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

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. Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. 14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation 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 25:21“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’
• Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
• Luke 19:17“‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’
• Matthew 20:28For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Romans 12:7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
• 1 Corinthians 16:15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,
• Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
• 1 Peter 4:10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
• Acts 21:35As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him.
• Acts 6:5Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
• Acts 7:1Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?”
• Philippians 1:14And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:2You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
• 2 Timothy 2:1Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you 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