Qualifications for Overseers
1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1-7)
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Qualifications for Overseers
(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)
1 This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. 2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; 3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 5 (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) 6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1–7)
8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. 11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
Qualifications for Overseers
(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)
1 This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
4 An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1–7)
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. 9 They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women b must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.
12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things 15 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared c in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit, d
was seen by angels,
was proclaimed among the nations,
was believed in throughout the world,
was taken up in glory.
Footnotes:
2 a Or faithful to his wife ; also in verse 12
11 b Or their wives
16 c Literally He who appeared ; BYZ and TR God appeared
16 d Or vindicated in spirit
Qualifications for Overseers
1Stedfast is the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; 2it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach, 3not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money, 4his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity, 5(and if any one his own house how to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?) 6not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil; 7and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.
Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1-7)
8Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre, 9having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience, 10and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable. 11Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things. 12Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses, 13for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
14These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon, 15and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation of the truth,
16and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!
Qualifications for Church Leaders
¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer must be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Qualifications for Deacons
⁸ In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
¹¹ In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. ¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. ¹³ Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness
¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
Footnotes:
1.“Overseer” (verse 1) translates the Greek word episkopos, which means one who oversees or looks after a group, similar to a bishop or elder in modern terms. This role is crucial in providing spiritual guidance and care to the church.
2.“Above reproach” (verse 2) refers to a life without scandal or public fault. The Greek word anepilēmptos means to be blameless in character and behavior, especially in leadership.
3.“Manage his own family” (verse 4) highlights the principle that leadership in the home reflects one’s ability to lead in the church. The Greek word proistēmi means to guide, protect, and care for.
4.“The devil’s trap” (verse 7) refers to spiritual pitfalls that come through pride or a bad reputation. The enemy uses these traps to lead leaders away from their calling and discredit the church.
5.“Deep truths of the faith” (verse 9) speaks of the core doctrines of Christianity. The Greek word mystērion often refers to truths that were once hidden but have now been revealed through Christ.
6.“Women” (verse 11) could refer to either the wives of deacons or female deacons themselves. The Greek word gynē can mean both “woman” and “wife.” This passage speaks to their character and role in service.
7.“The mystery from which true godliness springs” (verse 16) refers to the gospel, which Paul describes as a profound and awe-inspiring truth revealed through Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
