This verse presents a real problem of interpretation. Commentators are divided as to the meaning of women in this verse: does it refer to the wives of the deacons (Good News Translation text) or to deacons who are women (Good News Translation margin)? The Greek word used for women does not provide much help, since it can mean either “woman” or “wife.” Some translations keep the ambiguity by simply translating The women (Revised Standard Version, also Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible, Revised has simply “women”). Translations that don’t retain the ambiguity generally opt for “wives” (in addition to Good News Translation, also King James Version, New English Bible, New International Version). Below is a summary of the arguments for either position:
Arguments for “wives of deacons”:
1. Deacons are mentioned in verse 8 and again in verse 12, which leads to the deduction that verse 11 refers to a category other than deacons. But of course one can counter that there was not yet at that time a feminine term for deacons.
2. One would have expected a more detailed description of this new office. But then there is very little description of bishops and deacons, so why should one expect this of woman deacons?
3. It would have been possible for Paul to use the feminine form of “deacon.” But of course one can counter that such a form did not exist at that time, and besides, there is evidence that the term “deacon” was used of women during Paul’s time; for example, the case of Phoebe in Rom 16.1-2.
Arguments for “woman deacons”:
1. The structure of the sentence allows it to be read as introducing a new category, that is, woman deacons. The word likewise is used in verse 8 to introduce the category of deacons, and its presence in this verse may indicate the same intent.
2. Had the wives of deacons been in view, the verse might have said “their wives” (as, for example, Good News Translation, New International Version, King James Version).
3. No special requirements are mentioned for the wives of bishops. Both of these arguments (numbers 2 and 3) are arguments from silence.
4. The four qualities are roughly the equivalent of four qualities of the deacons in verse 8.
It is difficult to be certain as to what interpretation one should hold. A compromise solution has been offered by some commentaries to the effect that the verse speaks of women who were in some way involved in service as deacons, although perhaps at that time the title of “deacon” was not yet applied to them. This does not exclude the position that these women were indeed the wives of deacons, but it does allow the possibility for these wives (and other women as well) to be performing services as deacons.
It should be further noted that, if one holds to the position that the verse indeed refers to woman deacons, then a possible structure of the passage would be: 8-10, general qualifications for both men and women deacons; 11, specific qualifications for women deacons; and 12-13, specific qualifications for men deacons.
As has been noted, the four qualities of these women are parallel to the qualities mentioned in verse 8:
serious – translates the same Greek word in verse 8
slanderers – “double-tongued”
temperate – “not addicted to much wine”
The word for temperate also occurs in 3.2, for which see discussion there. Slanderers may be also expressed as “those who say harmful things about others.”
A fourth trait is mentioned, namely, faithful in all things. Some take this to mean that they should be honest (Good News Translation) and absolutely trustworthy (New English Bible, Moffatt [Moffatt]). All in all this evidence seems to point toward women deacons being the focus of this verse, and it is recommended by this Handbook that translators follow this interpretation. The alternative “their wives” may be put into a footnote.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• The women (or, female) church helpers must also have a good character (or, be respectable). They should not say evil things about people and should not drink too much wine.
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 .