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This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt at teaching;

not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

one who ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity.

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

He must not be a novice in the faith, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good reputation with those who are outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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[a]Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. The [b]bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [c]no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the [d]condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Some connect the words Faithful is the saying with the preceding paragraph.
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or, overseer
  3. 1 Timothy 3:3 Or, not quarrelsome over wine
  4. 1 Timothy 3:6 Greek judgment.