Note 12 at 1 Tim. 3:3: This does not mean that a bishop or pastor has to totally abstain from wine, but it does mean he cannot be one who has problems with wine or strong drink. The scriptures do not forbid drinking alcoholic beverages, but it does warn against the evils of drunkenness and that is forbidden in the church's leadership.

Note 13 at 1 Tim. 3:3: The NIV translates this as "not violent but gentle." The TEV translates it as "not a violent man." The Greek word for "striker" is PLEKTES and means "ready for a blow, a contentious, quarrelsome person" (Thayer).

Note 14 at 1 Tim. 3:3: The NIV translates "not greedy of filthy lucre" as "not a lover of money." Although it takes money to live and a good minister is worthy of "double honor" (1 Tim. 5:17), a pastor should not be in it for the money. Not only their actions, but their motives must be pure.

Note 15 at 1 Tim. 3:3: In the first part of this verse Paul lists three things that bishops or pastors are not suppose to be. Now he lists three things that they are suppose to be. Looking at these six things as contrasts to each other helps us understand exactly what he is discouraging and encouraging as qualifications.

Being given to wine is the opposite of being patient. Many people would not associate those two things even in an opposite comparison. The heart of patience is moderation, that is lacking drunkenness. A striker is a violent person (see note 13) which is just the opposite of "not a brawler." Being "greedy of filthy lucre" is covetousness which Paul forbids here.