Qualifications for Overseers
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The saying is 1trustworthy: If anyone aspires to 2the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
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Therefore 3an overseera must be above reproach, 4the husband of one wife,b5sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, 6hospitable, 7able to teach,
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He must manage his own household well, with all dignity 10keeping his children submissive,
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for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for 11God's church?
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He must not be a recent convert, or he may 12become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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Moreover, he must be well thought of by 13outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into 14a snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
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15Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,c16not addicted to much wine, 17not greedy for dishonest gain.
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And 20let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
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21Their wives likewise mustd be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, 22faithful in all things.
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Let deacons each be 23the husband of one wife, 24managing their children and their own households well.
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For 25those 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
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I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
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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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)