1 Timothy 3:13

1 Timothy 3:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Context of 1 Timothy 3:13

11Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect. 12Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you 15in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:13 word by word

οἱ γὰρ καλῶς διακονήσαντες βαθμὸν ἑαυτοῖς καλὸν περιποιοῦνται καὶ πολλὴν παρρησίαν ἐν πίστει τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• they that have used the office of a deaconδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
• wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• purchaseπεριποιέωperipoieomai · to gainG4046
• to themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• degreeβαθμόςbathmos · standingG898
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• boldnessπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:13

• Matthew 25:21His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
• Luke 16:10“The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
• Luke 19:17And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’
• Matthew 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Romans 12:7If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;
• 1 Corinthians 16:15Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you
• Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
• 1 Peter 4:10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
• Acts 21:35When he came to the steps, Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob,
• Acts 6:5The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.
• Acts 7:1Then the high priest said, “Are these things true?”
• Philippians 1:14and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.
• 2 Timothy 2:1So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13That have used the office of a deacon well - They who, having been tried or proved, 1 Timothy 3:10, have shown by their steadiness, activity, and zeal, that they might be raised to a higher office, are here said to have purchased to themselves a good degree, · for, instead of having to administer to the bodies and bodily wants of the poor, the faithful deacons were raised to minister in holy things; and, instead of ministering the bread that perisheth…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well - Margin, “ministered.” The Greek word is the same as deacon, meaning ministering, or serving in this office. The sense would be well expressed by the phrase, “deaconizing well.” The “word” implies nothing as to the exact nature of the office. Purchase to themselves - Procure for themselves; see this word explained in the notes on Acts 20:28. A good degree - The word here used ( ́ bathmos) occurs nowhere…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. 1313. purchase to themselves a good degree--literally, "are acquiring ... a ... step." Understood by many as "a higher step," that is, promotion to the higher office of presbyter. But ambition of rising seems hardly the motive to faithfulness which the apostle would urge; besides, it would require the comparative, "a better degree." Then the past aorist participle, "they that used the office of deacon well," implies that the present verb, "are acquiring to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:13

• Church
• Commandments
• Deacon
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Christ, Jesus
• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree

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