πάροινος (paroinos)
paroinos
drunken
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective paroinos describes someone who is drunk or given to excessive wine. It combines a prefix meaning "beside" with the word for wine, literally painting a picture of a person who has gone beyond normal limits into intoxication. This term appears only twice in the New Testament, specifically in the pastoral letters addressing church leadership qualifications.
In both instances, 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7, Paul uses it to disqualify potential elders or overseers. The context suggests this is not merely about occasional intoxication but a habitual lack of self-control that undermines spiritual authority. While some lexica note a secondary sense of being quarrelsome, the primary focus remains on the physical state of drunkenness as a barrier to faithful service.
Translators typically render this word simply as "drunkard" or "given to wine," capturing its straightforward negative connotation. The rarity of the term highlights how seriously early Christian communities viewed sobriety and self-discipline in those entrusted with guiding others. By excluding such individuals from leadership, the texts emphasize that personal conduct must align with the moral standards taught to the congregation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word paroinos describes a state of being drunk or habitually given to excessive wine. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within lists of qualifications for church leaders. Paul uses this term to highlight that spiritual authority requires clear-mindedness and self-control. A leader cannot guide others if they are enslaved by their own desires or impaired by intoxication.
This standard applies to all believers, not just those in leadership. Sobriety is a fruit of the Spirit, reflecting a mind focused on God rather than fleeting pleasures. When we choose clarity over confusion, we honor the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting on this word invites us to examine our own habits. Do we seek freedom in things that bind us? True liberty comes from self-discipline and reliance on God’s strength. May you find peace in living with integrity and clarity of heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- given to wine,2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πάροινον,2×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 3:3
not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
Paul explicitly lists being a drinker as a disqualifier for overseers, linking leadership credibility directly to personal sobriety.
-
Titus 1:7
For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
The term is paired with other character flaws like greed and violence, showing that drunkenness disrupts the entire moral fabric required for stewardship.