1 Timothy 3:8
New International Version
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

New Living Translation
In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.

English Standard Version
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

Berean Standard Bible
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

Berean Literal Bible
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain,

King James Bible
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

New King James Version
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

New American Standard Bible
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not insincere, not prone to drink much wine, not greedy for money,

NASB 1995
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

NASB 1977
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

Legacy Standard Bible
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,

Amplified Bible
Deacons likewise must be men worthy of respect [honorable, financially ethical, of good character], not double-tongued [speakers of half-truths], not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain,

Christian Standard Bible
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,

American Standard Version
Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
In this way also, Ministers should be pure and should not double-speak, neither be inclined to much wine, neither love defiled riches,

Contemporary English Version
Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Deacons in like manner chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

English Revised Version
Deacons in like manner must be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money.

Good News Translation
Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money;

International Standard Version
Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money.

Literal Standard Version
Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,

Majority Standard Bible
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

New American Bible
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,

NET Bible
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,

New Revised Standard Version
Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;

New Heart English Bible
Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;

Webster's Bible Translation
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre,

Weymouth New Testament
Deacons, in the same way, must be men of serious demeanour, not double-tongued, nor addicted to much wine, nor greedy of base gain,

World English Bible
Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

Young's Literal Translation
Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Qualifications for Deacons
7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil. 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. 9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.…

Cross References
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:3
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

1 Timothy 3:12
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Titus 1:7
As God's steward, an overseer must be above reproach--not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.

Titus 2:3
Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.


Treasury of Scripture

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

the deacons.

Acts 6:3-6
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business…

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

be.

1 Timothy 3:4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

double-tongued.

Psalm 5:9
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Psalm 50:19
Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

not given.

1 Timothy 3:3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Leviticus 10:9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Ezekiel 44:21
Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.

Jump to Previous
Addicted Base Behaviour Deacons Demeanour Desiring Dignity Dishonest False. Filthy Fond Gain Grave Greatly Greedy Indulging Likewise Manner Ministers Money Pursuing Respect Reverent Seeking Serious Servants Sincere Sordid Way Wealth Wine Word World Worthy
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Addicted Base Behaviour Deacons Demeanour Desiring Dignity Dishonest False. Filthy Fond Gain Grave Greatly Greedy Indulging Likewise Manner Ministers Money Pursuing Respect Reverent Seeking Serious Servants Sincere Sordid Way Wealth Wine Word World Worthy
1 Timothy 3
1. How bishops, deacons, and their wives should be qualified;
14. and to what end Paul wrote to Timothy of these things.
15. Of the church, and the blessed truth therein taught and professed.














(8) Likewise must the deacons.--We possess scattered and at the same time casual notices of this lower order of deacons dating from the very first days of the faith. The order clearly sprang out of the needs of the rapidly increasing church. Some two years after the Ascension (A.D. 34-35) the seven deacons were appointed to assist the Apostles as almoners of the brethren; as the Church's life developed, the functions of these primitive subordinate ecclesiastical officers were enlarged. The history of the career of Stephen and Philip supply ample evidence of this. Out of his first apostolic appointment in the year 34-35, no doubt, was developed that great inferior order in the Church, respecting which these definite rules and authoritative regulations were laid down by the Apostle Paul in his instructions to Timothy in the matter of church government and order. These primitive deacons were evidently assistants to and probably in many cases supplied the place of the presbyters. The great similarity of the directions of St. Paul respecting the qualifications to be looked for in both, implies this; still their original employment as administrators of the Church's funds and distribution of her alms remained to them. We can trace the existence of the order through and beyond the Apostle's time:--

Jerusalem

. . .

A.D.

34-35.

Original foundation of order by the Apostles at Jerusalem. Acts 4:1-6.

Corinth

. . .

A.D.

55 . . .

Verse 8. - Deacons in like manner must for likewise must the deacons, A.V. Grave (σεμνούς); in Philippians 4:8 rendered "honest" in the A.V., and "honourable" in the R.V., and "venerable" in the margin. None of the words are satisfactory, but "honest" in the sense of honnete, i.e. "respectable," "becoming the dignity of a man," comes nearest to the meaning of σεμνός. Ἄνηρ σεμνός is a man who inspires respect by his conduct and deportment. It occurs again in ver. 11 and in Titus 2:2. Double-tongued (διλόγους); only here in the New Testament, or indeed anywhere. The verb διλογεῖν and the noun διλογία are found in Xenophon and Diodorus Siculus, but in a different sense - "to repeat," "repetition." Here δίλογος is used in the sense of δίγλωσσος (Proverbs 11:13; Ecclus. 28:13), "a slanderer," "a false-tongued man," who, as Theophylact (ap. Schleusner) well explains it, thinks one thing and says another, and says different things to different people. The caution here given is of incalculable importance to young curates. They must not allow themselves to be either receptacles or vehicles of scandal and detraction. Their speech to rich and poor alike must be perfectly sincere and ingenuous. Not given to much wine. The effect of the best sermon may be undone, and more than undone, if the preacher sinks into the pot-companion of his hearers. He at once ceases to be σεμνός, to inspire respect (comp. Titus 2:3 where the additional idea, most true, of the slavery of drunkards, is introduced). Greedy of filthy lucre (αἰσχροκερδεῖς); only here and in ver. 3 (T.R.) and Titus 1:7. The adverb αἰσχροκερδῶς occurs in 1 Peter 5:2, and is one of many points of resemblance between the pastoral Epistles and 1 Peter. Balsam, Gehazi, and Judas Iscariot are the three prominent examples of professed servants of God being lovers of filthy lucre. Achan (Joshua 7:21) is another (see 1 Timothy 6:10). When lucre is the price for doing wrong, it is "filthy." When lucre is sought on occasions where none is due, it is "filthy;" and when the desire of even just gains is excessive, it ceases to be clean.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Deacons
Διακόνους (Diakonous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1249: Probably from an obsolete diako; an attendant, i.e. a waiter; specially, a Christian teacher and pastor.

likewise
ὡσαύτως (hōsautōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5615: In like manner, likewise, just so. From hos and an adverb from autos; as thus, i.e. In the same way.

[must be] dignified,
σεμνούς (semnous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4586: Venerable, honorable, grave, serious, dignified. From sebomai; venerable, i.e. Honorable.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

double-tongued
διλόγους (dilogous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1351: Double-tongued, deceitful. From dis and logos; equivocal, i.e. Telling a different story.

[or]
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

given
προσέχοντας (prosechontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4337: From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.

to much
πολλῷ (pollō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

wine
οἴνῳ (oinō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3631: Wine. A primary word (yayin); 'wine'.

[or]
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

greedy for money.
αἰσχροκερδεῖς (aischrokerdeis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 146: Greedy, fond of base gain. From aischros and kerdos; sordid.


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NT Letters: 1 Timothy 3:8 Servants in the same way must be (1 Tim. 1Ti iTi 1tim i Tm)
1 Timothy 3:7
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