1Ti 3 | ISV | STEP | Qualifications for Leaders in the Church This saying is trustworthy: The one who would an elder be, A noble task desires he.

1 Timothy 3

1 Qualifications for Leaders in the Church

This saying is trustworthy: ^{▼▼This formula accompanied early Christian sayings on which full reliance could be placed.}Acts 20:28; Eph 4:12; Phil 1:1; 1Tim 1:15

The one who would an elder be,

A noble task desires he.

2 Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, ^{▼▼Or devoted to his wife; lit. a man of one woman} stable, sensible, respectable, a lover of strangers, and teachable. ^{▼▼Or able to teach}1Tim 5:9; 2Tim 2:24; Titus 1:6 3 He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or a lover of money.1Tim 3:8; 2Tim 2:24; Titus 1:7; 1Pet 5:2 4 He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way.Titus 1:6 5 For if a man 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 might become arrogant and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Isa 14:12 7 He must be well thought of by outsiders, lest he fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by ^{▼▼Lit. the trap of} the devil.Acts 22:12; 1Cor 5:12; 1Thes 4:12; 1Tim 6:9; 2Tim 2:26

8 Deacons, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, ^{▼▼Lit. double-worded} addicted to wine, or greedy for money.Lev 10:9; Ezek 44:21; Acts 6:3; 1Tim 6:3 9 They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences.1Tim 1:19 10 But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become deacons. 11 Their wives ^{▼▼Or Women} must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything.Titus 2:3 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife ^{▼▼3:2 Or devoted to their wives; lit. men of one woman} and must manage their children and their families well. 13 Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.Matt 25:21

14 I hope to come to you soon. However, I'm writing this to you 15 in case I am delayed so that you may know how one is to behave in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.Eph 2:21-22; 2Tim 2:20 16 By common confession, the secret of our godly worship is great: ^{▼▼What follows probably represents an early Christian hymn or creed.}Matt 3:16; 28:2; Mark 16:5; Luke 2:13; John 1:14, 32-33; 15:26; 16:8-9; 20:12; Acts 1:19; 10:34; Rom 1:4; 10:18; Gal 2:8; Eph 3:5-6, 8, 10; Col 1:6, 23, 27-28; 1Tim 2:7; 1Pet 1:12; 1John 1:2; 5:6

In flesh was he ^{▼▼Other mss. read God} revealed to sight,

Kept righteous by the Spirit's might,

Adored by angels singing. ^{▼▼Lit. he was seen by angels}

To nations was he manifest,

Believing souls found peace and rest, ^{▼▼Lit. he was believed in the world}

Our Lord in heaven reigning! ^{▼▼Lit. he was taken up in glory}