Dignity

Next sentence:
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (1Timothy 3:8-9)

Paul's been writing about overseers (elders) now shifts to deacons and begins with the need for them to be "men of dignity." This is Paul's third use of "dignity." What's it mean?

Strong's says: venerable, that is, honorable: - grave, honest.

Merriam-Webster Online's first definition is "the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed" but that's not the biblical meaning for a qualification. The four M-W definition is what more like Paul's intention, "formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language."

This is not to say that he cannot be funny nor have a well developed sense of humor – these two qualities are often needed, actually. But this man should know when, where, and to what extent humor should be appropriate.

I don't think many Christian men I've met have a difficulty in this area. I have on the other hand met more curmudgeons than I care to.