Lexical Summary paroinos: Given to drunkenness, addicted to wine, a drunkard. Original Word: πάροινος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drunken, given to wine. From para and oinos; staying near wine, i.e. Tippling (a toper) -- given to wine. see GREEK para see GREEK oinos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom para and oinos Definition given to wine, drunken NASB Translation addicted to wine (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3943: πάροινοςπάροινος, πάροινον, a later Greek word for the earlier παροίνιος (παρά (which see IV. 1) and οἶνος, one who sits long at his wine), given to wine, drunken: 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; (others give it the secondary sense, 'quarrelsome over wine'; hence, brawling, abusive). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Word in the Pastoral Epistles Strong’s 3943 appears only in 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7, forming part of Paul’s qualifications for overseers and elders. Both lists require that a spiritual leader be “not given to drunkenness” (Berean Standard Bible). The term highlights an habitual relationship to wine, not an isolated lapse, thereby marking out a pattern of life incompatible with shepherding the people of God. Moral and Spiritual Emphasis The prohibition does more than regulate a beverage; it safeguards the leader’s moral judgment and spiritual alertness. Drunkenness dulls discernment (Proverbs 31:4-5), invites violence (Proverbs 23:29-30), and wars against the fruit of self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). By excluding the paroinos man from office, Paul defends the church’s witness and protects it from the instability that accompanies substance abuse. Continuity with Old Testament Principles Scripture consistently links God’s servants with sobriety. Priests were forbidden to drink wine when entering the tent of meeting (Leviticus 10:9). Nazarites embodied consecrated separation by abstaining from grape products altogether (Numbers 6:3-4). Wisdom literature warns, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler” (Proverbs 20:1). The Pastoral Epistles carry these trajectories forward, requiring the same vigilance in New-Covenant leadership. First-Century Cultural Background Wine was a staple in Greco-Roman society—served diluted with water at meals, yet central to feasts and symposia that often deteriorated into excess. Because public drunkenness was common and even celebrated in pagan worship, early believers faced social pressure to conform. Paul’s standard of sobriety distinguished Christian overseers from prevailing customs, displaying a transformed life “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Philippians 2:15). Relation to Other New Testament Admonitions The call to avoid drunkenness is universal, not merely for leaders (Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:3). Yet the higher bar placed on elders underscores their representative role. As the flock imitates its shepherds (Hebrews 13:7), an overseer’s liberty is willingly limited for the sake of those who are weak (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). This aligns with the broader apostolic appeal: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Pastoral and Contemporary Application 1. Testimony: A leader ruled by any substance forfeits credibility when calling others to Spirit-filled living. Balance with Biblical Freedom Scripture neither commands universal abstinence (John 2:1-11; 1 Timothy 5:23) nor condones excess. The overseer’s standard affirms legitimate use of God’s gifts when governed by gratitude and self-control, yet forbids entanglement that would master the believer (1 Corinthians 6:12). Legacy in Church History Early church canons echoed Paul, disqualifying bishops found inebriated. Reformers such as John Calvin insisted pastors remain temperate, viewing drunkenness as a scandal that “obscures the brightness of the gospel.” Modern ordination councils often still ask candidates to declare freedom from addictive behaviors, demonstrating the enduring weight of the paroinos prohibition. Summary Strong’s 3943 pinpoints a character flaw—habitual surrender to wine—that contradicts the vigilance, self-mastery, and example required of spiritual leaders. Paul’s Spirit-inspired standard protects both shepherd and flock, affirming that those who guide others must themselves be governed by God, not the bottle. Forms and Transliterations παροινον πάροινον παροίστρησεν παροιστρήσουσι παροιστρώσα paroinon pároinonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Timothy 3:3 Adj-AMSGRK: μὴ πάροινον μὴ πλήκτην NAS: not addicted to wine or pugnacious, KJV: Not given to wine, no striker, INT: not given to wine not a striker Titus 1:7 Adj-AMS |
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