The definition of the adjective Nephaleos is, sober, drinking no wine, clearheaded. It was first used to apply to inanimate objects such as cups and vessels in which there was no wine and even piles of wood in which there were no grapevine twigs. These examples of its first use clearly reveal that the word is making reference to abstaining from wine completely. The term literally means "to be completely free of or completely abstaining from wine.

The word Nephaleos is used three times in the New Testament. Each time it is used, it is used to describe the attitude and habit of Bishops and Deacons in the Church. In 1 Timothy 3:2 Paul used this term for Overseers, and in 1 Timothy 3:11 he used it to describe the women (either the wives of the deacons or the women deacons). In Titus 2:2 Paul told Titus to teach the older men to be "sober," that is, not to even touch wine. It is not referring to drinking in moderation, but to abstaining from it and not even touching it.

In summary, Nephalios was a term used to state that a leader was not to touch wine so that he would be clearheaded and able to make sound judgments.