What Does 1 Timothy 3:3 Mean in the King James?
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Here, authority is proven by what it refuses to turn into force, quarrel, or profit.
THE MEANING
When you carry responsibility for others, this verse locates trustworthiness in restraint, patience, and freedom from profit-seeking. Its picture is someone whose hands, speech, and appetite for gain do not dominate those entrusted to their care.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that authority grows stronger by making others afraid, winning every conflict, or extracting gain from them.
THE ROOT
ἄμαχον
amachon
GROWS FROM
μαχ-
mach-
Fight, contend, engage in conflict.
“not a brawler” in this verse is amachon. The Greek form combines ἄ- (a-, “without”) with μαχ- (mach-, “fight or contend”). Beside “no striker,” it extends the restraint from physical force to argument: authority does not turn disagreement into combat.
ALSO GROWS
machē: Fight, quarrel, contest
μάχη
The noun names the conflict contained in the word for “not a brawler.”
machomai: Fight, contend
μάχομαι
The verb shows the same stem as an action; the verse describes someone who does not make contention their way of leading.
αἰσχροκερδῆ
aischrokerdē
GROWS FROM
κερδ-
kerd-
Gain, profit, or winning; here the gain is marked as shameful.
“greedy of filthy lucre” in this verse is aischrokerdē. The phrase describes gain-seeking that carries shame, not simply the presence of money. Its root also appears in words for gaining or winning, exposing how care can become distorted when other people are treated as a path to profit.
ALSO GROWS
kerdos: Gain, profit
κέρδος
This noun gives the profit at the center of the phrase.
kerdainō: Gain, profit, win
κερδαίνω
This verb shows the same root as the act of gaining, making the warning about the motive and use of oversight.
ἀφιλάργυρον
aphilargyron
GROWS FROM
ἀργυρ-
argyr-
Silver.
“not covetous” in this verse is aphilargyron. The word means “not silver-loving,” naming attachment to wealth in concrete terms. Alongside the warning against shameful gain, it distinguishes craving money itself from turning responsibility into a way to profit.
ALSO GROWS
argyrion: Silver coin, money
ἀργύριον
This branch makes the concrete object of the word visible: silver as money.
philargyros: Silver-loving, greedy for money
φιλάργυρος
The positive form names the attachment that this verse excludes.
THE PATTERN
Trustworthy authority is recognized by restrained power and care without personal gain.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,THE THREAD
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;Both verses use forms of αἰσχροκερδ- (aischrokerd-, “shameful gain”): this one names the motive as disqualifying, while Peter’s names it beside shepherding the flock. Together they show the danger of turning care into a means of profit.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us