Deaconnesses

In 1 Timothy 3:11, some translations render the verse “women” and some as “wives.” Which is the correct translation? If this does mean “women,” does this authorize deaconnesses as an office in the church?

The question rests in the use of the word gune and its meaning. The word is used 83 times in the New Testament to mean “wife” but it is used far more times to mean “woman” (121 times). This would seem to argue favorably for deaconnesses, but we need to examine a few more references.

In Acts 6:3, the apostles are appointing deacons over the church. The Greek text indicates that they were “over” or possessed authority in their work. Acts 8:27 uses the same preposition to describe the Ethiopian’s authority over the queen’s treasury. This argues against a woman being a deacon because women cannot hold positions of authority in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

But the key lies in the context of 1 Timothy 3. Context can never be neglected in our interpretation. Paul has already instructed Timothy about the elders and their wives, it only seems fitting that he is talking about the deacon and his wife. It also needs to be pointed out that if Paul is talking about deaconnesses, this is the only verse in the context that discusses them, for in v. 12 he goes back to his discussion of the deacon. It only seems fitting to stay with the context where Paul is discussing the deacon’s wife instead of creating a new position within the Lord’s church.

Furthermore, in Romans 16:1, the word translated “servant” is often translated “deacon,” which leads some to believe that Phoebe was a deaconess. However, the word is more likely used here in an unofficial sense of helper. This is similar to the use of “apostle” to describe Barnabas in Acts 14:14. He was not an apostle in the sense of the others, but this was a unique use of the word.

Kyle Campbell