Old Testament

New Testament

1 Timothy 3:1-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

1. This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

3. not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4. one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

5. (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

6. not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8. Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

9. holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

Read complete chapter 1 Timothy 3