1 Timothy 3:8-9 , “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
Since the phrase “not greedy of filthy lucre” is also found in the qualifications of an elder and it has already been explained earlier we will skip to the next qualification. This next qualification is rather unusual. It is to hold “the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
Many of us would think that holding onto one’s faith is so obvious that it need not be stated at all. Yet the apostle Paul felt it was prudent to include this as one of the requirements of a deacon.
The word for “Holding” is in the present active participle which means that the emphasis is on the continuous action of holding and not letting go for one moment. The person who must keep holding on is the deacon. He must not allow anything in this world or in this life to “pry his hand open.” It is like a death grip that even if it means losing the accolades of the world, money, family, freedom and life, he will keep on holding.
The object of his “holding on” is none other than the blessed Faith. The Bible calls it the “mystery of the faith.” The word “mystery” does not mean an unknown thing like in a mystery novel. When this word is used in the Bible, it simply means the hidden things of God which will be revealed in due time, God’s time. This is the basis for the doctrine of progressive revelation of God’s perfect and Holy Word. Barnes explained it well when he commented, “It [mystery] means that which had been concealed, or hidden, but which was now revealed.”
The word does not stand alone. It is qualified by the word “faith”. “Faith” in the Bible is used in two ways: objective faith i.e. the Word of God, and subjective faith i.e. the Christian’s personal faith that he receives from God at the time of salvation. This faith is supposed to grow when the Christian grows through prayer, the study of God’s Word and living a holy life. The word “faith” in “mystery of the faith” refers to objective faith. Barnes commented that, “The word faith, here, is synonymous with the gospel; and the sense is, that he should hold firmly the great doctrines of the Christian religion, which had been so long concealed from man, but which were now revealed. The reason is obvious. Though not a preacher, yet his influence and example would be great, and a man who held material error, ought not to be in the office.” The deacon is therefore to keep on holding very tightly the revealed Word of God. He must defend it, he must love it. And he must also be able to teach it. He cannot hold on to it without knowing it.
There are some professing Christians who may have graduated from seminaries or Bible Colleges but do not hold on to the faith. These have loved the world and have exchanged their God-given duty for filthy lucre. Others might hold on to the “faith” with their minds but not their hearts. These are talkers of the Word of God but not the practitioners of the Word of God. They pay lip service to the Word of God and live empty Christian lives in which they deny the power of the Word of God by their carnal lives. They do not know God in any way. They say they know God but in reality they do not and God definitely does not know them. These professing Christians possess an unclean heart that is corrupt, filled with greed and malignity.
The deacon must hold on to the objective Faith with a pure conscience. The purity of his conscience implies that he has a heart that is transparent, righteous, honest, full of faith and integrity. He defends the Faith with all his heart, soul, mind and strength; not by words alone by his life as well. Burkitt said it well: “That is, they must be sound believers, and of an upright life, maintaining truth of doctrine and soundness of faith, by sincerity of heart and integrity of life.”
“Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience” is expected of every genuine believer. God wants us to know that this simple and fundamental truth is important enough for it not to be taken for granted but to be included as part of the qualifications of a deacon.