A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not [a]given to wine, not violent, [b]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [c]covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a [d]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 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

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, (B)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the [e]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 [f]slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:3 addicted
  2. 1 Timothy 3:3 NU omits not greedy for money
  3. 1 Timothy 3:3 loving money
  4. 1 Timothy 3:6 new convert
  5. 1 Timothy 3:9 hidden truth
  6. 1 Timothy 3:11 malicious gossips

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