SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:8
¶ Los diconos asimismo, honestos, no de dos lenguas, no dados a mucho vino, no amadores de ganancias deshonestas;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:8
Verse 8. Likewise must the deacons] The term deacon, diakonov, simply signifies a regular or stated servant: from dia, through or emphatic, and konew, to minister or serve. See it explained in the note on Matt. xx. 26. As nearly the same qualifications were required in the deacons as in the bishops, the reader may consult what is said on the preceding verses. Grave] Of a sedate and dignified carriage and conduct.
Not double-tongued] Speaking one thing to one person, and another thing to another, on the same subject. This is hypocrisy and deceit. This word might also be translated liars.
Not given to much wine] Neither a drunkard, tippler, nor what is called a jovial companion. All this would be inconsistent with gravity.
Not greedy of filthy lucre] See on verse 3.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. Likewise must the deacons be grave , etc.] 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 to preach the Gospel, and administer ordinances; but to take care of the secular affairs of the church, and particularly to serve tables; to provide the bread and wine for the Lord's table, to attend at it, and distribute the elements from the minister to the people, to collect for it, defray the charges of it, and divide what remains among the poor; and they are to take care of the minister's table, that he is provided for in a comfortable way, and to stir up the members to their duty in this respect; and to take care of the poor's table, and distribute what the church collects for them, with simplicity and cheerfulness; and are to be helps to the pastor, in observing the walk of members, in composing differences between them, in visiting the sick and poor, and in preparing matters for church meetings. Their characters are, that they be grave; in their speech, gesture, and dress; honest, and of good report among men; and chaste in their words and actions; all which may be signified by the word here used; and the latter may be rather hinted at, because of Nicholas, one of the first deacons, who was charged with uncleanness: not doubletongued ; whose hearts and tongues do not agree together; and who, being a sort of middle persons between the pastor and the members of the church, say one thing to one, and another to the other; which to do is of bad consequence: or who speak well to the poor when they apply to them, and promise them to do them all the service they can, and when it comes to the upshot speak against them: not given to much wine ; which impairs the health, stupefies the mind, and so renders unfit for any such office, as well as wastes the temporal estate; and may lead them to embezzle and consume the church's stock: not greedy of filthy lucre ; for such would withhold from the poor that which is meet for them, and make use of money in their hands, to their own advantage.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-13 - The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists wer among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the busines with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers must take great care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
διακονους 1249 ωσαυτως 5615 σεμνους 4586 μη 3361 διλογους 1351 μη 3361 οινω 3631 πολλω 4183 προσεχοντας 4337 5723 μη 3361 αισχροκερδεις 146
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Deacons. The office of Deacon appears in the Pastorals, but not in Paul's letters, with the single exception of Philip. i. 1, where the Deacons do not represent an ecclesiastical office, though they remark an advance toward it. Clement of Rome (ad Corinth. xlii, xliv) asserts their apostolic appointment. But the evidence at our command does not bear out the view that the institution of the diaconate is described in Acts vi. 1-6. The terms diakonov and diakonia are, in the Pauline writings, common expressions of servants and service either to Christ or to others. Paul applies these terms to his own ministry and to that of his associates. Diakonia is used of the service of the apostles, Acts i. 25; vi. 4. Diakonov is used of Paul and Apollos (1 Cor. iii. 5); of Christ (Gal. ii. 17; Rom. xv. 8); of the civil ruler (Rom. xiii. 4); of ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians xi. 15). The appointment of the seven grew out of a special emergency, and was made for a particular service; and the resemblance is not close between the duties and qualifications of deacons in the Pastorals and those of the seven. The word diakonov does not appear in Acts; and when Paul and Barnabas brought to Jerusalem the collection for the poor saints, they handed it over to the elders.
In like manner (wsautwv). Rare in Paul (Rom. viii. 26; 1 Corinthians xi. 25). Frequent in Pastorals.
Grave (semnouv). In Paul only Philip. iv. 8. See on semnothv gravity, 1 Tim. ii. 2.
Double-tongued (dilogouv). N.T.o . o LXX, o Class. Saying one thing and meaning another, and making different representations to different people about the same thing.
Given to much wine (oinw pollw prosecontav). Seeon 1 Timothy i. 4. Total abstinence is not enjoined, even on a deacon. Comp. 1 Timothy v. 23.
Greedy of filthy lucre (aiscrokerdeiv). N.T.o . o LXX. The adverb aijscrokerdwv in a base, gain - greedy way, 1 Pet. v. 2. From aijscrov disgraceful and kerdov gain. Comp. Hdt. i. 187: eij mh aplhstov te eav crhmatwn kai aijscrokerdhv if thou hadst not been insatiable of wealth and ready to procure it by disgraceful means. Aristoph. Peace, 622, alludes to two vices of the Spartans, ontev aijscrokerdeiv kai dieirwnoxenoi sordidly greedy of gain, and treacherous under the mask of hospitality. Similarly Eurip. Androm. 451. Comp. turpilucricupidus, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 63.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:8 {Deacons} (diakonous). Accusative case of general reference like the preceding with dei einai understood. Technical sense of the word here as in #Php 1:1 which see (two classes of church officers, bishops or elders, deacons). {Grave} (semnous). See #Php 4:8. Repeated in verse #11; Tit 2:2. {Not double-tongued} (me dilogous). Rare word (dis, legw) saying same thing twice. Xenophon has dilogew and dilogia. In Pollux, but LXX has diglwssos (double-tongued, Latin _bilinguis_). Only here in N.T. One placed between two persons and saying one thing to one, another to the other. Like Bunyan's Parson "Mr. Two-Tongues." {Not given to much wine} (me oinwi pollwi prosecontas). "Not holding the mind (ton noun understood as usual with prosecw, #1Ti 1:4) on much wine" (oinwi, dative case). That attitude leads to over-indulgence. {Not greedy of filthy lucre} (me aiscrokerdeis). Old word from aiscros (#Eph 5:12) and kerdos (#Php 1:21). "Making small gains in mean ways" (Parry). Not genuine in verse #3. In N.T. only here and #Tit 1:7 (of bishops).
