Qualifications Of Deacons:

1. GRAVE -- One who is honorable, reputable, serious, soberminded; not childish or flippant. Every Christian should possess this virtue, 1 Tim. 3;11; Titus 2:2,7. We might retrack a bit at this point and say that deacons must have all of the "positive" and "negative" qualifications that we have previously studied concerning elders and all Christians.

2. NOT DOUBLE-TONGUED: -- "One placed between two persons and saying one thing to one and nother to the other." Or, one who says one thing yet means another -- deceitful. When I think of one being double- tongued, I think of a snake; for they have forked tongues. No one likes snakes. Every child of God must be truthful and not double-tongued, Col. 3:9; Mt. 5:37.

3. NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE: -- Paul told .Timothy, "Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." 1 Tim. 5:23. This medical use of wine lends no support to promiscuous drinking. In fact, Rom. 14:21 will not allow any faithful Christian to drink intoxicants. Read also: Prov. 20:1; 23:20,21, 29-32.

4. NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE: -- Not a covetous person; one who makes his living by dishonest means. No Christian should be covetous but rather liberal. We msut remember that covetousness is idolatry. Col. 3:5.

5. HOLDING THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH IN A PURE CONSCIENCE: -- The deacon must have a clear understanding of the gospel and practice it sincerely. All Christians should be characterized in this manner also, 1 Tim. 1:5.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS:

1. MUST FIRST BE PROVED: -- From the word "dokimazo" meaning to test as in the testing of metals, etc. When the life of the deacon is examined, it should be found blameless, approved.

2. HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE: -- Living a married life according to the New Testament law of monogomy.

3.RULING CHILDREN AND OWN HOUSE WELL: -- The word ruling is from "proistamenoi" meaning to appoint with authority; to superintend, govern. A deacon would not have a good influence in the church if he did not control his own house.

QUALIFICATIONS FROM ACTS 6:1-6.

We can't prove that these were officially deacons yet they did a work--"serving tables" in contrast to "ministry of the word" -- that is proper for deacons to perform. "The so-called Seven Deacons in Acts 6, are not there mentioned by the name 'deacon', though the kind of service in which they engaged was of the character commited to such." Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

1. OF GOOD REPORT: -- blameless, see Acts 16:2.

2. FULL OF WISDOM: -- possessed of good judgment. Wisdom comes by asking God for it, Jas. 1:;5.

3. FULL OF THE SPIRIT: -- Not miraculous powers of the Spirit. Christians are "strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inward man", Eph. 3:16 and the body of the Christian "is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you." 1 Cor. 6:19. Deacons and others should manifest the "fruit of the Spirit", Gal. 5:22, in their lives.

Go back to the Deacons study

Return to the Index page