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Qualifications for Overseers

¹ The saying is ^(a)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^(b)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Therefore ^(c)an overseer^[a] must be above reproach, ^(d)the husband of one wife,^{[b] (e)}sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^(f)hospitable, ^(g)able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not violent but ^(h)gentle, not quarrelsome, ⁽ⁱ⁾not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^(j)keeping his children submissive, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^(k)God's church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may ^(l)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^(m)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ⁽ⁿ⁾a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

^8 (o)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^{[c] (p)}not addicted to much wine, ^(q)not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must ^(r)hold the mystery of the faith with ^(s)a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And ^(t)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ^11 (u)Their wives likewise^[d] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^(v)faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons each be ^(w)the husband of one wife, ^(x)managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For ^(y)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, ¹⁵ if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. ¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: