1 Timothy 3:1-13 ▼

1 The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

2 The overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;

3 not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

4 conducting his own house well, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)

6 not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into [the] fault of the devil.

7 But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and [the] snare of the devil.

8 Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

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

10 And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge [against them].

11 [The] women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let [the] ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting [their] children and their own houses well:

13 for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which [is] in Christ Jesus.