Qualifications for Overseers

The saying is (A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to (B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore (C)an overseer[a] must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife,[b] (E)sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but (H)gentle, not quarrelsome, (I)not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity (J)keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for (K)God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may (L)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by (M)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into (N)a snare of the devil.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. 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) not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) 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) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper

Qualifications for Elders

(A)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and (B)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— (C)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[a] and his children are believers[b] and not open to the charge of (D)debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer,[c] (E)as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not (F)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent (G)or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, (H)and disciplined. He must (I)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in (J)sound[d] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

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Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:6 Or a man of one woman
  2. Titus 1:6 Or are faithful
  3. Titus 1:7 Or bishop; Greek episkopos
  4. Titus 1:9 Or healthy; also verse 13

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good(A)

The reason I left you in Crete(B) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders(C) in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless,(D) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer(E) manages God’s household,(F) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(G) Rather, he must be hospitable,(H) one who loves what is good,(I) who is self-controlled,(J) upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly(K) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine(L) and refute those who oppose it.

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Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:5 Or ordain
  2. Titus 1:6 Or children are trustworthy