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 Leaders in the Church

This is a trustworthy saying:[a]

The one who would an elder be,
a noble task desires he.

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife,[b] stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.[c] He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money. He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way. For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, so that he won’t become arrogant and fall into the Devil’s condemnation. He must be well thought of by outsiders, so he doesn’t[d] fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by[e] the Devil.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 This formula accompanied early Christian sayings on which full reliance could be placed.
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or devoted to his wife; lit. a man of one woman
  3. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or able to teach
  4. 1 Timothy 3:7 Lit. outsiders, lest he
  5. 1 Timothy 3:7 Lit. the trap of