²⁸ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,^(B) to shepherd the church of God,^[a] which he purchased with his own blood.^(C)

Greeting

1 Paul^(A) and Timothy,^(B) servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,^(C) including the overseers^(D) and deacons.^(E)

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 This saying is trustworthy:^(A) “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,^[a](B) he desires a noble work.” ² An overseer,^(C) therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,^(D) respectable, hospitable,^(E) able to teach,

Honoring the Elders

¹⁷ The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,^[a] especially those who work hard^(A) at preaching and teaching.

Titus’s Ministry in Crete

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete^(A) was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders^(B) in every town. ⁶ An elder^(C) must be blameless,^(D) the husband of one wife, with faithful^[a] children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. ⁷ As an overseer^(E) of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding to the faithful message as taught,^(F) so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching^(G) and to refute those who contradict it.