A.T. Robertson Commentary 1 Timothy 3:8

"Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;" — 1 Timothy 3:8 (ASV)

Deacons (διακονους). Accusative case of general reference like the preceding with δε εινα understood. Technical sense of the word here as in Php 1:1 which see (two classes of church officers, bishops or elders, deacons).

Grave (σεμνους). See Php 4:8. Repeated in verse 11; Titus 2:2.

Not double-tongued (μη διλογους). Rare word (δισ, λεγω) saying same thing twice. Xenophon has διλογεω and διλογια. In Pollux, but LXX has διγλωσσος (double-tongued, Latin bilinguis). Only here in N.T. One placed between two persons and saying one thing to one, another to the other. Like Bunyan's Parson "Mr. Two-Tongues."

Not given to much wine (μη οινω πολλω προσεχοντας). "Not holding the mind (τον νουν understood as usual with προσεχω, 1 Timothy 1:4) on much wine" (οινω, dative case). That attitude leads to over-indulgence.

Not greedy of filthy lucre (μη αισχροκερδεις). Old word from αισχρος (Ephesians 5:12) and κερδος . "Making small gains in mean ways" (Parry). Not genuine in verse 3. In N.T. only here and Tit 1:7 (of bishops).