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Overseers and Deacons

(A)It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, he desires a good work. [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, (E)temperate, sensible, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, (H)not addicted to wine [c]or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, (I)free from the love of money; (J)leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into the (M)condemnation of the devil. And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and (P)the snare of the devil.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Or bishop
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Lit The
  3. 1 Timothy 3:3 Lit not

Supervisors in God’s household

This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor[a] in the church, they want a good thing. So the church’s supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching. They shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy. They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect, because if they don’t know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God’s church? They shouldn’t be new believers so that they won’t become proud and fall under the devil’s spell. They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won’t be embarrassed and fall into the devil’s trap.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Or bishop, overseer