Biblical Requirements and Duties of Deacons

Who can be a deacon? What does the Bible say about the duties of deacons?

Two Biblical Offices: Elders and Deacons

To answer these questions, it is helpful to compare the ministry of deacons with that of elders. The primary spiritual leaders of the congregation are elders, also called bishops or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and care for the souls of those in their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17).

Deacons also play an important role in the life and health of the local church, but their role is different from that of elders. The biblical task of deacons is to care for the physical and organizational needs of the church so that elders can focus on their primary calling.

This division of responsibilities is based on the example described in Acts 6:1–6. The apostles were devoted «to prayer and to the ministry of the word» (Acts 6:4). Since this was their primary calling, seven men were chosen to carry out practical duties, allowing the apostles to focus on their ministry.

This division of responsibilities echoes the differences between the ministry of elders and deacons. Like the apostles, elders focus on preaching the Word of God. And like the seven, deacons serve the church by meeting its practical needs.

Requirements for deacons

The only passage that speaks of qualifications for deacons is found in 1 Timothy 3:8–13. In this text, Paul gives a formal, though not exhaustive, list of qualifications for deacons.

The similarity between the qualifications for deacons and elders/bishops mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 is striking. Like an elder, a deacon must not be addicted to alcohol (1 Tim. 3:3), must not be greedy for unjust gain (1 Tim. 3:3), must be blameless (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6), the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2), and able to manage his children and household well (1 Tim. 3:4–5).

The main focus of these requirements is on the moral character of the person who is to fill this position: a deacon must be mature and blameless. The main difference between a presbyter and a deacon is not in character, but in gifts and calling.

Nine Requirements for Deacons According to 1 Timothy 3:8–12

The Apostle Paul outlines nine basic requirements for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8–12:

Deacons must also be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

1. Honorable (v. 8): This term usually means that which is honorable, worthy, respected, or worthy.
2. Not bilingual (v. 8): People who are bilingual are two-faced and insincere, and cannot be trusted.
3. Not addicted to wine (v. 8): A man cannot be a deacon if he is addicted to wine or other alcoholic beverages. Such a person lacks self-control and is undisciplined.
4. Not seeking unrighteous enrichment (v. 8): A person who loves money (is greedy) cannot be a deacon, especially since deacons often deal with the financial affairs of the church.
5. Healthy faith and life (v. 9): The deacon must «hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.» He must hold fast to the true Gospel, and his conduct must be consistent with his faith.
6. Blamelessness (v. 10): A deacon «must first be tested; then let him serve if he is blameless» (v. 10). «Blameless» is a general term that refers to a person’s overall character. The congregation should evaluate the candidate’s moral, spiritual, and doctrinal maturity, as well as his experience in serving in the church.
7. A Godly Wife (v. 11): Assuming that this is the requirement for a deacon’s wife, she should be «respectful, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things» (v. 11). She should not be a gossip and should be discreet.
8. A husband of one wife (v. 12): The best interpretation of this complex phrase is that it refers to a man’s fidelity to his wife. He must be «monogamous.» That is, there must be no other woman in his life with whom he is intimately involved.
9. A skillful family leader (v. 12): A deacon should be a spiritual leader for his wife and children.

If moral requirements are listed for elders but not for deacons, then those requirements still apply to deacons. The same applies to requirements listed for deacons but not for elders. For example, a deacon must not be bilingual. Paul does not specifically state this regarding elders, but it certainly applies to them, since Paul states that elders must be «blameless,» which includes this prohibition.

Yet we should note the differences in requirements, as they either indicate a trait that is particularly suited to the duties of a minister or are a response to a problem that arose in the area to which Paul is addressing (in this case, Ephesus). This will become even clearer when we consider the duties of deacons.

Duties of deacons

In the modern church, the ministry of the elder is often ignored, while the ministry of the deacon is often misunderstood. According to the New Testament, the deacon is called primarily to be a servant. The church needs deacons to provide material and organizational support so that the elders can focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer.

The New Testament does not provide much information about the role of deacons. The requirements outlined in 1 Timothy 3:8-12 focus on the character and family life of a deacon. However, there are a few clues about the function of deacons when their requirements are compared to those of elders:

• Teaching: Deacons are not to be «able to teach» (1 Tim. 3:2). This indicates that deacons do not have a formal teaching role in the church.
• Leadership: Regarding deacons, Paul omits the passage where he compares managing one’s own household to caring for the church of God (1 Tim. 3:5). The reason for this omission is likely that deacons do not have a leadership or management role in the church—that function belongs to the elders.
• Test: A deacon, unlike an elder, is not required to be a new convert. This may be because a deacon, who plays more of a servant role, is not as likely to fall into the sin of pride as someone in a leadership position.
• Title: The title «overseer» (1 Tim. 3:2) implies general oversight of spiritual welfare, while the title «deacon» implies one whose ministry is focused on practical service.

Based on the pattern established in Acts 6, it is best to view deacons as ministers who perform whatever is necessary to enable the elders to fulfill their divine calling to shepherd and teach the church. Just as the apostles delegated administrative duties to the seven, so the elders should delegate certain duties to the deacons. As a result, each local church is free to determine the tasks of the deacons according to its specific needs.

Duties of Deacons Today

Deacons may be responsible for many tasks that are not related to teaching and shepherding the church. These responsibilities may include:

• Administrative needs: Deacons may be responsible for caring for church property, preparing the premises for services, cleaning, operating sound equipment, and so on.
• Charity: Similar to the events in Acts 6:1–6 with the daily relief of widows, deacons may be involved in distributing financial or other assistance to those in need.
• Finances: Although elders are to oversee the financial affairs of the church (Acts 11:30), the day-to-day business activities are best left to deacons: collecting and counting offerings, keeping records, and so on.
• Greetings and Seating: Deacons may distribute bulletins, help people find a seat in the hall, or prepare items for the Lord’s Supper.
• Organizational issues: Deacons should be prepared to assist in various practical matters so that the elders can concentrate on teaching and pastoral care of the church.

Conclusion

The Bible assigns elders the task of teaching and leading the church, while the role of deacons is more service-oriented. That is, they are to care for the physical or temporal needs of the church. By addressing these matters, deacons free the elders so that they can focus on shepherding the spiritual needs of the church.

And although deacons are not spiritual leaders of the church, their character is of utmost importance, which is why deacons must be tested and meet the biblical requirements outlined in 1 Timothy 3.