deacon

The Greek that is often translated as “deacon” in English is translated as kavumbi in Chokwe, someone “who serves another, not from compulsion or for a wage, but because of vumbi or grace.” (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )

In the German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) it is translated as “men with an office of service” (Männer mit Dienstamt).

greedy for money / dishonest/selfish/unjust gain / bribery

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “greedy for money,” “dishonest/selfish/unjust gain,” “bribery,” or similar in English is translated in these verses in the Protestant Mandarin Chinese Union Version and the Catholic Sigao version with an established Chinese idiom: bùyìzhī cái (不義之財 / 不义之财) or “ill-gotten gains.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

The Catholic Sigao version additionally uses the idiom in the referenced verses in Sirach.

wine

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), in sar as kasə nduú or “grape drink” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine, wine (Japanese honorifics), filled with new wine, and wine (Gen 27:28).

complete verse (1 Timothy 3:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 3:8:

  • Uma: “Thus also is the character that is required of people who become helpers in the Lord’s work. Their character must be clear [i.e., wise, mature] and fit to be honored. They must not be liars, they must not be ones who drink too much intoxicants, and they must not be ones who think only about money.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then about the persons titled also to help the leader in the prayer-house, their custom must also be good and they should be trustworthy. They ought not drink what causes drunkenness and they ought not to be greedy for money.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the same way also should be the deacons, which is to say, those who help the believers; their behavior must be good. They must be respected people; they fulfill what they say they are going to do. They are not drunkards, and they do not cheat in order to get wealth.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As-for those who may-be-chosen as helpers of the leaders, it is also/similarly necessary that they be worthy to be respected and not double-tongued (lit. tongues not turned-inside-out). They must not be drunkards and being-greedy-for (lit. grabbing-after) money.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well as for these helpers of these overseers, it’s also necessary that they have good natures/ways, that they are respected by others. It’s necessary that whatever they say is true, they aren’t a slave to intoxicating-drink, and not a person who does anything at all which isn’t good just so as to make-money.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the people who have the position of helping at the church, they also must do like that, they must be good people. They must not deceive in their speech. They must not be drunkards. They must not have their hearts set only on money.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 3:8

Likewise signals the fact that deacons are as important as bishops and must also have good character and exemplary qualifications.

The qualifications of deacons start off with what looks like a generic term, followed by three prohibitions and several positive traits. First of all, then, deacons must be serious. This is the same word used in 3.4 (there translated “respectful”). The term in fact includes a wide range of meanings: dignified, worthy of respect, having a good character (compare Good News Translation), high principled, honorable, “dignified” (Revised English Bible), “respectable” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The first prohibition is not double-tongued. To be double-tongued is to be insincere, not trustworthy, indulging in harmful gossip, spreading different versions of the same story, saying one thing to one person and something entirely different to another. The meaning may be expressed positively; for example, Good News Translation “sincere,” Translator’s New Testament “They must mean what they say.” Most languages will have one or more figurative or idiomatic expressions for the idea of double-tongued.

The second prohibition is not addicted to much wine. Here again, as in the case of the “bishops,” the emphasis is not on abstinence from wine but on moderation (see the discussion on 1 Tim. 3.3).

Thirdly, deacons must not be greedy for gain. Some form of dishonesty is included in the meaning of the term; so New International Version “pursuing dishonest gain.” It is very likely that deacons were involved in the administration of food and funds to widows and other needy members of the community and therefore were prey to temptations of embezzlement and other forms of dishonesty. In many languages translators will find Good News Translation‘s “not greedy for money” a good model. One may also express this as “must not be overly concerned with getting money,” or figuratively, “must not be money-hungry.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Timothy 3:8

Paragraph 3:8–13

In 3:1–7 Paul told Timothy the sort of people who ought to be overseers. In the following verses, Paul described the sort of people who should be deacons. Many of these qualifications are similar to those for overseers.

3:8a

Deacons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Deacons normally means “servants.” But in this verse it refers to believers who had a special job within the community of believers. Deacons basically took care of special needs of believers. For example, one of their tasks was to care for the widows.

Most English versions translate the word as “deacons,” but the Good News Translation says “church helpers.” You should choose a term that is suitable in your culture for such a leadership job.

likewise: Paul had given a list of qualifications for overseers in 3:1–7. He was now going to list the qualifications for deacons.(3:8–13). In some languages it may be enough to use the word “also.”

dignified: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dignified is a general word. It means that a deacon must behave in a way that deserves respect from other people. That is, other people will esteem and honor him because he has earned that respect by the way he behaves.

not double-tongued: The Greek term that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as not double-tongued means “sincere.” Another way to express this is:

not saying things they do not mean (New Century Version)

3:8b

or given to much wine: Just as an overseer should not be “dependent on wine” (3:3a), Paul said that deacons should not be “given to much wine.” This means the same thing—any leader among believers must not get drunk.

wine: The word wine refers to a drink made from grapes. It is fermented and therefore alcoholic. During the time when Paul wrote this letter, people normally drank wine with their meals. Paul said that deacons should not drink too much wine and therefore become drunk.

3:8c

greedy for money: In 3:3d, Paul said that overseers should be “free of the love of money.” Here Paul makes a similar statement about deacons. The Greek word aischrokerdē that the Berean Standard Bible translates as greedy for money literally means “shamefully greedy.” Scholars interpret this in two ways:

(1) It refers to people who do wrong things in order to get money.

(New International Version (2011 Revision), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word)

This is also the view of many commentaries.

(2) It refers to people who are greedy for money and possessions, whether or not the person does anything wrong to get them.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The Greek word that Paul used here contains a part that means “shameful, disgraceful.” So it probably refers to someone who is willing to lie, cheat or take bribes in order to get the money he wants. This kind of person might use his position of authority in the church as a way to get money from other people. One possible way to translate this is:

He must not be a person who will do anything to get money.

The same term is used in Titus 1:7 and 1:11.

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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.