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Qualifications of Overseers

This saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to become an overseer, he desires a noble task. It is necessary, then, for the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of only one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not a violent man but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. It is necessary that he manage his own household well, with all dignity making sure that his children obey him. (If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the Devil. In addition, he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.

Qualifications of Deacons

In the same way, it is necessary that deacons be dignified, not deceitful,[a] not devoted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain— men who hold on to the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 Let them also be tested first. Then let them serve as deacons, if they are found to be blameless. 11 In the same way women[b] must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in everything. 12 Let each deacon be the husband of only one wife, managing his children and his own household well. 13 Certainly, those who serve well as deacons gain for themselves good standing and great boldness in the faith they have in Christ Jesus.

Summary and Doxology

14 I am writing these things to you even though I hope to come to you shortly. 15 But if I am delayed, I wanted you to know how it is necessary to behave in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Undeniably, great is the mystery of godliness:

He[c] was revealed in flesh,
was justified in spirit,[d]
was seen by messengers,[e]
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or double-tongued
  2. 1 Timothy 3:11 The women here may be deaconesses, female helpers of deacons, or wives of deacons.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:16 Some witnesses to the text read God.
  4. 1 Timothy 3:16 Flesh and spirit here refer to Christ’s states of humiliation and exaltation.
  5. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or angels