Lesson 2140

(Lesson 2140)(10-16-17)  1 Timothy 3:8-16
    “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much 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. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 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. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

    Today’s lesson provides the qualifications for the position of deacon in the church. The requirements for a deacon are, in some respects, more strenuous than those that were set out for the bishop (pastor). In today’s quote, we see that some of the qualifications of a deaconship are to also be applied to the wife, “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” whereas the wife of a bishop were not subjected to any of the bishops qualifications.~