28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all (A)the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you [a]overseers, to shepherd (B)the church of God which (C)He [b]purchased [c]with His own blood.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Or bishops
  2. Acts 20:28 Lit acquired
  3. Acts 20:28 Lit through

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](C) which he bought(D) with his own blood.[b](E)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son

Overseers and Deacons

(A)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, [c](E)temperate, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)skillful in teaching, (H)not overindulging in wine, not [d]a bully, but gentle, not contentious, (I)free from the love of money. He must be one who (J)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into (M)condemnation [e]incurred by the devil. And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into [f]disgrace and (P)the snare of the devil.

(Q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not [g]insincere, (R)not prone to drink much wine, (S)not greedy for money, (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 (U)These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 [h]Women must likewise be dignified, (V)not malicious gossips, but [i](W)temperate, faithful in all things. 12 (X)Deacons must be (Y)husbands of one wife, and [j](Z)good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (AA)obtain for themselves a [k]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but [l]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in (AB)the household of God, which is the (AC)church of (AD)the living God, the (AE)pillar and support of the truth. 16 Beyond question, great is (AF)the mystery of godliness:

He who was (AG)revealed in the flesh,
Was [m](AH)vindicated [n]in the Spirit,
(AI)Seen by angels,
(AJ)Proclaimed among the nations,
(AK)Believed on in the world,
(AL)Taken up in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Or bishop
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Lit The
  3. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or level-headed
  4. 1 Timothy 3:3 Or combative
  5. 1 Timothy 3:6 Lit of the devil
  6. 1 Timothy 3:7 Or reproach
  7. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or given to double-talk
  8. 1 Timothy 3:11 I.e., either deacons’ wives or deaconesses
  9. 1 Timothy 3:11 Or level-headed
  10. 1 Timothy 3:12 Lit managing well
  11. 1 Timothy 3:13 Lit good
  12. 1 Timothy 3:15 Lit if I delay
  13. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
  14. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or by

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(C) faithful to his wife,(D) temperate,(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(F) able to teach,(G) not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.(K) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)

In the same way, deacons[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(S) 10 They must first be tested;(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(U) but temperate(V) and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife(W) and must manage his children and his household well.(X) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(Y) of the living God,(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(AA) from which true godliness(AB) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(AC)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(AD)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper
  2. 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
  4. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

For the [a](A)overseer must be beyond reproach as (B)God’s steward, not (C)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not (D)overindulging in wine, not [b]a bully, (E)not greedy for money,

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Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:7 Or bishop
  2. Titus 1:7 Or combative

Since an overseer(A) manages God’s household,(B) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(C)

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