Bible Strands
1 Timothy 3:8
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy to establish character standards for church officials during the early church's organizational development. He places these deacon qualifications between instructions on external reputation and internal doctrinal fidelity.
The words — διλογους (dilogous) literally means double-tongued, describing speech that is deceitful or inconsistent. σεμνους (semnous) denotes dignity or reverence in conduct.
The thread — The prohibition against greed and wine appears in the parallel overseer qualifications at 1 Timothy 3:3. The call to select spiritually mature men for service runs parallel to Acts 6:3, while the broader leadership framework echoes Philippians 1:1.
Why it lands — The text requires deacons to maintain consistent speech, exercise self-control regarding alcohol, and reject financial exploitation. A reader must evaluate whether their service is marked by integrity rather than personal gain or compromised character.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
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:
- Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
- 1 Timothy 3:3 not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
- 1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
- Titus 2:3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.
- Leviticus 10:9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
- Psalms 12:2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Psalms 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
- Ezekiel 44:21 No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.
- 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.