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Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

1 Timothy 3:8

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, nor greedy of filthy lucre;

1. Deacon - What is the difference in this work and that of an elder? Are deacons "junior elders" in some area of work? What does the word "deacon" mean?

2. Grave - What does this word mean? How can you tell if a man is grave or not? What qualities would show a person to be grave?

3. Double-tongued - Is this similar to the Indian phrase "forked-tongue"? Why are some people double-tongued? What is the danger in a deacon being double-tongued?

4. Wine - Is there a difference in the requirement for elders and deacons? What is prohibited here? Can a deacon take a "social drink" while an elder must be a "tea totaler"?

5. Filthy lucre - What is filthy lucre? Is there such a thing as clean lucre? What behavior shows a person to be greedy? Does this quality prohibit greed or using the office for personal gain?

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See also 1 Timothy 3:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 8. _LIKEWISE_ MUST _THE DEACONS_] The term _deacon_, διακονος, simply signifies a _regular_ or _stated servant_: from δια, _through_ or _emphatic_, and κονεω, to _minister_ or _serve_. See it e...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    LIKEWISE MUST THE DEACONS - On the meaning of the word “deacons,” see the notes on Philippians 1:1. On their appointment, see the notes, Acts 6:1. The word here evidently denotes those who had charge...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF GOD CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)_ 2. The deacon (1 Timothy 3:8) 3. The house of God and the mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DEACONS AND DEACONESSES. Certain moral qualities, likewise, are required in deacons. They must be serious, sincere in speech, free from love of wine and (since they administer church funds) from love...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    ,12,13 In the same way, the deacons must be men of dignity, men who are straight, men who are not given to over-indulgence in wine, men who are not prepared to stoop to disgraceful ways of making mone...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH (1 Timothy 3:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DEACONS. App-100. GRAVE. Greek. senreos, Seo Philippians 1:4; Philippians 1:8. doubletongued. Greek. diiodos. Only here. GREEDY, &c. (Greek. _aischroksedes_. Here and Titus 1:7. Compare...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The duties and characters of Deacons, both Men and Women 8. _the deacons_ There is no article; for -deacons" in the accusative we must supply from 1 Timothy 3:2 the remainder of the construction -it i...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    8, 9. ii. DEACONS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    א* and 3 cursives omit σεμνούς here, but it is unquestionably part of the primitive text. 8. ΔΙΑΚΌΝΟΥΣ. The plural number is, perhaps, significant, in contrast to τὸν ἐπίσκοπον of 1 Timothy 3:2. See...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΩΣΑΎΤΩΣ (G5615) подобным образом, ΣΕΜΝΌΣ (G4586) серьезный, достойный (_см._ 1 Timothy 3:4). ΔΊΛΟΓΟΣ (G1351) двуязычный. Это слово может означать переносчика слухов, сплетника (Guthrie: Lock); или ж...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE DEACONS 1 Timothy 3:8-13 _TEXT 3:8-13_ 8 Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; DEACONS. The singular, on the other hand, is used of the "bishop" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 Translators have experienced much difficulty with this opening sentence, because it seemed to lack the principal verb. The A V adds _ so do_, the Revisers _ so do I now_. It is very seldom that any...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 This passage is primarily intended to break down the bounds in which salvation had hitherto been confined. The testimony of past eras is no basis on which to build in this era. The testimony to the...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:8 Ministers, (i-1) _ Diakonos_ , 'servants' or 'deacons.' see Romans 16:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:1 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FIFTH CHARGE TO TIMOTHY—as to deacons and deaconesses....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCERNING THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH 1-7. The fourth charge to Timothy, in respect to presbyters....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE] Part of the office of the deacon was to 'serve tables' and administer relief to the poor, so that he had opportunity for peculation and base gains....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW TO BE A LEADER IN THE CHURCH 1 TIMOTHY _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 WHAT AN *ELDER MUST BE LIKE (3:1-7) V1 Anyone who aims to be a leader in the church desires a good task. That is true. V2 But...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    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 n...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 10 ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY; VARIOUS CERTAINTIES AND PROBABILITIES DISTINGUISHED. - 1 Timothy 3:1 THIS passage is one of the most important in the New Testament respecting the Christi...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The qualifications of the men who are to be ministers; and first (_a_) of the episcopus (vv.1-7) secondly (_b_) of the deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13) with a parenthetical instruction respecting women chur...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    διακόνους ὡσαύτως : _s.c_. δεῖ εἶναι. For ὡσαύτως, see on 1 Timothy 2:9. σεμνούς : _grave_. “The word we want is one in which the sense of gravity and dignity, and of these as inviting reverence, is...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    QUALIFICATIONS OF CHURCH OFFICIALS 1 Timothy 3:8 Younger men, referred to as deacons, were appointed to subordinate tasks, especially the relief of the poor, Acts 6:1. Though their service was less i...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Turning to the government of the Church, the apostle deals with two orders, bishops and deacons. The bishop is an overseer, whose duty it is to watch over the flock. The apostle describes the qualific...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS By using the word "likewise," Paul made it clear that the qualifications of deacons are as important as those of elders. The word deacon comes from the original diakonos, whi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (3) Likewise [must] the (e) deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (3) Likewise the deacons must first be proved, that there may be a good trial of...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Deacons, &c. By the Greek, grave, sober, &c. But why does he pass from bishops to deacons, not naming priests? St. John Chrysostom answers, that priests were comprehended under the name of bishops, t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ 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 t...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    1 Timothy 1:1-20. We enter now on the confidential communications of the apostle to some of his fellow-labourers, and tonight on the epistles to Timothy. The two have much in common, but they have als...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    8_Likewise the deacons _There is no reason why the diversity of interpretations should lead us to entertain any doubt. It is certain that time Apostle speaks of those who hold a public office in the C...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The apostle next points out to Timothy the qualities necessary for a bishop or a deacon, as well as for the wife of the latter. [4] He supposes here that there were some who desired to undertake this...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    LIKEWISE MUST THE DEACONS BE GRAVE,.... The apostle proceeds to give the qualifications, and so the rules for choosing another sort of officers in the church, deacons; whose work and business is, not...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Likewise _must_ the deacons _be_ grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Ver. 8. _Not doubletongued_] διλογους. That can turn their tales, and tune their fiddles...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Likewise the deacons_ Of whom see on Acts 6:3, and Philippians 1:1; _must be grave_ Or _serious_, as some render σεμνους : men of a steady, decent, and venerable behaviour. No mention is made of _pre...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    GRAVE; dignified and decorous in their deportment. DOUBLE - TONGUED; deceitful, saying one thing and doing or meaning another....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE OFFICE OF DEACONS....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    If before we have seen personal conduct that is to be consistent with assembly character, this chapter, while dealing with personal character still, connects it directly with the order of the assembly...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “DEACONS”: DIAKONOS: primarily denotes. servant, one who executes the commands of another,. servant, attendant, minister. The word translated "deacon", usually has the ordinary meaning of “servant”. T...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; LIKEWISE MUST THE DEACONS BE GRAVE: the term _deacon_ signifies the same with one that ministereth, and is applicable to any that have any service in the church. But it is also a term peculiar...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians and not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued,[31]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise G5615 deacons G1249 reverent G4586 not G3361 double-tongued G1351 not G3361 given G4337 (G5723

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Timothy 3:8. THE DEACONS LIKEWISE. As the ‘bishops' and ‘elders ‘were titles applied to the same persons, expressing different aspects of their relation to the Church, there is, of course, no mentio...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    DEACONS (διακονους). Accusative case of general reference like the preceding with δε εινα understood. Technical sense of the word here as in Philippians 1:1 which see (two classes of church officer...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Qualifications of elders and deacons. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Satan. CONCLUSION: Those having places of authority in the church must be blameless, not lying under any scandal, watchful ag...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Timothy 3:1. _This is a true saying,_ an indubitable word, _if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work,_ a laudable sphere of labour and usefulness. But by the idea of a primiti...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    CHURCH HELPERS. See note on 1 Timothy 3:1. They are not to be alcoholics, or those who think religion is a way to get rich....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Likewise must the deacons be grave._ THE IDEAL DEACON I. Deacons should be of noble character (1 Timothy 3:8). 1. They were to be grave--_i.e._, of serious deportment--not sharing in the follies a...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:8 Along with elders (vv. 1 Timothy 3:1), deacons have specific responsibilities in the NT church (see...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Timothy 3:8. DEACONS.—Originally dispensers of the Church’s bounty, they came to be regarded as the subordinates of the presbyters. NOT GREEDY.—Like the first purse...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 _Faithful is the saying _for _this is a true saying_,_ _A.V.; _seeketh _for _desire_,_ _A.V. FAITHFUL IS THE SAYING (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15, note). This manifestly refers...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight we will be studying First Timothy three and four. It is interesting as Paul writes to Timothy on several occasions, he uses phrases that are interesting to me. He said, This is a faithful sayi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:4; Acts 6:3; Ezekiel 44:21; James 3:10;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Deacons. The office of Deacon appears in the Pastorals, but not in Paul's letters, with the single exception of Philippians 1:1, where the Deacons do not represent an ecclesiastical office, though the...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Likewise the deacons must he serious — Men of a grave, decent, venerable behaviour. But where are presbyters? Were this order essentially distinct from that of bishops, could the apostle have passed i...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Note here, 1. That there are but two sorts of fixed church-officers mentioned by St. Paul, bishops and deacons; as the church had its own bishop, so likewise its own deacons: these were at first insti...

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Old Testament