Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
The mystery of the faith. Holding the faith, which to the natural man remains a mystery, but which is revealed by the Spirit to them (Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7-10) in a pure conscience (1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:19). ("Pure;" i:e., in which nothing base or foreign is intermixed.) Ellicott, 'the mystery which is the object of faith.' Though deacons were only occasionally called on to preach (Stephen and Philip preached as evangelists rather than as deacons), yet, as being office-bearers, having much contact with all church members, they especially needed to have this characteristic, which all ought to have.