1 Timothy 3:8

1 Timothy 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
• New International Version (NIV)In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

Context of 1 Timothy 3:8

6A leader of the church must not be someone who has believed in Christ for only a short time. Someone like that might boast that he is great and important. Then he would receive punishment, as the Devil did. 7Also, people outside the church should agree that the leader is a good person. Then nobody can say anything bad against him. And so, he will not come under the Devil's power. In the same way, deacons must live good lives, so that people respect them. They must not be hypocrites. They must not drink too much wine. They must not want to get a lot of money for themselves. 9They must completely believe the true message that God has shown us about Christ. They must be sure in their minds about it. 10Before anyone becomes a deacon, you must first test their character. If they are good enough, then let them serve God as deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8 word by word

Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Likewiseὡσαύτωςhōsautōs · likewiseG5615
• the deaconsδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• graveσεμνόςsemnos · nobleG4586
• notμήmē · notG3361
• doubletonguedδίλογοςdilogos · insincereG1351
• given toπροσέχωprosechō · to watch outG4337
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• wineοἶνοςoinos · wineG3631
• greedy of filthy lucreαἰσχροκερδήςaischrokerdēs · greedyG146

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:8

• Acts 6:3So, friends, please choose seven men from among you. You must know that each of them is full of the Holy Spirit. They must also be very wise. We will ask these seven men to do this work for us.
• Philippians 1:1Paul and Timothy write this letter to you. We are servants of Christ Jesus. We are writing to you, God's own people who live in Philippi. You belong to God because you are united with Christ Jesus. We are writing to all of you. This includes the leaders and the deacons in the church there.
• 1 Timothy 3:4He must take care of his own family. His children must obey him and respect him.
• Psalms 5:9My enemies never speak what is true. They only want to destroy people. Their mouth has the smell of an open grave. Their tongues say nice things, but they are all lies!
• Psalms 12:2Everybody tells lies to one another. When they say nice things, they do it to deceive their friends.
• Psalms 50:19You speak about evil things, and you are always telling lies.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue is like a sharp knife! You talk about how to hurt other people, You speak nothing but lies.
• Romans 3:13Bad words come out of their mouth, like a very bad smell. They tell lies all the time, so that people do wrong things. The things that they say hurt people, like a snake's poison.
• James 3:10This shows that we use the same mouth to praise and also to curse. My Christian friends, we should not do this.
• 1 Timothy 3:3He should not drink too much wine. He must not get angry quickly or quarrel with people. Instead he should be kind to people. He must not want lots of money.
• Leviticus 10:9‘Do not drink wine before you go into the Tent of Meeting. And do not drink anything that contains alcohol. If you do, you will die. This rule is for you and for all your sons and grandsons.
• Ezekiel 44:21When a priest goes into the inside yard of the temple, he must not drink anywine.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Likewise must the deacons - The term deacon, , simply signifies a regular or stated servant: from , through or emphatic, and , to minister or serve. See it explained in the note on Matthew 20:26. As nearly the same qualifications were required in the deacons as in the bishops, the reader may consult what is said on the preceding verses. Grave - Of a sedate and dignified carriage and conduct. Not double-tongued - Speaking one thing to one person, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Likewise must the deacons - On the meaning of the word “deacons,” see the notes on Philemon 1:1. On their appointment, see the notes, Acts 6:1. The word here evidently denotes those who had charge of the temporal affairs of the church, the poor, etc. No qualifications are mentioned, implying that they were to be preachers of the gospel. In most respects, except in regard to preaching, their qualifications were to be the same as those of the “bishops.” Be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8not … greedy for money (3:3): Self-centered desire shows poor character (6:6–10, 17–19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5). This is especially true for church leaders (1 Timothy 3:9; see Titus 1:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The deacons were chosen by the voice of the people. Cyprian [Epistle, 2.5] says that good bishops never departed from the old custom of consulting the people. The deacons answer to the chazzan of the synagogue: the attendant ministers, or subordinate coadjutors of the presbyter (as Timothy himself was to Paul, 1Ti 4:6; Phm 13; and John Mark, Ac 13:5). Their duty was to read the Scriptures in the Church, to instruct the catechumens in Christian truths…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:8

• Church
• Commandments
• Deacon
• Minister, Christian
• Temperance

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Deacon
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice
• Rule

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings