QUESTION: A friend of mine recently was appointed a deacon in the church. He is a good man, very involved in the teaching program and everything, but he's not married. Isn't a deacon supposed to be married? What about women deacons? Doesn't the Bible mention deaconesses?
ANSWER: The qualifications for a person who holds the office of deacon in the church are enumerated in 1 Timothy 3:8-12. In reference to your question in particular, the passage says, "Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."
So, not only do they need to be married and fathers, they can't be polygamists, and they must be good husbands and good managers of their homes. And there are other qualifications as well.
Appointing an unmarried man to serve in the office and do the work of a deacon ignores the clear teaching of Scripture. In light of what God's word says, your friend and church should prayerfully reexamine the decision to appoint him.
Some confusion exists because the Bible uses the Greek word translated deacon in more than one way, and this leaves us to determine, by examining the context of the passage, which way it is being used.
The Greek word is diakonos and primarily denotes a person who is a servant. The Bible uses the word, in a general sense, to speak of ordinary domestic servants (John 2:5,9); of civil rulers or ministers (Romans 13:4); of Jesus Himself (Romans 15:8); and of every Christian's relationship to Jesus (John 12:26).
In this last sense, every Christian is a deacon, or servant, or minister, regardless of gender, maturity, or marital status.
But the term deacon also is used in a more specific way, as is noted in 1 Timothy 3:8-12. There, a special office or set of duties is in view, and certain qualifications are demanded of those who Scripturally have God's authorization to hold that position.
This dual use of language isn't all that unusual. One doesn't have to be a Greek or Biblical scholar to understand this. We often use terms in a very general way, and other times in a very specific way. For example, let's look at the term auditor. The general meaning is "one who listens, one who hears." A person who audits a college class listens, but doesn't receive credit. On the other hand, a more specific and position-oriented use of the term has developed. There are people who hold special jobs as auditors. They review financial and other accounts; very specific qualifications are usually required of those who handle that job.
Another office in the church exhibits the same dual word usage. The term elders describes an office, and 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 give specific qualifications, including being a married man. But other places in the Bible use the term more generally, of those who simply are older and who are to be respected because of their maturity (1 Timothy 5:1). Again, we must let the context help us understand which way the word is being used.
Regarding deaconesses, there is one Bible reference to a woman identified by the Greek term diakonos. It is found in Romans 16:1, where we read, "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church at Cenchrea." The next verse clearly states that she had assisted, or served, not only the Apostle Paul, but also many others.
The real question, however, is whether she was a servant in the general sense in which all Christians serve or whether she held the special office of deacon.
Since her gender would preclude her meeting the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3, it seems apparent she was a deaconess, or servant, only in the more general sense. Otherwise, what is the point of the qualifications being given--if they are only to be ignored?
QUESTION: Was Jesus God or was he a man, or was he both? The Bible seems to speak of him both ways. This seems mysterious.
ANSWER: He was both human and divine, according to the Scriptures. At first glance, this does seem mysterious, but the Bible reveals, or uncovers, the mystery.
Jesus' virgin birth, while miraculous and marvelous, helps explain His dual nature. He inherited His fleshly body via His mother, Mary. Yet, Mary never knew a man before Jesus' birth, and the Bible attributes her impregnation to the Holy Spirit of God (Luke 1:30-35). Thus, he was Mary's physical son, and the Son of God. Jesus' humanity is a most important fact. John 1:14 says He became flesh and dwelt among us. It is critical that we accept this; otherwise, according to 1 John 4:2-3, we ourselves cannot be "of God."
At first, it may be hard to fathom, but while He was in this world, physically, Jesus was just like us. In Hebrews 2:14-18 we are told He was made like His brethren, that He suffered, was tempted, and faced physical death. Then, in Hebrews 4:15 we learn, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
His humanity is exhibited in the fact that he thirsted, hungered, slept, became angry, felt compassion and sorrow, suffered anxiety in anticipation of death, and felt physical pain. Jesus' primary mission in coming to earth as a human being was to die for mankind's sins--to be a sacrificial atonement for sin. Think about it. He couldn't die in the form of deity alone. Deity, or God, is eternal. Jesus had to become a human so he could die and fulfill God's eternal purpose.
His humanity also enabled him to assume the role of mediator. We read in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." Being both God and man, Jesus is the perfect go-between, or mediator. That is why we pray to God in, or through, Jesus' name.
His having walked in the flesh through the same life troubles we face qualifies him as the perfect example for each of us (1 Peter 2:21-24).
But Jesus also claimed to be deity and proved it by the miracles, signs, and wonders He performed. Jesus claimed He and the Father were one in nature (John 10:30), and that He existed before the world began (John 17:5). He claimed to have come down from heaven (John 3:13). Jesus accepted worship (Matthew 14:33) and claimed that salvation from sin was to be accomplished through Him (John 14:1-6). He also claimed to have the power to forgive sins, a prerogative of God alone (Mark 2:5-12). Finally, Jesus said that He would be our final judge (John 5:25-29). Thomas, one of the early disciples, upon touching the resurrected Lord, proclaimed, "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28) The Apostle Paul called him "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:13).
Do questions remain in our limited understanding about how Jesus could be both man and God at the same time? Yes, most certainly. Long debates, conflicting creedal statements, divisions, and disputes have long existed over issues connected to Jesus' deity and humanity. As we have seen, it is a matter clearly attested to by Scripture.
Yet, if we struggle too much with how questions, instead of accepting Scripture by faith, we undermine another clear Bible teaching--that we, as humans, can "partake of the divine nature," (2 Peter 1:2-4). Is this less phenomenal than Jesus, as deity, partaking of the human nature? Certainly not!
Yet, Peter continues and explains that by adding to our faith virtue and knowledge, self-control and perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness, and to all these love, we can achieve the divine nature to a degree that allows us to enter the realm of eternal life--the great characteristic of divine existence. Simply amazing!
QUESTION: A friend of mine is Jewish and is very offended at the teaching of some Christians that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus. I told her that the Romans crucified Jesus. Is this correct?
ANSWER: Your answer is partially correct. Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator of Palestine, ordered Jesus crucified (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24; John 19:16).
But, if we are to accept what the New Testament Scriptures teach, we must also accept the primary role of the Jewish leadership in Jesus' death. Prior to his trial before Pilate, Jesus was tried before the Jewish Sanhedrin, or council of elders, and convicted of the religiously based charge of blasphemy, because he claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:57-68). This group condemned him as "worthy of death" (Mark 14:61-64).
The charge of blasphemy was a capital offense under the Law of Moses (Leviticus 24:10-16). The Jewish leadership could have executed Jesus themselves on the religious charge, had they been confident enough that the Jewish people would have accepted that he was guilty. However, instead of proceeding in this fashion, the Jewish leadership opted to allege that Jesus was guilty of political crimes and have him tried on such before the Roman government officials. The Jews could not execute a man for political crimes (John 18:31).
So, trials were held before Pilate and Herod, but both men found no fault in Jesus. Pilate even went through an elaborate, public display of washing his hands of the matter. But the Jewish leaders who brought Jesus before Pilate repeatedly called explicitly for His crucifixion (Matthew 26:20-23). And they applied political pressure, suggesting that if he didn't crucify Jesus, Pilate was not Caesar's friend. Most importantly, seeing that Pilate didn't want responsibility for killing Jesus, given he thought Him innocent, the Jews are recorded to have said, "His blood be on us and on our children." (Matthew 26:24-25)
Further New Testament evidence is found in the sermon the apostle Peter preached about 50 days after Jesus' death and resurrection. He said, in part, "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which Gold did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death." (Acts 2:22-23) Peter went on to say, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36)
This charge had a painful effect and, on that Day of Pentecost, elicited from the Jews the question, "What shall we do?" Peter told them to repent (express godly sorrow leading to a change of heart and action) and be baptized to receive remission or forgiveness of this great sin (Acts 2:38).
The evangelist Stephen also charged the Jews with betraying and murdering Jesus. After he made that charge, the Jews stoned Stephen himself to death (Acts 7: 51-60).
The simple fact is that Christians cannot quote or believe the New Testament without laying the major responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion at the feet of his own people--the Jews.
Many Jewish people today consider this position to be anti-Semitic. But it is hardly so, because the Christ whom Christians worship was Himself a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, to whom God gave the promise of a blessing for the whole world (Genesis 12:1-3).
Salvation from sins through Jesus' blood (death) was first preached to the Jews only. The first Christians were Jews (Acts 2:5, 41; 4:1-4).
With your primary question hopefully answered from the Bible, let me add this. There is historical evidence that professed Christians have used the Jewish role in Christ's death as justification for unjustifiable mistreatment of Jews. The same New Testament that records the role of Jews in Jesus' death records Him teaching that we should love our neighbors, and even love our enemies.
Jesus' death was, in part, for the salvation of those very people who viciously cried out for his crucifixion and railed at Him from beneath the cross. In His agony, He famously proclaimed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34) If He loved them and wished them forgiven through His death, how can Christians logically hate them?
One other important point is worth our attention. When any of us rejects Jesus as Savior and Lord, we effectively crucify Him. And the Bible teaches that those who accept salvation through Jesus and then turn away from Him are crucifying Him. That is taught in a New Testament book originally written to Hebrew, or Jewish, Christians. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Thus, the New Testament teaches it was God's foreordained purpose that Jesus should die for the sins of mankind. The Jewish leadership of Jesus' day instigated His crucifixion, and Roman authorities carried it out. Every person who is guilty of sin (all of us--Romans 3:23) is partially responsible.
I want to thank brother Blackaby for answering some questions that are often posed by those who think the Bible somehow confuses the answers to their questions. God's people invite open examination of the things taught in His word. We welcome and encourage questions. The Bible has no reason to fear open and upright examination of the things it teaches.
One of the things that I find very discouraging in our day and time is the unwillingness of people to examine the things they profess to believe came from God. Unfortunately, most people are willing to concede and accept that different religions reach differing conclusions. Yet, as long as we are sincere, love God, and believe in Christ, our different answers on other issues are of no great importance. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
Listen to the words in God's book: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." (1 Peter 3:15,16)
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Yes, what we believe matters and it also matters whether the Scriptures sustain our beliefs. God left us His revealed mind so we can know for certain the right or wrong of the choices we make. No, God did not provide answers to every question we might have. The answers we need to gain heaven and an eternal home are clearly there for us to believe and obey. Enough said! (KMG)