For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- NASB For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
- NLT Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Those who serve well gain a good standing and bold confidence in the faith. It promises spiritual reward for faithful service.
Overview
Paul encourages faithful deacons with the assurance of honorable standing and 'great boldness in the faith.' Humble service yields growth in confidence before God. The verse dignifies servant ministry as a path to deeper assurance in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 25:21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Acts 6:5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
- 1 Pet 4:10–11As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- Luke 19:17His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
- 1 Th 2:2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
- Matt 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- 1 Cor 16:15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,
- Acts 6:8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- 2 Tim 2:1You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Rom 12:7–8if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
- Luke 16:10–12Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- Phil 1:14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
- Acts 21:35When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.
- Acts 6:15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 3:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.