For the first time in this letter, the expression let them is used; in fact it occurs twice in this verse. Quite often this expression has the meaning “to allow,” “to permit.” This is the force of the second occurrence of the expression in this verse: “they are allowed to serve as deacons.” In the first occurrence, however, the expression has an imperative force, which means that as far as the deacons are concerned, there is no option being offered. Deacons must be tested before they are allowed to serve. In many languages this third person imperative needs to be restructured in order to make sure that it is understood as a command, as indeed Good News Translation has done (so also Contemporary English Version “They must first prove themselves. Then … they can serve…”).

In this verse we are given information that is not mentioned in connection with the “bishops,” namely, that candidates to become deacons need to undergo some kind of testing before they can serve as deacons. It is possible to interpret the word also in the text to relate this practice with the bishops as well, so New English Bible “no less than bishops.” It is more likely that also refers back to verse 9, with the sense that those who are being considered to become deacons should be tested in order to ascertain whether they are holding fast to the revealed truth of the faith. Good News Translation seems to follow this second interpretation, and translators are urged to do likewise. Another way of expressing this first clause is “They should go through testing first.” However, in languages that avoid the passive voice, translators will need to find the agent of tested. Since this is not certain, one may use a more general agent and say, for example, “The believers should test them first” or “People should test them first.”

The nature of the testing is less than clear. Some understand it to be a period of probation (for example, Weymouth “must undergo probation”), or at any rate a formal testing of some kind; Good News Translation can in fact be understood in this way. Others understand it to refer to the practice of designating people who demonstrate the appropriate qualities; these people are constantly observed, and it is from them that deacons are selected when necessary. The testing has for its purpose to prove themselves blameless. The term for blameless means “irreproachable” and is a synonym for “above reproach” in 3.2.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• The believers should test them first, and if they find that these helpers are without fault, then they should allow them [the helpers] to serve.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .