1 Timothy 3:1-13
New King James Version
Qualifications of Overseers
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a [a]bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a [e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the (A)snare of the devil.
Qualifications of Deacons
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, (B)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the [f]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not [g]slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (C)obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:1 Lit. overseer
- 1 Timothy 3:3 addicted
- 1 Timothy 3:3 NU omits not greedy for money
- 1 Timothy 3:3 loving money
- 1 Timothy 3:6 new convert
- 1 Timothy 3:9 hidden truth
- 1 Timothy 3:11 malicious gossips
Titus 1:5-16
New King James Version
Qualified Elders
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should (A)set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, (B)having faithful children not accused of [a]dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a [b]bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, (C)not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
The Elders’ Task
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle (D)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, (E)for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 (F)One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. (G)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and (H)commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 (I)To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to (J)know God, but (K)in works they deny Him, being [c]abominable, disobedient, (L)and disqualified for every good work.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Titus 1:6 debauchery, lit. incorrigibility
- Titus 1:7 Lit. overseer
- Titus 1:16 detestable
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.