God’s Word Translation
1 Timothy 3:11
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.
1 Timothy 3:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
- New International Version (NIV)In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Context of 1 Timothy 3:11
9They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. 10First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon. Their 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. 13Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.
Read all of 1 Timothy 31 Timothy 3:11 word by word
Γυναῖκας ὡσαύτως σεμνάς, μὴ διαβόλους, νηφαλίους, πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:11
- Leviticus 21:7You should never marry prostitutes, those who have lost their virginity, or divorced women because a priest is God’s holy man.
- Ezekiel 44:22They must not marry widows or women who have been divorced. They may marry only virgins from the nation of Israel or widows of priests.
- Luke 1:5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
- 1 Timothy 3:4He must manage his own family well. His children should respectfully obey him.
- Psalms 15:3The one who does not slander with his tongue, do evil to a friend, or bring disgrace on his neighbor.
- Psalms 50:20You sit and talk against your own brother. You slander your own mother’s son.
- Psalms 101:5I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor. I will not tolerate anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.
- Proverbs 10:18Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips. Whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- Proverbs 25:13Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day, ⌞so⌟ is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him: He refreshes his masters.
- Jeremiah 9:4“Beware of your neighbors. Don’t trust your relatives. Every relative cheats. Every neighbor goes around slandering.
- Matthew 4:1Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
- John 6:70Jesus replied, “I chose all twelve of you. Yet, one of you is a devil.”
- 2 Timothy 3:3and lack normal affection for their families. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good.
- Revelation 12:9The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.
- 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 Thessalonians 5:6Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober.
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Even so must their wives be grave - I believe the apostle does not mean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the Christian women in general. The original is simply: ̔ · Let the women likewise be grave. Whatever is spoken here becomes women in general; but if the apostle had those termed deaconesses in his eye, which is quite possible, the words are peculiarly suitable to them. That there was such an order in the apostolic and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Even so must their wives be grave - Chrysostom, Theophylact, Grotius, Bloomfield, and many others, suppose that by the word “wives,” here, ( ͂ gunaikas), the apostle means “deaconesses.” Clarke supposes that it refers to women in general. The reason assigned for supposing that it does not refer to the wives of deacons, as such, is, that nothing is said of the qualifications of the wives of bishops - a matter of as much importance as that of the character…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. 11the women (or the women deacons, or their wives): The Greek word can mean women or wives. Supporting the interpretation of their wives, 3:8–13 discusses male deacons. Switching to "women deacons" here would change the context. However, there might have been women deacons in the early church (see Romans 16:1). If so, this verse might parallel 1 Timothy 3:8.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. their wives--rather, "the women," that is, the deaconesses. For there is no reason that special rules should be laid down as to the wives of the deacons, and not also as to the wives of the bishops or overseers. Moreover, if the wives of the deacons were meant, there seems no reason for the omission of "their" (not in the Greek). Also the Greek for "even so" (the same as for "likewise," 1Ti 3:8, and "in like manner," 1Ti 2:9), denotes a transition to…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:11
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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