1 Timothy 3:8

Those whom you choose to serve as deacons likewise must be ones who conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically, they must be ◄serious/worthy that people respect them►. They must ◄be sincere/mean what they say►. They must not like to drink a lot of alcohol. They must not ◄be greedy/have a strong desire to get money►.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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

In Context

7Moreover, an elder must live in such a way that non-Christians speak well of him, because if he conducts himself like that, people will not say evil things about him, and the devil will not capture/trap him [MET] like people capture animals in a trap.

9They must sincerely believe the message that God has now revealed to us.

Read all of 1 Timothy 3

Cross References

Psalms 5:9My enemies never say what is true; they just want to destroy others. The things that they say [MTY] are as foul as an open grave where a corpse is decaying. They use their tongues to tell lies.

Psalms 50:19You are always talking [MTY] about doing wicked things, and you are always trying to deceive people.

Ezekiel 44:21Priests must not drink wine before they enter the inner courtyard.

Romans 3:13What people say [MTY] is foul/bad, like the smell that comes from a grave that has been {that people have} opened [MET]. By what people say [MTY], they deceive people. By what they say [MTY] they injure people, just like the poison of snakes injures people [MET].

1 Timothy 3:3He must not be a drunkard. He must not be ready/quick to fight those who make him angry. On the contrary, he must be gentle and he must not be quarrelsome. He must not be greedy for a lot of money.

1 Timothy 5:23And Timothy, no longer drink only water, but instead, drink a little wine also, because that may help to cure your stomach’s frequent illnesses.

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 3:2-8

Duties of Bishops and Deacons. ( a. d. 64.) 1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Timothy 3:8