Study Desk

^(a)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the ^(b)office of ^[a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

^[b](c)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(d)the husband of one wife, ^(e)temperate, prudent, respectable, ^(f)hospitable, ^(g)able to teach,

^(h)not addicted to wine ^[c]or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, ⁽ⁱ⁾free from the love of money.

He must be one who ^(j)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

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

and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(l)conceited and fall into the ^(m)condemnation ^[d]incurred by the devil.

And he must ⁽ⁿ⁾have a good reputation with ^(o)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and ^(p)the snare of the devil.

^(q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not ^[e]double-tongued, ^[f](r)or addicted to much wine ^[g](s)or fond of sordid gain,

^(t)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

^(u)These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

^[h]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(v)not malicious gossips, but ^(w)temperate, faithful in all things.

^(x)Deacons must be ^(y)husbands of only one wife, and ^[i](z)good managers of their children and their own households.

For those who have served well as deacons ^(aa)obtain for themselves a ^[j]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.