Qualifications for Deacons

^8 (A)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^{[a] (B)}not addicted to much wine, ^(C)not greedy for dishonest gain.

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^[a] of Christ Jesus,

To all the ^(A)saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the ^(B)overseers^[b] and ^(C)deacons:^[c]

^3 (A)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, ^(B)not slanderers ^(C)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

²³ (No longer drink only water, but ^(A)use a little wine ^(B)for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

³ not a drunkard, not violent but ^(A)gentle, not quarrelsome, ^(B)not a lover of money.

^3 (A)Therefore, brothers,^[a] pick out from among you seven men ^(B)of good repute, ^(C)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(D)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^(E)a man full of faith and ^(F)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(G)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(H)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(I)they prayed and ^(J)laid their hands on them.

^9 (A)“Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,^[a] these things ought not to be so.

⁷ For an overseer,^{[a] (A)}as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(B)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(C)or greedy for gain,