Quick tempered (3711) (orgilos from orge = anger, wrath) soon angry, prone to anger, easily "inflamed", inclined to anger, hotheaded, irascible (marked by hot temper and easily provoked to anger). This trait describes a man who does not have his passion of anger under control. The idea is not one who is prone to just occasional outbursts, but who has a continual propensity to anger.
Paul is saying that the overseer is one who should not be "touchy". The quick-tempered person is easily provoked because he has a “short fuse”. This trait describes headstrong, obstinate individuals who always want to have their own way regardless of the consequences, and are contemptuous or look down on others.
Orgilos is translated "uncontentious" in (1Ti 3:3) Hotheaded individuals speak and act without thinking and end up hurting others, something the overseer must never do, but is also true for all believers. We must also manifest the fruit of the Spirit, exhibiting self-control, the opposite of quick tempered.
Steven Cole...
A quick-tempered man is always a spark away from blowing up. He uses anger to intimidate or control others to get his own way. He is also usually a self-willed man. Jas 1:19, 20 commands, “But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Patience, kindness, and self-control are fruit of the Spirit that should govern a spiritually mature man. (Read the full sermon)
Barclay notes that
"There are two Greek words for anger. There is thumos, which is the anger that quickly blazes up and just as quickly subsides, like a fire in straw. There is orgē, the noun connected with orgilos, and it means inveterate (firmly established by long persistence) anger. It is not the anger of the sudden blaze, but the wrath which a man nurses to keep it warm. A blaze of anger is an unhappy thing; but this long-lived, purposely maintained anger is still worse. The man who nourishes his anger against any man is not fit to be an office-bearer of the Church." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)
Aristotle wrote that the "orgilos" men are
quick-tempered persons (who) lose no time being angry, and do so with those they ought not, over things they ought not, and far more than they ought.
Someone has aptly said that temper is such a wonderful thing that it’s a shame to lose it. That's Paul's advice for prospective elders and overseers. Do not be easily provoked. Keep your passion under control. Remember that one of the characteristics of love is that it is "not provoked" (see 1Co 13:5-note) but is willing to endure slights and insults. The overseer exhibits this love which is not irritable or touchy, but which absorbs offenses, insults, and inconveniences for the sake of others’ welfare.
The overseer is to be mild, yielding and tender so that "no unwholesome (corrupt, putrefying, disgusting, "rotten") word" proceeds from his mouth
but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ep 4:29-note)
Matthew Henry adds
"How unfit are those to govern a church who cannot govern themselves, or their own turbulent and unruly passions! The minister must be meek and gentle, and patient towards all men."
As Paul wrote to Timothy (who was probably
overseeing" the Ephesian church) "the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome. (see 2Ti 2:24 ; 25-note; Ep 4:26-note)
James reminds us all that
the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God (Jas 1:20-note)
A righteous man ought to get angry when wrongs are done - get angry at the right time! On the other hand, as someone has counseled,
“Temper is such a wonderful thing that it’s a shame to lose it.”
The Septuagint (LXX) has two instructive uses of orgilos in the book of Proverbs where we read that we are not to
associate with a man given to anger or go with a hot-tempered man (orgilos)" (Pr 22:24) because "an angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered (orgilos) man abounds in transgression. (Pr 29:22)
If a man otherwise qualified as overseer is prone to a volatile temperament, he has learned to bridle it. If he has a hot temper, he never lets it show. In sum, long-lived, purposely maintained, even nourished anger makes a man unfit to be an overseer. A man who cannot control his emotions will have difficulty leading others and exercising proper judgment over church matters, especially those associated with strong feelings. This qualification does not mean the overseer cannot have strong personal feelings on certain issues but does prohibit an impulsive or divisive reaction that would do more to complicate the problem than to solve it.
The overseer should be "quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" (James 1:19-note) for this shows him to be a man of understanding and fit to teach others, which an angry man is not.
A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression (Pr 19:11)
The Jewish Rabbi Hillel taught that
neither one that is ashamed (to ask questions) learns well, nor one that is "angry" teaches well'
Keathley adds that
This issue here is not the presence of anger for there are times when we ought to be angry (Ep 4:26-note). Rather, this is describing the man who has a “short fuse” and it is a condition that is certainly related to being also self-willed. When is anger sinful? It is sinful when it occurs for the wrong reasons, when it rises too quickly, and when it explodes in uncontrollable behavior. We are not simply to count to ten and then let it fly. A man who is prone to anger is a walking time bomb just waiting to explode.
Solomon adds these words of wisdom concerning anger...
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly." (Pr 14:29)
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger pacifies contention." (Pr 15:18)
A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression." (Pr 19:11)
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out." (Pr 17:14).
NOT ADDICTED TO WINE: me paroinon: (Titus 2:3; Lv 10:9; Pr 31:4,5; Is 28:7; 56:12; Ezek 44:21; Ep 5:18; 1Ti 3:3)
must not drink too much (GWT)
must not be a heavy drinker (NLT)
not...over fond of wine (Phillips)
must not be given to drunken and outrageous conduct (Barclay)
nor a hard drinker (Weymouth)
not present at wine (Hiebert)
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