Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task.

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This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

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Since an overseer(A) manages God’s household,(B) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(C)

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For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

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28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](C) which he bought(D) with his own blood.[b](E)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

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Be shepherds of God’s flock(A) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;(B) not pursuing dishonest gain,(C) but eager to serve;

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Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

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15 Here is a trustworthy saying(A) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(B)—of whom I am the worst.

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15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

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19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth(A) and someone should bring that person back,(B) 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save(C) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.(D)

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19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

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15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(A) and that no bitter root(B) grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

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15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

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11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(A)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;(B)

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11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

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25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[a](A) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(B) and Overseer of your souls.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

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This is a trustworthy saying(A) that deserves full acceptance.

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This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

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Paul and Timothy,(A) servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,(C) together with the overseers(D) and deacons[a]:(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

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10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(A)

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10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

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Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(A) faithful to his wife,(B) temperate,(C) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(D) able to teach,(E) not given to drunkenness,(F) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(G) not a lover of money.(H) 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.(I) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(J) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(K) and fall under the same judgment(L) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(M) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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