascend to the degree of presbyter, and then of bishop.

"Deacons likewise must be pure," that is, must be so, "not double-tongued, not given to much wine," and so forth (1 Tim. 3:8-13). He regards the moral qualities required for worthy deacons as necessary also for the episcopal and presbyteral rank. Speaking about deacons, he omits only teachability. But he adds that they must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. According to the explanation of Blessed Theophylact, this means that deacons must keep the right dogma and have a blameless life. He also adds that they should be tested before their appointment, and that those who have served well should then be counted worthy of higher degrees. "Women likewise must be pure, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things" (1 Tim. 3:11).

Continuing to speak about deacons, the Apostle also touches on their fellow servants in the Church, the deaconesses, and on their wives. He advises them not to be slanderers. As for deacons, like bishops and presbyters, they are to be husbands of one wife, ruling their household and the upbringing of their children well. He encourages them with the attainment of higher degrees in the hierarchy, and in general with perfection in Christ Jesus, Who promised the one serving Him: "Where I am, there My servant will be also" (Jn. 12:26). Interpreters are troubled by the brief insertion about women. They are especially perplexed because the word "their," found in the Russian translation, is absent from the Greek text.

Deacons, whose chief duty was to care for the poor, went from one house to another. They therefore must not say one thing in one place and another elsewhere, that is, be double-tongued. They must not irritate the poor by their own lack of restraint, and must not be lovers of gain, lest they become thieves of the gifts entrusted to them. In general, their conscience must be pure. In it, as in a treasury, the faith must be preserved in complete integrity. In this way they would be inaccessible to the seductions of false teachers. At the same time, the Apostle gives a brief instruction concerning deaconesses as well. Deacons who fulfill the Apostle's prescriptions exactly acquire good standing among the faithful, that is, they obtain a good degree. They themselves begin to act with full boldness, which faith in Christ gives them, and are not troubled by any attacks.

"Husbands of one wife." Do you see that the Apostle requires of deacons the very same virtue as of bishops? Though they are not equal to the bishop in rank, they must nevertheless be just as blameless and just as pure, says Saint Chrysostom. This must be understood according to the previous interpretation, says blessed Theodoret. "Ruling their children and their own households well." He established this also as law for those whom he calls bishops, says blessed Theodoret. Everywhere he speaks about the governance of children, so that others may have no occasion for scandal, says Saint Chrysostom.