Overseers and Deacons

3 ^(A)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the ^(B)office of ^[a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. ^2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(D)the husband of one wife, ^[c](E)temperate, self-controlled, respectable, ^(F)hospitable, ^(G)skillful in teaching, ^3 (H)not overindulging in wine, not ^[d]a bully, but gentle, not contentious, ^(I)free from the love of money. ⁴ He must be one who ^(J)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of ^(K)the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(L)conceited and fall into ^(M)condemnation ^[e]incurred by the devil. ⁷ And he must ^(N)have a good reputation with ^(O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into ^[f]disgrace and ^(P)the snare of the devil.

^8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not ^[g]insincere, ^(R)not prone to drink much wine, ^(S)not greedy for money, ^9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ^10 (U)These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ^11 [h]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(V)not malicious gossips, but ^[i](W)temperate, faithful in all things. ^12 (X)Deacons must be ^(Y)husbands of one wife, and ^[j](Z)good managers of their children and their own households. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(AA)obtain for themselves a ^[k]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; ¹⁵ but ^[l]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in ^(AB)the household of God, which is the ^(AC)church of ^(AD)the living God, the ^(AE)pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond question, great is ^(AF)the mystery of godliness:

Abandonment of Faith

4 But ^(AM)the Spirit explicitly says that ^(AN)in later times some will ^[o]fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^(AO)deceitful spirits and ^(AP)teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars ^(AQ)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ who ^(AR)forbid marriage and advocate ^(AS)abstaining from foods which ^(AT)God has created to be ^(AU)gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For ^(AV)everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is ^(AW)received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of ^(AX)the word of God and prayer.

A Good Minister’s Discipline

⁶ In pointing out these things to ^(AY)the brothers and sisters, you will be a good ^(AZ)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the ^(BA)good doctrine which you ^(BB)have been following. ⁷ But ^[p]stay away from ^(BC)worthless ^(BD)stories that are typical of old women. Rather, ^[q]discipline yourself for the purpose of ^(BE)godliness; ⁸ for ^(BF)bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but ^(BG)godliness is beneficial for all things, since it ^(BH)holds promise for the ^(BI)present life and also for the life to come. ^9 (BJ)It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰ For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set ^(BK)our hope on ^(BL)the living God, who is ^(BM)the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

^11 [r](BN)Prescribe and teach these things. ^12 (BO)Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, ^(BP)love, faith, and purity, show yourself ^(BQ)an example ^[s]of those who believe. ^13 (BR)Until I come, give your attention to the public ^[t](BS)reading, to exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of ^(BT)prophecy with ^(BU)the laying on of hands by the ^[u](BV)council of elders. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ^16 (BW)Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ^(BX)save both yourself and those who hear you.

Honor Widows

5 ^(BY)Do not sharply rebuke an ^(BZ)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to ^(CA)the younger men as brothers, ² to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are actually ^(CB)widows; ⁴ but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^(CC)they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is ^(CD)acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is actually a ^(CE)widow and has been left alone ^(CF)has set her hope on God, and she continues in ^(CG)requests and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who ^(CH)indulges herself in luxury is ^(CI)dead, even while she lives. ^7 [v](CJ)Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^(CK)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ A widow is to be ^(CL)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(CM)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(CN)good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has ^(CO)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(CP)has washed the ^[w]saints’ feet, if she has ^(CQ)assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to register younger widows, for when they feel ^(CR)physical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thereby incurring condemnation, because they have ^[x]ignored their previous pledge. ¹³ At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become ^(CS)gossips and ^(CT)busybodies, talking about ^(CU)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(CV)married, have children, ^(CW)manage their households, and ^(CX)give the enemy no opportunity for reproach; ¹⁵ for some ^(CY)have already turned away to follow ^(CZ)Satan. ¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer ^(DA)has dependent widows, she must ^(DB)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are actually ^(DC)widows.

Concerning Elders

^17 (DD)The elders who ^(DE)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(DF)work hard ^[y]at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(DG)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “^(DH)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an ^(DI)elder except on the basis of ^(DJ)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(DK)rebuke in the presence of all, ^(DL)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. ^21 (DM)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ^22 (DN)Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and ^[z]thereby share ^(DO)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ^[aa]free from sin.

²³ Do not go on drinking only water, but ^(DP)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴ The sins of some people are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^(DQ)follow after. ²⁵ Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and ^(DR)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

Instructions to Those Who Minister

6 ^(DS)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor ^(DT)so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be ^[ab]spoken against. ² Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are ^(DU)brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who ^[ac]partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. ^(DV)Teach and ^[ad]preach these principles.

³ If anyone ^(DW)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[ae]agree with ^(DX)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(DY)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(DZ)conceited and understands nothing; but he ^[af]has a sick craving for ^(EA)controversial questions and ^(EB)disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(EC)people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(ED)suppose that ^[ag]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (EE)But godliness actually is a means of ^(EF)great gain when accompanied by ^(EG)contentment. ⁷ For ^(EH)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we ^(EI)have food and ^[ah]covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (EJ)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(EK)a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(EL)the love of money is a root of all ^[ai]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(EM)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many ^[aj]griefs.