Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:^(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer^(B) desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach,^(C) faithful to his wife,^(D) temperate,^(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,^(F) able to teach,^{(G) 3} not given to drunkenness,^(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,^(I) not a lover of money.^{(J) 4} He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect.^(K)

⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(A) and fall under the same judgment^(B) as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,^(C) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.^(D)

¹⁴ Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet^(A) nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.^{(B) 15} But the Lord took me from tending the flock^(C) and said to me, ‘Go,^(D) prophesy^(E) to my people Israel.’^(F)

⁶ An elder must be blameless,^(A) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe^[a] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer^(B) manages God’s household,^(C) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.^{(D) 8} Rather, he must be hospitable,^(E) one who loves what is good,^(F) who is self-controlled,^(G) upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly^(H) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine^(I) and refute those who oppose it.

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(A) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(B) toward one another, because,