3:3a

dependent on wine: Someone who is dependent on wine is someone who makes a habit of drinking too much wine or other alcoholic drinks so that he becomes drunk. Your language might express this with a single word, like the English word “drunkard,” or you may use an expression such as “someone who is always getting drunk,” or “habitual drinker.” See also Titus 1:7 where the same Greek word is used.

3:3b

Some Greek manuscripts include words that can be translated “not greedy of filthy lucre” (that is, “not greedy for money”). The King James Version follows that text. However, most scholars agree that this phrase was not present in Paul’s original letter to Timothy. So you should omit the words as the Berean Standard Bible has done. (Metzger, pages 640 and 641, indicates that the words “not greedy of filthy lucre” are a gloss derived from Titus 1:7 and were probably not present in the original. The Editorial Committee of the UBS Handbook New Testament (4th edition) does not list this reading in its critical apparatus.)

not violent: The Greek word plēktēn that the Berean Standard Bible translates as violent means “striker, brawler.” This means a person who often fights with other people or who is rough with others in language or actions. It refers mainly to fighting physically, but it can include yelling and arguing too. An overseer must not lead the believers by forcing them to do things in this way. The same word is used in Titus 1:7.

but gentle: The Greek word epieikēs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gentle is the opposite of “violent.” If a person is gentle, he is kind, patient, calm, and respectful. He also considers other people before he does something. The same Greek word is used in Titus 3:2.

3:3c

peaceable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as peaceable literally means “not-fighting.” It refers to someone who avoids arguing or disagreeing with other people. The word is also used in Titus 3:2.

There are two ways you can translate this:

• In a positive way, as the Good News Translation has done, that is:

peaceful

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version)

• In a negative way, as the New International Version (2011 Revision) has done; that is:

does not quarrel with other people

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, King James Version, NET Bible, God’s Word)

You should choose whichever style works best in your language.

3:3d

free of the love of money: An overseer should not be someone who is interested in getting as much money as possible. The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as love of money is also used in Hebrews 13:5; Luke 16:14; and 2 Timothy 3:2.

© 2003 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.