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

8Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. 9They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon. 11Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way. 12A deacon must have only one wife. Deacons must manage their children and their families well.

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 3:6He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⌞to ordain him⌟. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.
• 1 John 4:1Dear friends, don’t believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world.
• 1 Timothy 3:13Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.
• Acts 6:1At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.
• 1 Timothy 3:2A bishop must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife, be sober, use good judgment, be respectable, be hospitable, and be able to teach.
• 1 Corinthians 1:8He will continue to give you strength until the end so that no one can accuse you of anything on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 1:22But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame.

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