1 Timothy 3:10

1 Timothy 3:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
• New International Version (NIV)They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

Context of 1 Timothy 3:10

8In the same way, deacons must live good lives, so that people respect them. They must not be hypocrites. They must not drink too much wine. They must not want to get a lot of money for themselves. 9They must completely believe the true message that God has shown us about Christ. They must be sure in their minds about it. Before anyone becomes a deacon, you must first test their character. If they are good enough, then let them serve God as deacons. 11Deacons' wives must live good lives, so that people respect them. They must not say bad things against people. They must think carefully about how they live. People should know that they are honest in everything they do. 12A deacon must be the husband of one wife. He must take care of his children and everyone who lives in his house.

1 Timothy 3:10 word by word

καὶ οὗτοι δὲ δοκιμαζέσθωσαν πρῶτον, εἶτα διακονείτωσαν ἀνέγκλητοι ὄντες.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• letδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• thenεἶταeita · thenG1534
• let them use the office of a deaconδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• blamelessἀνέγκλητοςanegklētos · irreproachableG410

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:10

• 1 Timothy 3:6A leader of the church must not be someone who has believed in Christ for only a short time. Someone like that might boast that he is great and important. Then he would receive punishment, as the Devil did.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Do not hurry to put your hands on anyone to choose him as a leader of the church. Perhaps that man has done something wrong. Then people might think that you agree with his sins. You yourself must always be careful to do what is right and good.
• 1 John 4:1My friends, do not believe everyone who says that they speak God's message. There are many false prophets who are travelling around everywhere. They say that they have a message from God's Spirit, but the message comes from a false spirit. So check each message carefully to see if it is really from God.
• 1 Timothy 3:13If a deacon serves God's people well, then people will respect him as a good person. He will become strong to tell people about his faith in Christ Jesus.
• Acts 6:1At that time, more and more people became disciples of Jesus. Among the believers, some were Jews who spoke the Greek language. Others were Jews who spoke the Aramaic language. The Jews who spoke Greek had a problem with the other Jews. They said, ‘The widows in our group do not receive the right help. Each day, when you give out the food and money, our widows receive less than they should get.’
• 1 Timothy 3:2For that reason, a leader of the church must live a life that everyone knows is good. He must be the husband of one wife. He must think seriously about how he lives and he must control himself well. He must be someone that people respect. He must be happy to have visitors in his home. He must be a good teacher.
• 1 Corinthians 1:8God will also keep you safe and strong until the end. Then, on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns, you will not be guilty of anything wrong.
• Colossians 1:22But now you have become God's friends. This happened because Christ's human body died on the cross. As a result, God has brought you to himself. As you stand in front of him, you are completely good and clean inside. He sees nothing in you that is bad.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Let these - be proved - Let them not be young converts, or persons lately brought to the knowledge of the truth. This is the same in spirit with what is required of the bishops, 1 Timothy 3:6. Let no man be put into an office in the Church till he has given full proof of his sincerity and steadiness, by having been for a considerable time a consistent private member of the Church. Being found blameless - · Being irreproachable; persons against whom no…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10And let these also first be proved - That is, tried or tested in regard to the things which were the proper qualifications for the office. This does not mean that they were to be employed as “preachers,” but that they were to undergo a proper trial in regard to their fitness for the office which they were to fill. They were not to be put into it without any opportunity of knowing what they were. It should be ascertained that they were grave, serious…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-13The Greek word for deacon means "servant, assistant, messenger, or agent." Its related words mean "service" or "to serve" and often refer to any kind of service (for example, 4:6; Matthew 22:13; John 2:5; 12:26; Romans 13:4; 1 Corinthians 3:5). When plainly referring to a church office, it appears only in 1 Timothy 3:8–13; Philippians 1:1; and possibly Romans 16:1. Here the passage focuses on character rather than activities. See also study note on Acts…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. "And moreover," &c. [Alford]. be proved--not by a period of probation, but by a searching inquiry, conducted by Timothy, the ordaining president (1Ti 5:22), whether they be "blameless"; then when found so, "let them act as deacons." blameless--Greek, "unexceptionable"; as the result of public investigation unaccused [Tittmann].Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:10

• Church
• Commandments
• Deacon
• Diligence
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Deacon
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice
• Rule

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings