Homilies on First Timothy — Homily 11

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

[[1 Timothy 3.8]]-10

Likewise must the Deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given much to wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved: then let them use the office of a Deacon, being found blameless.

Likewise the Deacons. That is, they should have the same qualities as Bishops. And what are these same? To be blameless, sober, hospitable, patient, not brawlers, not covetous. And that he means this when he says likewise, is evident from what he says in addition, grave, not doubletongued; that is, not hollow or deceitful. For nothing so debases a man as deceit, nothing is so pernicious in the Church as insincerity. Not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Thus he explains what he means by blameless. And here he requires, though in other words, that he be not a novice, where he says, Let these also first be proved, where the conjunction also is added, as connecting this with what had been said before of Bishops, for nothing intervenes between. And there is the same reason for the not a novice in that case. For would it not be absurd, that when a newly purchased slave is not entrusted with anything in a house, till he has by long trial given proofs of his character, yet that one should enter into the Church of God from a state of heathenism, and be at once placed in a station of preeminence?

Ver. 11. Even so must the women be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Some have thought that this is said of women generally, but it is not so, for why should he introduce anything about women to interfere with his subject? He is speaking of those who hold the rank of Deaconesses.

Ver. 12. Let the Deacons be husbands of one wife.

This must be understood therefore to relate to Deaconesses. For that order is necessary and useful and honorable in the Church. Observe how he requires the same virtue from the Deacons, as from the Bishops, for though they were not of equal rank, they must equally be blameless; equally pure.

Ruling their children and their own houses well.

Ver. 13. For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Everywhere they are required to rule their children well, that others may not be scandalized by their misconduct.

They that use the office of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, that is, advancement, and much boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ; as if he would say, that those who have been found vigilant in the lower degree will soon ascend to the higher.

Ver. 14, 15. These things write I unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly. But if I tarry long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

That he may not plunge Timothy into dejection by giving him