Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is trustworthy: if anyone aspires to supervision, he desires a good work. ² Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching, ³ not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money, ⁴ managing his own household well, having children in submission with all dignity ⁵ (but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), ⁶ not newly converted, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ But he must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸ Deacons likewise must be dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, ¹⁰ and these also must be tested first; then let them serve if they^[a] are above reproach. ¹¹ The wives^[b] likewise must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹² Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who have served well acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness Described

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you in a short time. ¹⁵ But if I am delayed, I am writing^[c] in order that you may know how one must conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay^[d] of the truth. ¹⁶ And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness:

The Coming Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience, ³ who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth, ⁴ because everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is^[g] received with thankfulness, ⁵ for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

The Good Servant of Christ

⁶ By^[h] teaching these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully. ⁷ But reject those worthless myths told by elderly women^[i], and train yourself for godliness. ⁸ For the training of the body is somewhat^[j] profitable, but godliness is profitable for everything, because it^[k] holds promise for the present life and for the life to come. ⁹ The statement is trustworthy and deserving of complete acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we labor and suffer reproach,^[l] because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

¹¹ Command these things and teach them. ¹² Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, pay attention to the public reading,^[m] to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Practice these things. Be diligent^[n] in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone. ¹⁶ Fix your attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for by^[o] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.