Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Parallel translations
- WEB Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;
- BSB Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
- NKJV Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
- NASB Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not insincere, not prone to drink much wine, not greedy for money,
- NLT In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Deacons likewise must be dignified, sincere, and free from love of drink or money. It sets serious character standards for this serving office.
Overview
Paul turns to deacons, requiring reverence, sincerity, and freedom from greed and excess. Their role of service still demands tested godliness. The verse shows that all who serve the church must be marked by integrity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Phil 1:1Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
- 1 Tim 5:23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
- 1 Tim 3:3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
- Acts 6:3–6Wherefore, 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.
- Titus 2:3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
- Lev 10:9Do 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:
- Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
- Titus 1:7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
- Ezek 44:21Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
- 1 Tim 3:12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
- Ps 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- Ps 12:2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
- Rom 3:13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
- Ps 50:19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
- Ps 5:9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
- 1 Pet 5:2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 3:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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