1Ti 3, 1Ti 5 | ESV | STEP | The saying is trustworthy : If anyone aspires to the office of overseer , he desires a noble task .

1 The saying is ^atrustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^bthe office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore ^can overseer ^{▼▼Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1} must be above reproach, ^ethe husband of one wife, ^{▼▼Or a man of one woman; also verse 12} ^gsober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^hhospitable, ⁱable to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but ^jgentle, not quarrelsome, ^knot a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^lkeeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^mGod’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may ⁿbecome puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^ooutsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^pa snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 ^qDeacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, ^{▼▼Or devious in speech} ^snot addicted to much wine, ^tnot greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must ^uhold the mystery of the faith with ^va clear conscience. 10 And ^wlet them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 ^xTheir wives likewise must ^{▼▼Or Wives, likewise, must, or Women, likewise, must} be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^zfaithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be ^aathe husband of one wife, ^abmanaging their children and their own households well. 13 For ^acthose who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

^adHe ^{▼▼Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which} was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated ^{▼▼Or justified} by the Spirit, ^{▼▼Or vindicated in spirit}
^ahseen by angels,
^aiproclaimed among the nations,
^ajbelieved on in the world,
^aktaken up in glory.

1 Timothy 5

Instructions for the Church

1 ^alDo not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, ^amyounger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

3 Honor widows ^anwho are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn ^aoto show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for ^apthis is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She ^aqwho is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and ^arcontinues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but ^asshe who is self-indulgent is ^atdead even while she lives. 7 ^auCommand these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for ^avmembers of his household, he has ^awdenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been ^axthe wife of one husband, ^{▼▼Or a woman of one man} 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has ^azshown hospitality, ^bahas washed the feet of the saints, has ^bbcared for the afflicted, and has ^bcdevoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when ^bdtheir passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also ^begossips and ^bfbusybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have ^bgyounger widows marry, bear children, ^bhmanage their households, and ^bigive the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 ^bjFor some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those ^bkwho are truly widows.

17 Let the elders ^blwho rule well be considered worthy of ^bmdouble honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, ^bn“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^bo“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except ^bpon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, ^bqrebuke them in the presence of all, ^brso that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels ^bsI charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, ^btdoing nothing from partiality. 22 ^buDo not be hasty in the ^bvlaying on of hands, nor ^bwtake part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but ^bxuse a little wine ^byfor the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and ^bzeven those that are not cannot remain hidden.