1 Timothy 3:13
New International Version
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

New Living Translation
Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Berean Literal Bible
For those having served well acquire a good standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

NASB 1995
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

NASB 1977
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Legacy Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Amplified Bible
For those who have served well as deacons gain a high standing [having a good reputation among the congregation], and great confidence in the faith which is [founded on and centered] in Christ Jesus.

Christian Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

American Standard Version
For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For those who serve well purchase a good rank for themselves and much boldness in the faith of Yeshua The Messiah.

Contemporary English Version
Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

English Revised Version
For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.

Good News Translation
Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.

International Standard Version
Those ministers who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance by their faith in the Messiah Jesus.

Literal Standard Version
for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.

Majority Standard Bible
For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

New American Bible
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

New Heart English Bible
For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
For those who have filled the deacon's office wisely and well, are already gaining for themselves an honourable standing, and are acquiring great freedom of speech in proclaiming the faith which rests on Christ Jesus.

World English Bible
For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Young's Literal Translation
for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Qualifications for Deacons
12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things…

Cross References
Matthew 25:21
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!'

1 Timothy 3:14
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things


Treasury of Scripture

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.

they.

Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luke 16:10-12
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much…

Luke 19:17
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

used.

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Romans 12:7,8
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; …

1 Corinthians 16:15
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

degree.

Acts 21:35
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

great.

Acts 6:5,8,15
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: …

Acts 7:1
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

Philippians 1:14
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Jump to Previous
Acquiring Already Assurance Boldness Christ Confidence Deacon Deacons Degree Excellent Faith Fear Filled Free Freedom Gain Gaining Good Great High Honourable Jesus Ministered Obtain Office Position Proclaiming Purchase Served Speech Standing Themselves Used Wisely Work
Jump to Next
Acquiring Already Assurance Boldness Christ Confidence Deacon Deacons Degree Excellent Faith Fear Filled Free Freedom Gain Gaining Good Great High Honourable Jesus Ministered Obtain Office Position Proclaiming Purchase Served Speech Standing Themselves Used Wisely Work
1 Timothy 3
1. How bishops, deacons, and their wives should be qualified;
14. and to what end Paul wrote to Timothy of these things.
15. Of the church, and the blessed truth therein taught and professed.














(13) For they that have used the office of a deacon well.--Better rendered, for they that have served well as deacons. It was with good reason that the Apostle laid great stress on the many and varied qualifications necessary for one undertaking the duties of a deacon of the Church--for very great indeed was the reward reserved for the true, loyal deacon when his work was over and done (and if for the man who had performed well his work in the lower office, a fortiori for the one who should faithfully fulfil the yet higher duties of an elder or overseer in the Church).

Purchase to themselves a good degree.--Some scholars have suggested as a better rendering, "are acquiring (or gaining) to themselves a good standing. The old translation perhaps is best. Alford writes strikingly on the change of tense: "They that have used are acquiring or purchasing." The Apostle having begun by placing himself at the great day of retribution, now shifts the scene and deals with their present conduct. "Those who shall then be found to have served well, &c. . . . are now, &c."

The "good degree" they are now purchasing by earnest, patient work may refer to advancement to the higher ministries of the Church, but, more probably, has reference to their future position in the blessed life to come. This is one of the passages not unfrequent in St. Paul's Epistles, where degrees of glory among the redeemed are clearly spoken of. The plain words of St. Paul and his Master teach the people of God that although the great act of redemption alone belongs to Christ, that through His merits only men obtain salvation, still His own, will in a great measure determine, by their works and days on earth, the position they will occupy in His kingdom.

And great boldness.--The true and faithful deacons not only will in the life to come win the great reward, but here the result of their loyal, earnest service would be, that before men they would do their work with serene, fearless confidence, and would at the same time be encouraged to approach that heavenly Father at all times with the loving trustfulness of children.

In the faith which is in Christ Jesus.--Faith was the foundation of the "great boldness," and the faith rested on Jesus Christ.

Verse 13. - Served well as deacons for used the office of a deacon well, A.V.; gain to themselves a good standing for purchase to themselves a good degree, A.V. Served... as deacons (διακονήσαντες); as in ver. 10. In this technical sense only found in these two passages; which well agrees with the late date of this Epistle, when the technical sense of διάκονος was established. Gain to themselves a good standing. The sense of the passage depends a good deal upon the exact meaning of βαθμός. In 1 Samuel 5:4, 5, in the LXX., βαθμός is the rendering of מִפְתָּן (rendered αἴθριον in Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:4), a somewhat unusual word for a "threshold." In 2 Kings 20:9, 10, 11, it is the rendering of מַעֲלָה, "a degree on the sun-dial." This latter seems to suit better the verb περιποιοῦνται, they gain or acquire, which suggests the idea of advancement. It does not follow that St. Paul had in his mind their advancement from the "inferior office" to "the higher ministries in the Church" (Ordination Service); he may merely have meant to say that the discharge of the duties of a deacon in an efficient and exemplary manner raised a man to high estimation in the Church, and so gave him confidence in confessing the faith of Jesus Christ both by word and deed. Gain to themselves (περιποιοῦνται); acquire by purchase or otherwise. Frequent in the LXX.; but only elsewhere in the New Testament in Acts 20:28. Boldness (παρρησίαν); very common in the New Testament (comp. Acts 4:13, 29, 31; Ephesians 6:19; Philippians 1:20, etc.), where it is especially applied to boldness in preaching the gospel of Christ. This seems to imply that St. Paul contemplated preaching as a part of the deacon's work. We know that Philip the deacon and Stephen the deacon were both preachers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

those who
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

have served
διακονήσαντες (diakonēsantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1247: From diakonos; to be an attendant, i.e. Wait upon (figuratively) teacher; technically, to act as a Christian deacon.

well [as deacons]
καλῶς (kalōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2573: Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.

acquire
περιποιοῦνται (peripoiountai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4046: To acquire, earn, purchase, make my own, preserve alive.

for themselves
ἑαυτοῖς (heautois)
Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

a high
καλὸν (kalon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

standing
βαθμὸν (bathmon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 898: A step (of a stairway); hence: a stage in a career, a position. From the same as bathos; a step, i.e. grade.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

great
πολλὴν (pollēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

confidence
παρρησίαν (parrēsian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3954: From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, i.e. Frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] faith
πίστει (pistei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

that [is]
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Christ
Χριστῷ (Christō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

Jesus.
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.


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NT Letters: 1 Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well gain (1 Tim. 1Ti iTi 1tim i Tm)
1 Timothy 3:12
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