Qualifications of Overseers

3 This saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to become an overseer, he desires a noble task. ² It is necessary, then, for the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of only one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not a violent man but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ It is necessary that he manage his own household well, with all dignity making sure that his children obey him. ⁵ (If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the Devil. ⁷ In addition, he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.

Qualifications of Deacons

⁸ In the same way, it is necessary that deacons be dignified, not deceitful,^[a] not devoted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain— ⁹ men who hold on to the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. ¹⁰ Let them also be tested first. Then let them serve as deacons, if they are found to be blameless. ¹¹ In the same way women^[b] must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in everything. ¹² Let each deacon be the husband of only one wife, managing his children and his own household well. ¹³ Certainly, those who serve well as deacons gain for themselves good standing and great boldness in the faith they have in Christ Jesus.

Summary and Doxology

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you even though I hope to come to you shortly. ¹⁵ But if I am delayed, I wanted you to know how it is necessary to behave in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Undeniably, great is the mystery of godliness: