Read & explore together
Qualifications for Deacons
In this part of the letter, the writer lists qualities expected of servants. The focus is on truthful speech, self-control, tested character, faithful home life, and steady faith in Christ Jesus.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are teaching within a letter, not a story. They set out how servants should live and serve, covering speech, habits, conscience, testing, family conduct, and the outcome of serving well. The passage presents these qualities as an ordered set of instructions.
1 Timothy 3:8–13Main takeaway
This passage teaches that service should be given to people whose faith and daily conduct match the message they hold.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Reverent and trustworthyThe passage begins with qualities seen in everyday conduct. Servants must be reverent, showing seriousness worthy of respect.
Explanation
The passage begins with qualities seen in everyday conduct. Servants must be reverent, showing seriousness worthy of respect. They must not be double-tongued, speaking one way to one person and another way elsewhere. They are also not to be addicted to much wine or greedy for money, which points to self-control and honesty.
02Holding the faith with a pure conscienceThe instruction reaches deeper than public behaviour. Servants are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Explanation
The instruction reaches deeper than public behaviour. Servants are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. This joins belief and inner life together. The faith is not treated lightly or loosely, and the conscience is not ignored while someone serves.
03Tested before they serveService is not to be rushed. The letter says servants are first to be tested, and then they may serve if they are blameless.
Explanation
Service is not to be rushed. The letter says servants are first to be tested, and then they may serve if they are blameless. The order matters. Before responsibility is given, there should be evidence that a person’s life fits the role described in these verses.
04Faithfulness in home relationshipsThe passage also speaks about wives, saying they must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
Explanation
The passage also speaks about wives, saying they must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things. It then says servants are to be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Home life is presented as part of this teaching about service.
05What comes from serving wellThe final verse names two outcomes for those who have served well. They gain a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
The final verse names two outcomes for those who have served well. They gain a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. The passage points to respected standing and confident faith, rather than money or status, as the result it highlights.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which four warning signs in verse 8 show the kinds of behaviour a servant must avoid?
Read the list in 1 Timothy 3:8 and name each thing the verse says must not mark a servant.
02What comes before serving, and what condition must still be true afterwards?
Follow the order in 1 Timothy 3:10: testing comes first, then service if the person is blameless.
03According to the final verse, what two outcomes come to those who have served well?
Look closely at 1 Timothy 3:13 and identify both results named there.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Timothy 3:8–13
8Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
12Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.