Temperate. There are many things from which we are commanded by the Scriptures to abstain. In the use of all things God has given for use he must not be excessive. He must not be excessive in eating, drinking, sleeping, working, talking, sexual relation, etc. What A Bishop Or Elder Must Not Be. A bishop must not be given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, not a brawler, not covetous, not a novice, not self-willed, not soon angry. See 1 Tim. 3:3-6; Titus 1:7. Must not be given to wine. Not a wine drinker. He is to be an example and abstain from all appearance of evil. No striker. A good translation from the Greek would render this _reviler_. He must not strike back with the tongue; in other words, not contentious. Not greedy of filthy lucre. When man becomes greedy of filthy lucre—loves money—he can be influenced by it and thus be led to favor the rich. Not a brawler. This is synonymous with wrangler or contender. Not Covetous. Covetousness includes more than the love of money. Fame, honor, worldly pleasures, gratification of unholy appetites and passions, may be properly termed covetousness. To entertain for anything an affection that is not a pure and godly affection is idolatry, and idolatry is covetousness. Not a novice. One newly converted. Not self-willed. Not obstinate in contending for his views or desires in opposition to others. Not soon angry. Soon is not found in the original. A more proper rendering would be, Not passionate. Deacon. Deacon is translated from “_diakonos_,” meaning minister. By reading the writings of those contemporary with the apostle and those immediately following we learn that a bishop or elder is the overseer or pastor of the flock, or the one upon whom the greatest responsibilities lie, while the deacons are helpers. This doubtless is what is meant by “helps” in 1 Cor. 12:28. There was always at least one bishop in one congregation, but often more than one deacon. The qualifications for a deacon are very similar to those of a bishop. See 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1. Elders Or Presbyters. Webster in defining presbyter, says, “An elder in the early Christian church.” Young in his analytical concordance says of presbytery, “An assembly of elders.” These two terms have the same Greek origin, “_presbuteros_.” An elder is one grounded in the faith with a sound matured judgment; one capable of giving good advice or counsel. An elder is not necessarily a preacher, but one calculated to advise and give counsel in his pastoral duties. They also are especially called of God to anoint and pray for the sick. These church officers are all called of God. See Gal. 1:15, 16. They are commissioned by Christ. Mat. 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit. Acts 13: 3, 4. They are qualified by God. 2 Cor. 3:5, 6. They are ambassadors from the kingdom of heaven with a heavenly message to this lost world. God help them every one to faithfully declare it in the fear of him who has called them.