1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work. 2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; 3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?) 6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop [to be a pastor or elder in the church], he desires a difficult ministry.

2 It is expedient, therefore, that the bishop be blameless, the husband of [only] one wife, vigilant, temperate, of [worldly] affections mortified, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;

4 one that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all integrity;

5 (for if a man does not know 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 judgment of the devil.

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