1 Timothy 3:3

International Standard Version

He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or a lover of money.1 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2;">[xr]

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
He must not drink too much, and he must not be someone who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not be someone who loves money.

Revised Standard Version
no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
not dronke no fighter not geve to filthy lucre: but gentle abhorrynge fightynge abhorrynge coveteousnes

Hebrew Names Version
not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

New American Standard Bible
not overindulging in wine, not a bully, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.

New Century Version
He must not drink too much wine or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money.

Update Bible Version
no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

Webster's Bible Translation
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not a brawler, not covetous;

English Standard Version
not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

World English Bible
not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not given to wine, no striker, not desirous of filthy gain, but gentle, patient, not loving money;

Weymouth's New Testament
not a hard drinker nor given to blows; not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
not youun myche to wyn, not a smytere, but temperat, not ful of chiding, not coueitouse, wel reulinge his hous,

English Revised Version
no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

Berean Standard Bible
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

Contemporary English Version
They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.

Amplified Bible
not addicted to wine, not a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, free from the love of money [not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical].

American Standard Version
no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

Bible in Basic English
Not quickly moved to wrath or blows, but gentle; no fighter, no lover of money;

Complete Jewish Bible
He must not drink excessively or get into fights; rather, he must be kind and gentle. He must not be a lover of money.

Darby Translation
not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

Etheridge Translation
and not a transgressor over wine, nor (one) whose hand hastens to strike; but he is to be gentle and not contentious, nor a lover of money;

Murdock Translation
and not a transgressor in regard to wine, and whose hand is not swift to strike; but he should be humble, and not contentious, nor a lover of money;

King James Version (1611)
Not giuen to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not couetous;

New Living Translation
He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.

New Life Bible
He must not get drunk or want to fight. Instead, he must be gentle. He must not have a love for money.

New Revised Standard
not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,

George Lamsa Translation
Not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but meek, not a brawler;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not given to wine, not ready to wound, but considerate, averse to contention, not fond of money,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not geuen to ouermuch wine, no striker, not greedy of fylthy lucre: but gentle, abhorryng fyghtyng, abhorryng couetousnesse:

Good News Translation
he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money;

Christian Standard Bible®
not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.

King James Version
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Lexham English Bible
not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,

Literal Translation
not a drunkard, not a contentious one, not money-loving, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not avaricious;

Young's Literal Translation
not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not geuen to moch wyne, no fighter, not geuen to filthy lucre: but gentle, abhorrynge stryfe, abhorrynge couetousnes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
not given to wine or violence, but of a gentle temper, averse to contention and avarice: a master of economy,

New English Translation
not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.

New King James Version
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, [fn] but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

Simplified Cowboy Version
He shouldn't be a drunk or a man prone to fisticuffs. His nature should be gentle but tough, not quick-tempered or money hungry.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

Legacy Standard Bible
not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money;

Contextual Overview

¹ This saying is trustworthy:[fn]Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:15;">[xr] The one who would an elder be, A noble task desires he. ² Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife,devoted to his wife; lit. a man of one woman">[fn] stable, sensible, respectable, a lover of strangers, and teachable.able to teach">[fn]1 Timothy 5:9; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:6;">[xr] ³ He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or a lover of money.1 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2;">[xr] ⁴ He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way.Titus 1:6;">[xr] ⁵ For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he might become arrogant and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Isaiah 14:12;">[xr] ⁷ He must be well thought of by outsiders, lest he fall into disgrace and the trap set for him bythe trap of">[fn] the devil.Acts 22:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26;">[xr]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Not given to wine: or, Not ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine, 1 Timothy 3:8, Leviticus 10:9, Isaiah 5:11, Isaiah 5:12, Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 56:12, Ezekiel 44:21, Micah 2:11, Matthew 24:45-51, Luke 12:42-46, Luke 21:34-36, Ephesians 5:18, Titus 1:7, Titus 2:3

no: 2 Timothy 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 1:7

not greedy: Proverbs 1:19, Proverbs 15:27, Isaiah 56:11, Jude 1:11

filthy: 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Samuel 8:3, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2

patient: 1 Timothy 6:11, Ecclesiastes 7:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:24, Revelation 1:9

a brawler: Titus 3:2, James 4:1, *marg.

not covetous: 1 Samuel 2:15-17, 2 Kings 5:20-27, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Micah 3:5, Micah 3:11, Malachi 1:10, Matthew 21:13, John 10:12, John 10:13, John 12:5, John 12:6, Acts 8:18-21, Acts 20:33, Romans 16:18, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, Revelation 18:11-13

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:21 - hating Leviticus 21:18 - a blind man Judges 18:4 - hired me Nehemiah 6:12 - hired him Isaiah 23:17 - and she shall Ezekiel 22:12 - greedily Ezekiel 44:15 - the sons Matthew 26:15 - What 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or covetous Ephesians 4:31 - clamour Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 5:23 - General 1 Timothy 6:5 - supposing Hebrews 13:5 - conversation

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things you wrote about: It's good for a man not to touch a woman.[fn]1 Corinthians 7:8,26;">[xr]

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore,Isaiah 52:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Revelation 18:4;">[xr] "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.

Colossians 2:21
"Don't handle this! Don't taste or touch that!"1 Timothy 4:3;">[xr]

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not given to wine,.... One that does not sit at it, or is continually drinking it, and is intemperate in the use of it; otherwise it is lawful for persons in such an office to drink wine, and sometimes absolutely necessary; see 1 Timothy 5:23 it signifies one that is not given to much wine, as in 1 Timothy 3:8 is not addicted to it, or a follower of it; the Syriac version renders it, "who does not transgress over wine", or go beyond due bounds in the use of it, who is not immoderate in it; the Arabic version renders it, "not insolent through wine", as one that is heated with it is fierce and furious, and wrangling and quarrelsome, and often very mischievous and injurious; and this sense is followed by some.

No striker; either with his hands, so the Syriac version, "whose hand is not swift to strike"; not one who is nimble and ready at it, who no sooner is abused or injured, but he lifts up his hands and strikes; is but a word and a blow: or with his tongue; so the Arabic version, "not wounding with his tongue"; being too sharp and severe in the admonitions and reproofs of weak brethren, or fallen believers; and especially, he ought not to use scurrilous, reproachful, and contumelious language to any; see Jeremiah 18:18.

Not greedy of filthy lucre; not covetous of getting money, of amassing wealth and riches together; or desirous of popular applause and glory from men. This clause is not in the Alexandrian copy, nor in five of Beza's manuscripts and other copies, nor is it in the Vulgate Latin version, nor in any of the Oriental versions; it seems to be transcribed from Titus 1:7. And indeed it is unnecessary here; since the same is expressed by the word "covetous", at the end of the verse, and makes that a tautology; and moreover, by leaving out this clause, the opposition appears more manifest, between "no striker" and what follows,

but patient; one who patiently bears all reproaches and injuries, puts up with affronts, and gives up what is his right and due, rather than contend, quarrel, and strike; who is patient towards all men, and does not bear hard on those that have offended, but is moderate and mild, and gentle in his censures, reproofs, and admonitions:

not a brawler; not a quarrelsome litigious person, given to fighting, either with the fist or sword, or any other weapon:

not covetous; or a lover of money in an immoderate way, greedy of worldly substance and riches, and insatiable in his desires after them; niggardly, sordid, and illiberal; acting a mercenary part; seeking his own things, and not the things of Christ; his gain from his quarter, and not the good of souls; and withholding from himself, from his family, and the poor, what ought to be enjoyed by them. Whereas, on the other hand, he ought to be generous and liberal, hospitable and charitable, and ready to communicate on all occasions, according to his abilities.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Not given to wine - Margin, “Not ready to quarrel and offer wrong, as one in wine.” The Greek word (πάροινος paroinos) occurs in the New Testament only here and in Titus 1:7. It means, properly, “by wine;” i. e., spoken of what takes place “by” or “over” wine, as revelry, drinking songs, etc. Then it denotes, as it does here, one who sits “by” wine; that is, who is in the habit of drinking it. It cannot be inferred, from the use of the word here, that wine was absolutely and entirely prohibited; for the word does not properly express that idea. It means that one who is in the habit of drinking wine, or who is accustomed to sit with those who indulge in it, should not be admitted to the ministry. The way in which the apostle mentions the subject here would lead us fairly to suppose that he did not mean to commend its use in any sense; that he regarded its use as dangerous, and that he would wish the ministers of religion to avoid it altogether. In regard to its use at all, except at the communion or as a medicine, it may be remarked, that a minister will do no injury to himself or others by letting it entirely alone; he may do injury by indulging in it. No man is under any “obligation” of courtesy or Christian duty to use it; thousands of ministers of the gospel have brought ruin on themselves, and disgrace on the ministry, by its use; compare Matthew 11:9 note, and 1 Timothy 5:23 note.

No striker - He must be a peaceable, not a quarrelsome man. This is connected with the caution about the use of wine, probably, because that is commonly found to produce a spirit of contention and strife.

Not greedy of filthy lucre - Not contentious or avaricious. Greek, Not desirous of base gain. The desire of this is condemned everywhere in the New Testament; but it is especially the duty of a minister of the gospel to be free from it. He has a right to a support (see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:0); but there is nothing that more certainly paralyzes the usefulness of a minister of the gospel than the love of money. There is an instinctive feeling in the human bosom that such a man ought to be actuated by a nobler and a purer principle. As avarice, moreover, is the great sin of the world - the sin that sways more hearts, and does more to hinder the progress of the gospel, than all others combined - it is important in the highest degree that the minister of religion should be an example of what men “should” be, and that he, by his whole life, should set his face against that which is the main obstruction to the progress of that gospel which he is appointed to preach.

But patient - Modest, mild, gentle. See the word (Greek) in Philippians 4:5; Titus 3:2; James 3:17, and 1 Peter 2:18, where it is rendered “gentle.” The word means that the minister of the gospel should be a man of mild and kind demeanor, such as his Master was.

Not a brawler - compare 2 Timothy 2:24. That is, he should not be a man given to contention, or apt to take up a quarrel. The Greek is, literally, “Not disposed to fight.”

Not covetous - Greek, “Not a lover of silver;” that is, of money. A man should not be put into the ministry who is characteristically a lover of money. Such a one, no matter what his talents may be, has no proper qualification for the office, and will do more harm than good.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 3:3. An eighth article in his character is, he must not be given to wine; μηπαροινον. This word not only signifies one who is inordinately attached to wine, a winebibber or tippler, but also one who is imperious, abusive, insolent, whether through wine or otherwise. Kypke contends for this latter acceptation here. See his proofs and examples.

Ninth. - He must be no striker; μηπληκτην, not quarrelsome; not ready to strike a person who may displease him; no persecutor of those who may differ from him; not prone, as one wittily said,

"To prove his doctrine orthodox

By apostolic blows and knocks."

It is said of Bishop Bonner, of infamous memory, that, when examining the poor Protestants whom he termed heretics, when worsted by them in argument he was used to smite them with his fists, and sometimes scourge and whip them. But though he was a most ignorant and consummate savage, yet from such a scripture as this he might have seen the necessity of surrendering his mitre.

Tenth. - He must not be greedy of filthy lucre; μη αισχροκερδη, not desirous of base gain; not using base and unjustifiable methods to raise and increase his revenues; not trading or trafficking; for what would be honourable in a secular character, would be base and dishonourable in a bishop. Though such a trait should never appear in the character of a Christian prelate, yet there is much reason to suspect that the words above are not authentic; they are omitted by ADFG, many others, the Syriac, all the Arabic, Coptic, (and Sahidic,) AEthiopic, Armenian, later Syriac, (but it appears in the margin,) the Vulgate and Itala, and by most of the Greek fathers. Griesbach has left it out of the text, in which it does not appear that it ever had a legitimate place. The word covetous, which we have below, expresses all the meaning of this; and it is not likely that the apostle would insert in the same sentence two words of the same meaning, because they were different in sound. It appears to have been borrowed from 1 Timothy 3:8.

Eleventh. - He must be patient; επιεικη, meek, gentle; the opposite to πληκτην, a quarrelsome person, which it immediately follows when the spurious word αισχροκερδη is removed. Where meekness and patience do not reign, gravity cannot exist, and the love of God cannot dwell.

Twelfth. - He must not be a brawler; αμαχον, not contentious or litigious, but quiet and peaceable.

Thirteenth. - He must not be covetous; αφιλαργυρον, not a lover of money; not desiring the office for the sake of its emoluments. He who loves money will stick at nothing in order to get it. Fair and foul methods are to him alike, provided they may be equally productive. For the sake of reputation he may wish to get all honourably; but if that cannot be, he will not scruple to adopt other methods. A brother heathen gives him this counsel: "Get money if thou canst by fair means; if not, get it by hook and by crook."