New Living Translation
1 Timothy 3:10
10Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.
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 be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. 11In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.
Read all of 1 Timothy 31 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 church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
- 1 Timothy 5:22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
- 1 John 4:1Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
- 1 Timothy 3:13Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
- Acts 6:1But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
- 1 Timothy 3:2So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
- Colossians 1:22Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
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
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries