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Qualifications of Bishops

The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;[a] moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:6 Or slanderer
  2. 1 Timothy 3:7 Or slanderer

[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.