Qualifications of Elders

For this reason I left you in (A)Crete, that you would set in order what remains and (B)appoint (C)elders in every city as I directed you, namely, (D)if any man is beyond reproach, the (E)husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of (F)indecent behavior or (G)rebellion. For the [a](H)overseer must be beyond reproach as (I)God’s steward, not (J)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not (K)overindulging in wine, not [b]a bully, (L)not greedy for money, but (M)hospitable, (N)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, (O)holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to [c]exhort in (P)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

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Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:7 Or bishop
  2. Titus 1:7 Or combative
  3. Titus 1:9 Or encourage

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.

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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

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