Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 3:11

"Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things." — 1 Timothy 3:11 (ASV)

In the Greek language the same word is used for “woman” and “wife” (GK 1222). Since this word is found here for “their wives,” there are three possible interpretations as to what group Paul is talking about. (1) These women were the wives of the deacons, though the word “their” is missing in Greek. (2) Another possibility is that Paul is speaking of women in general; the context of vv.8–12 would seem to rule this out. (3) The third choice is a reference to deaconesses, of whom Phoebe (Romans 16:1) is an example. We know that there were deaconesses in the church in later centuries, but whether such an order existed in the first century is debatable.

We are inclined to favor the idea that the reference is to “their wives.” Paul talks about the qualifications of the deacons in vv.8–10 and again in vv.12–13. It would seem natural to assume that he is talking about their wives in v.11. What he says that these women is that, whoever they are, they must, “in the same way” as the deacons, be “worthy of respect” (cf. v.8).

They are also not to be “malicious talkers” (GK 1333), i.e., those who slander other people. This note was a needed warning in the early church and is still needed today.

On “temperate,” see the comment on v.2. Both husbands and wives were have this virtue.

“Trustworthy in everything” is a comprehensive requirement. Church workers must not be lax in taking care of their assigned duties.