1 Timothy 3:3

The negative characater of. bishop now follows, showing what he must not be.

Not given to wine; that is, to much wine, no inordinate lover either of wine or strong drink, no wine-bibber, no sitter at wine in his own house, much less at taverns and public houses:

no striker, either with hands or tongue, no quarreller, that cannot keep his hand from hurting, no word-striker, no striker with the tongue, and passion, and anger;. word, we say, wounds deeper than. sword; the ministers of God may wound the consciences of men with the sword of the Spirit, but they must not wound the reputations of men with their own wrathful spirits; we must use our tongues rather to heal than wound, or if at any time to wound, it must be in order to healing:

not guilty of filthy lucre; no inordinate lover of money, which makes. man base and sordid, both in getting, keeping, and spending:

but patient, meek, and forbearing, not rigidly exacting his due, not acting summo jure, but rather parting with somewhat which in strictness may be his right for peace-sake;

not. brawler, or contentious person, often engaged in law-suits, but of. mild and peaceable disposition;

not covetous, or enslaved to the love of wealth; possess he may the good things of this life, but not be possessed by them.