### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **aischrokerdḗs**, represented by `{{G146}}`, describes one who is sordid or **given to (greedy of) filthy lucre**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. The term is derived from αἰσχρός and gain, pointing specifically to a desire for profit that is shameful or dishonorable.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{G146}}` is consistently used as a negative qualification for leadership roles within the church. It is a trait that must be absent from the character of those in spiritual authority. For a bishop, the requirement is that he must be blameless and "not **given to filthy lucre**" [[Titus 1:7]]. This prohibition is repeated in the qualifications found in [[1 Timothy 3:3]], which state a leader must be "not **greedy of filthy lucre**". The standard also applies to deacons, who likewise must be "not **greedy of filthy lucre**" [[1 Timothy 3:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{G146}}`, providing a broader picture of the character expected of church leaders:
* `{{G3943}}` **pároinos** (given to wine): This term, forbidding excessive drinking, is paired with the prohibition against `{{G146}}` in the lists of qualifications in both [[Titus 1:7]] and [[1 Timothy 3:3]].
* `{{G4131}}` **plḗktēs** (striker): This word for a pugnacious or quarrelsome person also appears directly with `{{G146}}` in [[Titus 1:7]] and [[1 Timothy 3:3]], linking financial impurity with a violent temperament.
* `{{G1351}}` **dílogos** (double-tongued): In the context of qualifications for deacons, this term appears alongside `{{G146}}`, highlighting that integrity in speech is as important as integrity in finance [[1 Timothy 3:8]].
* `{{G269}}` **ámachos** (not a brawler): This requirement for a peaceable nature is listed in the same context as the prohibition against `{{G146}}` in [[1 Timothy 3:3]].
* `{{G866}}` **aphilárgyros** (without covetousness): This term appears in [[1 Timothy 3:3]], reinforcing the theme of freedom from the love of money as a leadership requirement.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G146}}` is centered on the integrity required for spiritual oversight.
* **Stewardship and Integrity:** The prohibition is directly connected to the role of a bishop as "the steward of God" [[Titus 1:7]]. A steward must manage God's affairs without seeking shameful personal profit.
* **A Disqualifying Trait:** Being greedy for sordid gain is presented as a serious character flaw that disqualifies a person from church leadership, placing it on the same level as being a "striker" `{{G4131}}` or being "given to wine" `{{G3943}}`.
* **Holistic Character:** The placement of `{{G146}}` within lists of other moral requirements for bishops and deacons demonstrates that financial ethics are an inseparable part of a leader's overall character and fitness for service.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G146}}` is a precise term that defines a specific type of moral failure: the pursuit of dishonorable gain. It is not merely a suggestion but a firm prohibition used to establish a critical ethical boundary for anyone holding a position of authority like a bishop or deacon. Its consistent use in lists of disqualifying characteristics underlines the biblical emphasis on a leader's moral, temperate, and financial purity.
TRV