1 TIMOTHY 3:11 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.”
Women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things — the ambiguity (gynaikas or wives) permits readings as either women deacons or deacons' wives, but the parallel structure (dignified, not slanderous, sober, faithful) suggests female deacons are addressed. Diaconal service demands the same virtues regardless of gender.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 3:11
“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;…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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