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This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer[a] desires a good work. The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule one’s own house take care of God’s assembly?) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:1 or, superintendent, or bishop

Qualifications of Bishops

The saying is sure:[a] whoever aspires to the office of bishop[b] desires a noble task.(A) Now a bishop[c] must be above reproach, married only once,[d] temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,(B) not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.(C) He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert,[e] or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.1 Some interpreters place these words at the end of the previous paragraph. Other ancient authorities read The saying is commonly accepted
  2. 3.1 Or overseer
  3. 3.2 Or an overseer
  4. 3.2 Gk the husband of one wife
  5. 3.6 Gk neophyte