1 Timothy 3
Leadership in the Church
1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he's talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.
8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.
14-16 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body, was proved right by the invisible Spirit, was seen by angels. He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, taken up into heavenly glory.
1 Timothy 3
1 Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.2 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3 no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5 (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)6 not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.7 Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8 Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.10 And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.11 Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.13 For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.