Overseers and Deacons

1 aIt is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the boffice of 1overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

2 1aAn overseer, then, must be above reproach, bthe husband of one wife, ctemperate, prudent, respectable, dhospitable, eable to teach,

3 anot addicted to wine 1or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, bfree from the love of money.

4 He must be one who amanages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of athe church of God?),

6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become aconceited and fall into the bcondemnation 1incurred by the devil.

7 And he must ahave a good reputation with bthose outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and cthe snare of the devil.

8 aDeacons likewise must be men of dignity, not 1double-tongued, 2bor addicted to much wine 2cor fond of sordid gain,

9 abut holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 aThese men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.