1 Timothy 3:1-10 ▼

1 Faithful is the saying, "If anyone desires the office of bishop, he covets a noble work."

2 It is needful, therefore, that the bishop be irreproachable, a husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach,

3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

4 presiding well over his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity

5 (but, if one knows not how to preside over his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?);

6 not a novice; lest, being puffed up, he fall into condemnation of the Devil.

7 And it is needful also that he have an honorable testimony from those without, lest he fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil.

8 It is needful that deacons, in like manner, be grave, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of base gain;

9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 But let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being without reproach.