1 Timothy 3

1Here is a true saying: anyone who wants to be a church overseer wants a good work.

2An overseer must have nothing against him. He must be faithful to his wife, level-headed, sensible, respectable, welcoming to strangers, and able to teach.

3He must not be a heavy drinker or violent, but gentle. He must not be someone who argues or loves money.

4He must manage his own family well, and his children must obey him and treat him with respect.

5(If a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

6He must not be a new believer, or he may become proud and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

7He must also have a good name among outsiders, so that he does not fall into shame and the devil's trap.

8In the same way, deacons must be worthy of respect, sincere, not heavy drinkers, and not greedy for dishonest money.

9They must hold on to the deep truth of the faith with a clean conscience.

10They must first be tested, and if there is nothing against them, then let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, the women must be worthy of respect. They must not tell lies about others; they must be sensible and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

13Those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing and great confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

14I am writing these things to you, even though I hope to come to you soon.

15But if I am delayed, you will know how people should behave in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16Without question, the secret of our faith is great: Christ appeared in a human body, was shown to be right by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in around the world, and was taken up in glory.