Qualifications for Overseers
(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

1Trustworthy is the word: If anyone aspires to overseership, he is desirous of a good work. 2Therefore it is necessary for the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of one wife,† sober, sound-minded, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to wine, not a striker† but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money, 4presiding over his own house well, having children in submission, with all dignity— 5but if anyone does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?— 6not a novice, lest, having been puffed up, he might fall into the judgment of the devil. 7And it is necessary for him also to have a good testimony from those outside, so that he might not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1–7)

8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy for shameful gain, 9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10And these also, let them be tested first; then let them serve, being blameless.

11Women† likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12Let deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding over their children and their own households well. 13For those having served well acquire a good standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14I write these things to you, hoping to come to you in quickness, 15but if I should delay, so that you may know how it is necessary to conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.

16And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness:

He who appeared† in flesh,

was justified in the Spirit,†

was seen by angels,

was proclaimed among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Footnotes:

2 Or faithful to his wife; also in verse 12
3 BYZ and TR include not greedy for money.
11 Or Their wives
16 BYZ and TR God appeared
16 Or was vindicated in spirit